Innovator Jake Moss revolutionizing the surfboard manufacturing business. Photo: Moss Research
We are living in times of economic uncertainty and unprecedented environmental degradation. As surfers, our team at Moss Research maintains a resilient and evolving business strategy moving forward. We are creating new methods to sustain our existence within the market and global community, while helping ensure the continuity of the thing we all depend on and cherish: our shared environment. It is a daunting reality and dark truth; surfboards do not last forever, or even very long, for that matter. Once useless, these toxic, non-recyclable materials are carelessly dumped into a landfill. At Moss Research, we are changing that, as our standards benefit surfers while appealing to our sensibilities as environmentally dependent beings.
These decisions have motivated us at Moss Research to move forward by opening a first-of-its-kind sustainable surf craft production facility. Our team, lead by Jake Moss, has expanded production to a domestic 2,500 sq. ft. facility located in Point Loma, San Diego. It is here where all operations and manufacturing takes place. Joining Jake and his 18 years of shaping experience are Pat Quealy, a surfboard building veteran who will serve as Production Manager and Erik Derman, a seasoned videographer and editor who will take on the role of Visual and Creative Co-Director. Together they create a dynamic trio that brings fresh and inventive ideas of how to provide a sustainable service and product line of the highest quality and performance.
Following the launch of our Eco-Flex™ technology in 2011, Moss Research completed a CSR (Company Sustainability Report) to project our entrance into the market. When asked about this progress, founder Jake Moss stated, “This is phase one in creating the first-ever resource-efficient, solar powered, eco-board building facility. We will meet and exceed LEED Platinum rating for our building. We want our space, our boards and our business practices to reflect the highest degree of resonance, creativity, and sustainability.” The Eco-Flex™ building process provides us with the ability to carry out our vision for crafting an environmentally sustainable and high performance product.
In 2010, we shifted our entire construction base by using domestically sourced, recycled and plant-based materials. “I was tired of using toxic, non-recyclable materials that result in unhealthy side-effects and a short lived product that would ultimately end up in the dump,” explained Moss. “The benchmark material process for surfboard manufacturing (polyester foam and polyurethane resin) is totally outdated and irresponsible. Petrochemical based boards do not jive with the environmentally-minded spirit of surfing, nor do they serve surfers economically due to their immediate dilapidation and planned obsolescence.” For these reasons, Moss decided to pursue alternative material processes that would yield a lighter, stronger, higher performance and sustainable product that appeals to our better wisdom. Eco-Flex™ technology is comprised of recycled EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam, plant-based non-VOC (volatile organic compound) epoxy resin, natural fibers, and repurposed aero grade plywood.
Ambassador Evan Luth clocking in some tube time on a Moss Research shred sled.
The current boards we are producing have been critically tested by professional surfers in all conditions and have proven to be high performance, reliable and sustainable. “We are confident in the eco-boards we have been building and testing over the past 5 years,” Moss says. “Our process provides surfers with a superior alternative to toxic, disposable, mass-manufactured surfboards and also a platform to contribute towards the protection of our environment.”
Moss Research will not only have its own signature line of eco-boards, but we will also expand production in early 2015 to encourage new industry standards and assist other local and globally-renowned shapers in creating their own line of eco-boards using the Eco-Flex ™ technology. Legendary San Diego shaper Richard Pavel has vetted the new technology and will be crafting his own line of eco-surfboards at the Point Loma facility. “These guys have proven a material process which yields a superior surfboard at a minimized expense to the environment and human beings,” stated Pavel. “It’s been a long time coming and I am totally on board with it.” There will be many new expansions to our production in 2015 and many new exciting developments to come. One of these developments will be a grand opening event at the eco-board building facility in late March.
“Our process provides surfers with a superior alternative to toxic, disposable, mass-manufactured surfboards and also a platform to contribute towards the protection of our environment.” – Jake Moss
As surfers, we are faced with a quandary of vice verses virtue. As selfish as the act of surfing may be at times, we are a global community that depends upon the healthy subsistence and continuity of our environment. We take and take from this place called Earth, loving the gifts and moments of bliss it so kindly offers us. Now it is our time to give back, or at least to begin to do so. Therefore, it is our duty and obligation to accept responsibility as caretakers. Because if we don’t accept responsibility, who else will?
To find out more about all the great things going down at Moss Research, visit their website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook.
