Green products

Green products

Green Ocean Surfing is not the only one interested in ecology and safeguarding the environment. All the major surfing brands (West, Rip Curl, Body Glove, Patagonia, Billabong etc.) are increasingly investing in research and are expanding their lines of “green” products, ranging from wetsuits to surf wear to lycras. And all the best pros in the world have also promoted and shown interest in green products: Mick Fanning surfed in Rip Curl’s green wetsuit during the Billabong Pro Mundaka in 2009 to raise awareness of environmental issues.  Rip Curl Planet Foundation, which was launched in 2008, is working to fight pollution and safeguard the ocean and surf spots worldwide by funding environmental projects.

But let’s take a quick look at some of these green products. West’s Eco-lycra is derived from bamboo, grown without the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and recycled plastic bottles, while Rip Curl has undertaken its neoprene recycling project since Spring '08 and its green wetsuit features a new neoprene that uses non-solvent glues in the lamination process, resulting in a major reduction of chemicals polluting the air. Patagonia uses limestone-based polychloroprene for most of its neoprene products to reduce dependence on oil and oil-derived chemicals and uses recycled polyester and chlorine-free wool in the lining to reduce environmental impact. Body Glove features its bamboo charcoal lycra, Eco gloves and wetsuits made of non-toxic stretch material and environmentally friendly non-petroleum Bio-Stretch rubber using organic and non-toxic water based inks; it even features eco bamboo skimboards! Billabong also features eco wetsuits: 90% recycled polyester and water based inks.

Here is an overview of some of these eco products, for you to check out and compare!  And remember: always choose an eco-friendly product!!!!!!!!!!! 

West Lycra

West’s Eco-lycra, derived from bamboo and recycled plastic bottles provides a superior quality fabric while conserving the earth’s valuable resources. Quickly renewable bamboo grows easily, the pulp is bleached without chlorine and is easy to dye, lessening the environmental impact from clothing production. This, combined with recycled plastic bottles brings a soft, durable fabric so you can maximize your surfing time, while doing your bit for the planet.

Source: http://westsurfing.com/wetsuits/lycra

Rip Curl – Green products

Project Resurrection

Rip Curl was proud to announce in Spring '08 the success of our neoprene recycling project. Never again would this material - so valuable to surfers in cold waters - be treated as trash! Project Resurrection can now save old wetsuits and production off-cuts from a gruesome end (burial or incineration), by offering worn neoprene a second life: reincarnation as a footwear outsole.
 

Solvent-Free Glues... The Green Wetsuit

Mick Fanning was seen at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal in 2009 wearing a green wetsuit. He did so to get the message out, as he had been joining forces with Australia's Enviroweek.

The green Rip Curl wetsuit features a new neoprene that uses non-solvent glues in the lamination process, resulting in a major reduction of chemicals polluting the air. Approximately 800 tonnes of solvents currently evaporate into the air because of current neoprene laminating processes, so this development will be a huge improvement for the environment and will also benefit worker health.

"Wherever we can we are looking for ways to reduce any impact on the environment that our products may have," said Mick Ray, Rip Curl Global Wetsuit Chairman. "The laminating process has always been a particularly toxic one so this initiative of using non solvent based glues is going to be massive in terms of improving working conditions in the factories as well as reducing the amount of nasty pollutants in our air."

Eco Design In Our Products

Products wearing the Rip Curl Planet label are made with at least 55% eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, recycled fibres or other eco-friendly fabrics like linen or hemp. Want to know more about these fabrics?

 

Organic Cotton

Conventional cotton farming uses a lot of insecticides and pesticides. It can take as much as 17 teaspoons of toxic chemicals to grow the cotton needed to make one T-shirt. These toxic chemicals are harmful to farmers, they pollute soils, rivers and oceans.

Organic cotton is grown without chemicals. We are using more and more organic cotton for T-shirts and fleeces, but also in denims, dresses, shirts, caps, bags. 

Recycled Fibres

Recycling saves natural resources and produces less trash. We use recycled plastic bottles and polyester to make boardshorts, bikinis, bags and mountainwear. We use recycled neoprene to make footwear outsoles, and we use recycled wool and cotton to make jumpers and fleeces.

Other Eco-Friendly Fabrics

• Hemp, ramie, nettle and linen fibres: they're all made from plants that need very little farming (water, fertilisers, pesticides) and grow pretty much by themselves.
• Lyocell: a textile fibre made from wood pulp, like viscose, but with an eco-friendly process.

Source: http://www.ripcurlplanet.com/aid

Body Glove's Eco Mission

Smarter, Greener, Cleaner

Body Glove loves water. We love the oceans, the rivers, the lakes, the snow, the streams and the rain that allow us to enjoy the surfing and diving lifestyle. When you love something you want to do what you can to protect, preserve and enhance that love. We know that as humans and as a company who manufacturer products that we are far from perfect. With our Eco iniative we plan to outline how we (and you) can help protect, preserve and enhance what we love. 

Five Fingers of Body Glove's Eco Mission

1. Mission Statement: Body Glove will strive to follow the lead of our environmentally conscious founders and continue to support local and international environmental organizations while also leading the way in product development and corporate responsibility. Our mission is to be smarter, greener, cleaner.
2. Products: Body Glove will continue to expand the Eco line of products. The Eco product series goal is to incorporate, wherever reasonably possible, renewable, recycled, sustainable and/or organic materials to produce unique and high performance product.
3. History: Body Glove will celebrate and continue to highlight Bill and Bob Meistrell's history of environmental action.
4. Organizations We Support: Body Glove will continue to support local and international environmental organizations such as Reef Check, Surfrider Foundation, and Heal the Bay.
5. Take Action: Words can only do so much We are taking action and encouraging you to take action.

Source: http://www.bodyglove.com/eco/

www.greenoceansurfing.com