Snowboard Manufacturing Research

The snowboard manufacturing industry often involves high energy consumption, non-renewable materials, and significant material waste, raising concerns about the industry's environmental impact and sustainability. There is currently no standard to define what sustainable snowboard manufacturing can look like, or something that provides clear goals to strive towards a more environmentally friendly future.

This project aimed to improve sustainability within the manufacturing industry and the processes used to create and recycle boards by conducting an in-depth analysis of current practices employed by major manufacturers such as Never Summer, Capita, Mervin, and Rocky Mountain Underground.

Our research indicates sustainable practices within the industry are both viable and increasingly necessary, with more-eco conscious brands already starting to lead the way to better methods. Despite these advancements the industry seems to lack a universal sustainability standard or benchmark, resulting in inconsistent adoption or best practices. We provided simple recommendations, based on research, to help usher in a new era of manufacturing practices that will allow us to still enjoy snowboarding while aligning better with taking care of the planet.