Surfboards are traditionally made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which is petroleum-based. French surfer and entrepreneur Jérémy Lucas is taking an alternative approach. His startup Paradoxal Surfboards makes surfboards using 3D printing and biomaterials.
The company collects washed-up algae from the beaches of Brittany. These pose a disposal problem, but are now being used as a raw material. The algae is dried, shredded and processed into a printable composite material.
Large-format 3D printers from Modix are used to print the surfboards. The design is based on the natural structure of the algae. The boards consist of two halves that are welded together after printing.
According to Lucas, prototypes of the algae surfboards show promise in terms of durability and maneuverability. Future plans also include reinforcement with natural fibers.
About 2 kg of algae yields 1 kg of printed material for a board. The environmentally friendly production reduces waste and conserves resources. In addition, the boards are lightweight and durable. The startup plans to launch sales next year.
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