Could beeswax be the secret to eco-friendly surfboards?

While there have been developments in more eco-friendly cores, resin has proved a more difficult code to crack, “no matter the core, be it oil-based foam, wood, or a bio-foam, resins will always need to be waterproof.” When faced with this challenge, Cadin looked to the natural world and realized that beeswax could solve a multitude of problems. 

Put simply, “Beeswax's natural composition is the key...it is naturally waterproof and is a byproduct of the honey industry that is typically viewed as a waste product.” That means it isn’t very expensive, it’s available all around the world–no trans-oceanic shipping needed–and it’s a biodegradable and compostable substance that can fully degrade in 28 days. 

To dive into the specifics, Cadin explains, “With a melting point of about 65°C (149°F), beeswax remains structurally stable across various applications. This melting point makes it ideal for use as a surfboard resin alternative. As opposed to a chemical reaction, the wax can be melted and spread across the cloth simply using a hairdryer. This allows the wax to be reused multiple times to prevent wastage, and there are no time constraints to the surfboard glassing process. The board is shaped like normal from a foam blank, and then prepped for glassing. To reinforce the foam core, flax cloth is used. This is fully biodegradable.  

The flax cloth is strong in tension, however loses its properties when compressed. The beeswax acts as a matrix and a binder, to hold the cloth in tension, and provides the waterproofing for the board. As the beeswax is very lightweight compared to resin, more layers of reinforcement fabric can be used for the same weight surfboard, increasing its strength. No gasses are emitted, and there's no risk of combustion.”

His latest development is just one thread in his eco-board tapestry that includes (but is not limited to) making handplanes and bellyboards out of scrap wood, shaping a surfboard out of 2,000 wine corks, and developing a foam made entirely from seaweed. One of his boards even won a specialty eco-board event held during the 2021 WSL MEO Pro Portugal, where he was up against some of the biggest names in the surf industry–and it was from homemade seaweed foam, with a stringer that was made from disposable masks, and glassed with a bio-epoxy.

Dave Rastavich, known for his environmental activism and beautiful surfing, has said he dreams of the day that (after many years of use) he can bury a surfboard, and know that it will biodegrade and return to the Earth. Well, with Cadin’s help, that day may just arrive a lot sooner, he explains, “What is the perfect surfboard? To me it is a board that has zero chemical impact in manufacture or disposal. Environmentally, the board never existed.” 

The ingenuity of beeswax doesn’t just reside in the simplicity of the material but also in the application and use over time. Any surfer can tell you just how annoyingly fragile fiberglass is and that ding repairs can be impossible without the right (toxic) materials. Unfortunately, even if the tiniest crack goes uncared for, it won’t be long until the board is waterlogged and leaving the lineup for the landfill. 

While the process is being refined, Cadin is optimistic that this is a viable route to decreasing the footprint of surfboard manufacturing and getting closer to his “perfect surfboard”. 

“Two boards have currently been made, and the process is still in testing and development; however the results are really promising. To me, it's about trying to take small steps forward developing and testing new materials. The beeswax resin allows the surfboard skin to biodegrade in the soil, reducing the impact. The main advantage of beeswax, in addition to environmental impact, is the ease of manufacture. It allows people to make surfboards at home without a worry of dangerous chemicals. Dings and damage can be fixed with a lighter or a hairdryer, and the excess beeswax can be composted.”