The Most Sustainable Stand-Up Paddleboard

Michael Walther (Zero Emissions Project) and Jannek Grocholl (BoardLab) had one goal: To produce a fast, light and stable stand up paddleboard that has the lowest possible impact on nature. Supported by Fanatic, one of the world’s leading board manufacturers, the two northern Germans have succeeded with the Ray Eco.

The Ray Eco is probably the most sustainable SUP in the world. Instead of glass or carbon fibres, wood is used, and the usual foam core has been replaced by a rib structure made of the same material. You will look in vain for a protective layer of toxic varnishes or resins, this board is sealed with organic linseed oil. Even the logos and lettering on the board are applied to the wood using natural pigments.

In addition to the board itself, the team also designed everything for sustainability during production and during the steps leading to it. “The board should have a minimal impact on nature during its full life cycle,” Grocholl said. “In doing so, it was important to us that this is not just a marketing story that looks neat, but upon closer inspection, also offers advantage over conventional boards.”

The sustainably grown wood comes from the Kiri tree, which is also grown in Germany, among other countries. The wood from this fast-growing tree comes from the company KIRITEC, which is part of the WeGrow Group. In addition to the low water consumption, Kiri offers other ecological advantages: The trees of one hectar can bind approx. 35-40t CO2 per year – four times the binding capacity of an average mixed forest. In addition to the ecological aspects, the wood offers a particularly low weight and very good seawater resistance. The BoardLab team takes advantage of these benefits for the design and construction of the board.

“Water sports articles are pure luxury products that no one necessarily needs. It is therefore even more important to keep a critical eye on resource consumption and the impact on the environment,” explains Michael Walther. “The fact that plastic products today are partly advertised as ‘sustainable’ just because they last a long time is a farce in my eyes. This argument only counts if the article is actually used for a long time. But this is rarely the case with products that are subject to a trend – clothing is an example here, boards as well. After all, many water sports enthusiasts buy new equipment because they want something new, even though the old one is still technically perfectly okay.”

To ensure long-term usability, the wood of the Fanatic Ray Eco is treated with organic linseed oil. This coating must be renewed after some time, similar as with good leather shoes. So a little care is needed to keep the board in its noble condition for decades. Thus, the board stands in contrast to our other way of consuming. Instead of the quick purchase and throw-away society, here the craftsman’s love for detail and the necessity for preserving care is taking its place.

The board is more than a feasibility study. Extreme sportsman and environmental activist Michael Walther will be taking this board on a number of special tours in the coming months to ensure that it can cope with all the demands placed on it. Those who know the Kiel native know that this is not too much to promise. For example, Walther paddled along the coast of Greenland in May 2018, circumnavigated Schleswig-Holstein in 2019 and covered more than 1300km on his journey from Basel to Kiel in 2020 on his Stand-Up Paddleboard.

After these tests, the Fanatic Ray Eco is also available for other Stand-Up Paddlers with an enthusiasm for high-quality natural products. The BoardLab in Kiel will produce a small series of these boards every year. Of course, customers are not left alone after the purchase. Jannek Grocholl and his team make the BoardLab workshop available to the paddlers for the care of the board, guide them or, if necessary, take care of it themselves.

More information about this particularly sustainable SUP can be found at www.zeroemissions.eu