Throughout the history of surfing different methods have been applied to enhance the grip on a surfboard, but none have been more successful than paraffin surf wax. Matt Warshaw, the author of, The History of Surfing, says “an estimated 10 million bars of wax are made every year”[1]. While enhancing the grip surfers have on their board it also creates a waste problem that is disregarded by the “eco-friendly” surfer. Paraffin wax may seem like the perfect material for a sustainable grip solution for surfing, but is actually made from crude oil (a non-renewable by-product of petroleum).
Paraffin Based Surf Wax
Paraffin wax, the most common ingredient in surf wax is not biodegradable and requires a technical solution to be properly utilized once it is removed from a surfboard. A layer of wax can only last so long before it must be stripped from the deck of a board and a new layer is applied.
This process raises the question as to where the avid surfer should put their discarded wax once removed? Fortunately, EnviroCentric has a wax upcycling system where surfers can dispose of their wax at surf shops and know that it will be redeemed for its beneficial value. The discarded wax can then be purified and molded into a new bar of wax, creating a closed loop system that keeps surfers out in the water.
Surf Wax Upcycling
Surf Wax Collection
Bird’s Surf Shed
Reimagine waste
EnviroCentric would like to introduce the 1st surf wax reuse program of its kind. We have partnered with Eric “Bird” Huffman’s world-famous surf shop, Bird’s Surf Shed, as the first stop on a sustainable journey of resource recovery.
When you are ready to scrape your surfboard clean and apply a new coat don’t throw it in the trash, dispose of it in the new EC surf wax collection bin. Through the process of upcycling, we make new wax with just as much stick and bump , you will never buy a new bar again.
1091 W Morena Blvd, San Diego, CA
Surfing
As avid surfers and environmentalists, we strive to preserve the natural world and rethink the way society views waste. California’s coastlines are forever changing, the minerals that form the cliffs may dissolve to sand, or the birds that once flew high turned to soil; in these environments the concept of waste does not exist. It is the moments when we walk the beaches or paddle in the ocean that we notice the human stain upon our planet. A floating piece of plastic makes us question the waste management system that the US has adopted. What if we could give this “trash” new life without degrading its original quality?
Santa Cruz, CA
Surf Wax
A brief history
Any surfer can relate to you the importance of surf wax. While many items brought to the beach could be deemed non-essential, there are two pieces of equipment that are imperative to a surf sesh: board and wax.
What is now a billion dollar business started out in a small beach town just outside of LA, Palos Verdes. In 1935, Alfred “Al” Gallant came home from a surf sesh to find that his mom had applied a fresh coat of wax to their hardwood floor. While it might have been sticky, it was also smooth enough to slide across on. Logically, Al and his friends began using this paraffin wax on their boards and were quickly impressed with the results[1].
Old-School Paraffin Wax
It was not until the 60s that surf wax became what it is today. With the addition of resins, softeners, and synthetic rubbers; surf wax could be manipulated to achieve higher performance surfing from a stickier feel. Wax companies soon created temperature dependent surf wax for a variety of different climates. Surf wax gained world attention in the 70s when board shaper, Charles Herzog III, partnered with a chemist friend to create, “Mr. Zog’s Sex Wax.” Needless to say, the new tropical scented wax was an instant hit[2].
Many surf wax companies have since entered the market: Sticky Bumps, Fu, and many local brands. All of them offer a different take on a sticky classic. While the issue of board grip was fixed by the invention of surf wax, an unforeseen problem arose. What do surfers do with the wax after it is stripped from a board?
COMPONENTS
Most surf wax is made from paraffin wax, a component of crude oil. While some wax companies claim that paraffin wax is biodegradable, they do not account for other additives such as resins, synthetic oils, and even plastics used to achieve optimal wax characteristics[3]. Paraffin wax can take years to biodegrade, leaching toxic chemicals into the environment[4]. There are wax companies that use beeswax as their primary ingredient, but these pucks of wax can hardly compete with the stick provided by their paraffin counterpart.
Upcycled Surf Wax
A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
When a surfer is done with their wax, why should they throw it away or make the risky decision of putting it in the compost. Why not upcycle the used wax into new bars for countless surfers to use? This is exactly what EnviroCentric does. We strive to complete the waste cycle by ensuring the longevity of consumables from cradle-to-cradle. By giving a second life to waste that would have otherwise been thrown away, we are able to reduce our dependence on other countries for materials, whilst utilizing resources in the most sustainable ways possible.