Environmental Responsibility
Our Ocean. Our Responsibility.
From seed to surfboard, we’re minimising environmental impact through innovation.
The way it stands, the climate crisis threatens everything we love about our planet. And as surfers, that love flows deepest with the ocean. This love affair got us thinking about what role the surf industry plays…
A Toxic Relationship
If we love the ocean, why do we trash it?
It’s no secret that our surfboards are harmful for the planet. We’re not here to judge, we’re just as guilty. From boards to wax to our beloved jetsetting surfaris, our entire surf lives revolve around oil-based products. And with the lineup getting more packed everyday, that’s only going to make matters worse.
Think about it:
• The average PU surfboard creates between 170 and 270 kilos of CO2 throughout its lifetime.
• While Varuna surfboards emit between 71 to 102 kilos of CO2.
• That’s 1.5 – 4x LESS CO2 than the average surfboard!
• And with 35 million surfers worldwide owning an average of 4 surfboards each…
• That contributes 37.8 MILLION TONNES OF CO2 to the atmosphere in the surfing industry alone.
So yeah, we may like to think of ourselves as nature-loving merpeople, but the impact we have on the environment in the surfing world kind of sucks, and we’re here to do something about it. With that, we found that the easiest way for us to do our bit for the planet was to incorporate a high-performance, sustainable option into our quiver.
*Stats determined by internally conducted Life Cycle Analysis report from CO2 Logic.
Winner of SBIA’S 2022 Environmental Award.
We’re going… Beyond The Break
And swapping toxic shaping bays for Indonesian jungles.
We’re abandoning the traditional shaping bay for an environmentally forgiving alternative with a system that minimises waste while giving back to the planet in colossal ways. But to do it, we’re going beyond the break and into the rainforest.
Permaculture. Regeneration Through Reforestation
Back to our roots
Our home base in Indonesia has been victim to massive deforestation practices for decades. Once abundant rainforests are now barren grasslands, incapable of regenerating on their own and pushing wildlife species out of their habitats. And with balsa trees being an invasive species in Indo and the source of our surfboards, we figured out a way to rid forests of balsa overgrowth while regenerating these abandoned lands of plenty to get the materials we need. Working closely with the Indonesia government, we’re expanding green zones to reforest, regenerate and rejuvenate the land through sustainable practices to reduce environmental impacts and revitalize the area.
Here’s how we do it:
Reforestation
We use permaculture methods to plant balsa trees in tandem with native plant species. It only takes 4 years for balsa to fully mature, so once it’s harvested, the native plants are left behind to flourish and thrive.
Regeneration
This regenerative practice leaves behind a restored ecosystem rich in biodiversity, generating economy for local farmers, encouraging self-reliance and advocating sustainable practices.
Rejuvenation
Permaculture promotes resilience through biodiversity and restores natural resources, allowing nature to rejuvenate while empowering local communities.
Get On Board
Look, we know we’re not the first ones to think of wooden surfboards (or even balsa wood surfboards for that matter.), they were the original material surfed by Hawaiian legends after all. But we are stoked to be a part of this collective journey into a more sustainable future.
Find a shop near you and try a Varuna board today. The planet will thank you for it.
Renewable Allies
Minimal waste, responsible use.
With permaculture leading our business practices, we’ve committed ourselves to an approach rooted in conservation. So for any harvested balsa not used in Varuna production, excess materials are transferred to our partners in various sectors such as wind energy, railway and models. This ensures minimal waste and responsible use. Pretty sweet, right?