Green skateboarding

Want to be a environmentally responsible boarder? Kate Coffey finds out how

With four wheels and a notable lack of exhaust, the skateboard is already an eco-friendly way to travel. However, some companies are looking to produce the ultimate in zero-emissions rolling transportation: the eco skateboard. This new wave of green wheels opts for sustainably sourced wood and low-toxic chemicals to produce boards for eco-conscious skaters.

The issues

The major eco impact of skateboarding concerns the manufacture. Many of the paints and lacquers used contain environmentally harmful solvents, which are damaging to the environment and can be dangerous to workers.

Then there is the wood for the board itself. Eco-aware companies often opt for Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, which is sourced from sustainable forests.

Many of the greenest boarding innovations currently come from America, but UK company Driftwood Skateboards, which prides itself in ‘sustainable design’, uses a bamboo core for its decks. Unlike maple wood, which is used for most decks and can take up to 100 years to grow, bamboo is ready to harvest every three years.

Driftwood also replaces traditional grip tape with recycled glass – and says using such ecological materials does not detract from the overall performance or indeed price of the board.

The models

Most skateboard manufacturers have an environmental policy, but these companies are leading the way in green design.

Joel Blackman skateboards

This small, Devon-based company makes the eco bespoke skateboards (and surfboards) with original artwork. The aim is to reduce the carbon footprint of both consumer and manufacturer by ensuring products are as green as possible.

Joel Blackman is pioneering ways of producing eco-friendly, high-performance equipment that uses “biofoam” – a material made from 40 per cent plant-based materials – and environmentally friendly resin.

Sector Nine Skateboards

With its philosophy of “save a tree, ride a weed”, Sector Nine Skateboards has its eye firmly on the environment. Its Bamboo Series skateboards range from the Mini to the Uluwata (pictured).

The strong and resilient wood is ideal deck material, not to mention that bamboo is sustainable and regenerates itself by up to 4 feet a week. Sector Nine also runs a ‘Push Don’t Pollute’ campaign, which targets American schools and colleges with the aim of encouraging people to skate rather than drive.

Comet skateboards

Comet is as serious about skateboard innovation as it is sustainable manufacturing. The San Franciscan-based company’s website goes into impressive detail about how it maintains this co-evolution and balance including solar-powered factory machines and a research programme into developing ‘green’ bio-based epoxies.

Driftwood skateboards

Driftwood specialise in vertically laminated bamboo core boards, which are tough, light and agile. From their base in Cornwall, the company is also researching ways to use hemp-based fibres as an alternative to the carbon and glass fibre used as deck coating. They’re also confident that plant-based resins will soon take over from epoxy glue systems.