Homeblown US Announces The Worlds First 'Green' Surfboard Blanks

Ned McMahon, General Manager for Homeblown's U.S. manufacturing plant in San Diego, CA exhibited the surf industry’s first “green” surfboard blanks at Surf Expo last weekend. Homeblown US manufactures Biofoam blanks in which nearly 50% of the core ingredients are from agricultural products. Biofoam is produced by replacing the polyol component of the foam with materials converted from natural plant oils.

According to McMahon, “Until now, there has been no foam blank like Biofoam which is a far better alternative for the environment. Surfboard makers have only focused on the longevity of their materials as an answer to the environmental pressures. Biofoam represents the first…truly eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable” surfboard blank in the industry. A life cycle analysis of Biofoam indicates that its production results in 36% less global warming emissions and a 61% reduction in non-renewable energy use.

Biofoam is as lightweight and as strong as any foam blank on the market and shapes as well as any other polyurethane foam blank. Biofoam, because of its nature, has a finer and more uniform cell structure compared to those made with petroleum-based materials with which most standard surfboard blanks are still made. The foam created from biomaterials also exhibits excellent strength and flex.

Homeblown US is a sister company of Homeblown UK which developed a manufacturing process that allows its advanced computerized technology to be implemented wherever the market exists. This agenda is part of the “green philosophy”, because shipping raw materials is 18 times more efficient than shipping blanks.

Homeblown worldwide is known for its aggressive pursuit of the ultimate Ecoboard in partnership with U.K. based Eden Project and Chuck Menzel of Wetsand, Inc. This product brings domestic alternatives to a segment of the surf industry which has never been environmentally sustainable.

Homeblown US is situated in San Diego in order to support the largest surfboard manufacturing base in the United States. In addition to manufacturing in the U.S., Homeblown has manufacturing plants in the U.K. and South Africa.

Source: Homeblown Surfblanks & Foam Systems

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