Skateboarding friends and business partners Ben Knepper, David Stover and Kevin Ahearn created a company that makes the world's most sustainable skateboards called Bureo Skateboards. The company sells a board called 'The Minnow,' which is completely made out of recycled fishnets.
The company's concept sparked upon the realization of fishnets being one of the biggest contributors to ocean pollution. In an effort to countervail the fishing industry's negative contributions to the ocean, the owners of Bureo Skateboards set up a net recycling program off the coast of Chile. ‘Net Positiva’ is now Chile’s first ever fishnet collection and recycling program; "it provides fishermen with environmentally sound disposal points, while Bureo receives highly recyclable and durable raw materials" for its boards.
Thus, they are turning a detrimental waste product into something sustainable, hip and fun.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sustainable Skateboards
- The trend of producing skateboards using recycled and sustainable materials, such as fishnets, provides a disruptive innovation opportunity for the skateboarding industry.
- Net Recycling Programs
- The trend of establishing net recycling programs in fishing communities presents a disruptive innovation opportunity to combat ocean pollution and create sustainable raw materials.
- Circular Economy in Surfing
- The trend of applying circular economy principles to the surfing industry, like using recycled materials to create surfboards, opens up disruptive innovation opportunities to reduce waste and promote sustainability in the sport.
Where This Applies
- Skateboard Manufacturing
- The skateboard manufacturing industry has the opportunity to embrace sustainable materials and production processes, such as using recycled fishnets, to create eco-friendly skateboards.
- Fishing and Aquaculture
- The fishing and aquaculture industry can explore net recycling programs and collaborations with companies like Bureo Skateboards to reduce ocean pollution and promote sustainable practices.
- Surfing and Watersports
- The surfing and watersports industry can adopt circular economy principles by incorporating recycled materials, like fishnets, into the manufacturing of surfboards and other water sports equipment.
