How to be a more Sustainable Surfer in 2025?
Most surfers feel deeply connected with their environment, especially the ocean. Unfortunately, the surfing industry and the surfers’ equipment come at a cost to our taiao (nature). But what if you could reduce the environmental impact of your favourite sport? Find below 8 tips to be more sustainable while surfing in 2025.
Surfboards: second-hand and local first
The impact: most surfboards are made from polyurethane foam and fibreglass and heavily depend on petroleum-based materials. They are not biodegradable and are harmful to the environment.
What you can do: Look for second-hand surfboards and update your quiver by selling and donating your unused boards to OP shops and locals in need! Alternatively, shop local and support our great community!
Are there any NZ-made eco-surfboards? YES! Some local shapers are moving to more sustainable practices like Verdure (Wellington). They are sourcing the most eco-friendly materials available to make surfboards. (And the surfing legend Stephanie Gilmore was recently surfing one of their boards!)
Wetsuits: donate and avoid the landfill
The impact: wetsuits are made of neoprene. Most of the neoprene is made of artificial polymers, a non-biodegradable and non-compostable material taking hundreds of years to decompose…
What you can do:
1. If your wetsuit is still usable you can donate it to:
REPLAY with Sport Taranaki
Second Suits NZ (Auckland)
Wavewise NZ (surf therapy)
2. If your wetsuit is not usable anymore and you don’t want to repair it (see below if you do) you can:
Seventhwave NZ (Christchurch) will take your old wetsuit and give you a voucher for it (depending on the condition)
Coastlines (Auckland) will repurpose the neoprene
NZ SailGP Team recently announced on their Socials the collection of old wetsuits around NZ (more info to come)
Another option is to repair your wetsuit! See our next tip below!
P.S. You could also try to move from neoprene and look into Yulex, a natural rubber that comes from hevea tree.
Repair as much as you can!
For surfboards, you can do your repairs using some kits from your local surf shop like Vertigo (Ōakura), Backdoor (New Plymouth), Beach Street (Fitzroy), and Dreamtime Surf (Ōpunake).
If you are not into DIY or you need a big repair then you can get in touch with local ding repairs: Ding Fixers (Cutfield Rd, New Plymouth), Del Custom Surfboards (New Plymouth), Dreamtime Surf (Ōpunake),
For wetsuits, you can get repair kits from most surf shops but here is a list of professional repair services:
Elco Canvas (New Plymouth)
Wettie NZ (Auckland)
Seventhwave (Christchurch)
Patagonia (Queenstown, only for Patagonia wetsuits)
Upcycle what’s beyond repair
The impact: as mentioned above, sending surfboards and wetsuits to landfill
What you can do: Feeling inspired and into some DIY? Snapped or badly damaged surfboards can be upcycled, which will avoid sending them to landfills! You could turn them into art, tables, shelves… Anything is possible!
5. Switching to a different surf wax
The impact: 95% of surf wax in the market is made of petroleum-based paraffin, petroleum jelly and/or tackifiers, fragrances and colours. Those materials have harmful effects on marine life and also on humans.
What you can do: The key is to find out what brands are biodegradable and only use natural ingredients... After some research, Matunas is the only petroleum-free and available in most surf shops around NZ we could find. (Please get in touch if you know another one!) In Taranaki we also have Wavewax! Created by Spotswood students, it is a bee wax made locally: Wavewax.
Avoiding wax is also an option and grip pads could be another solution.
6. Share rides with friends
The impact: According to the Ministry of Environment, cars and other passenger vehicles are responsible for 27% of New Zealand’s gross carbon dioxide emissions (2018). And unfortunately, surfing involves driving most of the time.
What you can do: Carpool and catch up with your mates while going to your favourite spot! It will also save you money and allow you to have a full debrief of your session on the way back!
7. Pick up rubbish on the way
The impact: Plastic litter entering our marine environment has long-lasting impacts and remains in our oceans for centuries.
What you can do: Bring a reusable bag with you and pick up all the rubbish you can. If you are surfing at a secret uncrowded spot requiring a bit of walking you will have a big impact. You might be the only one able to remove some pieces of plastic just before entering the ocean. Imagine if we all picked up a few pieces of trash from our local beach after each visit… We could do a LOT!
P.S. Chose reusable and try to reduce packaging as much as you can!
Trash Species of Aotearoa New Zealand by Sustainable Coastlines. You can support their great mahi by purchasing the poster here.
8. Stay local as much as you can
The impact: Transport emissions are one the biggest impacts we have as individuals. We mentioned above the impact of driving but flying is much (much) worse. In 2021, New Zealand was ranked 6th in the world for per-capita aviation emissions with 1 tonne of CO2 per capita, about 10 times the world average…
What you can do: Waves are great in Aotearoa and each region has some amazing spots. Explore a bit more your local backyard, it will also be way less crowded than some Indonesian or European waves…
If you are living not too far from your local spot, you could also gear up and use a surf rack on your beautiful bike! One of the ultimate low-emission transport modes!
HAPPY SURFING! **
** Please get in touch with us if you think we should update/add anything to the list! Many thanks!
