A group of Costa Ricans with a passion for science, the environment and surf have been working on a way to replace the polyurethane (a polymer and the fifth type of plastic most used in the world) found in surfboards for another more environmentally friendly material.

Surfboards are generally made with polyurethane foam blank, fiberglass and polyester resin. The contamination caused by a surfboard starts with its fabrication, the carbon footprint left behind is considerable, and of course, at the moment it breaks and we dispose of it becomes a contaminating product.

Since the plastic used to create surfboards is highly contaminating, the company Govan Biomaterials decided to find an alternative solution. They developed a foam without the use of fossil fuel.

Back in November of 2016 daily La Nación had reported the prototype was almost ready; since then the surfboard was finished and it was tested by professional surfer and Central American champion Oscar Urbina with very positive results.

The material is called biofoam and it is made with endemic Costa Rican plants that are not edible, these plants are used to extract chemical compounds that are then used to form monomers; these monomers then form a polymer.

The National Nanotechnology Laboratory (Lanotec) of the National Center of High Technology (CENAT) provided Govan Biomaterials with all the facilities needed, from physical space to scientific support, to test and create the material for the surfboard. After a lot of hard work, this material now constitutes 70% of the surfboard.

Rodolfo González founder of Govan Biomaterials explained that they have managed to make the board lighter (from the initial prototype) which is better for the surfers and makes it easier to do tricks.

The financing was provided by ProPyme from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research, a fund that supports small and medium size companies

Govan Biomaterials has already managed to get the attention of different surfboard companies such as Banzaii, All Ocean and Al Merick that are interested in investing in this product for a commercial use.