When mentioned about skateboards many of us think just about use of skateboard. We also need need to think about; from where materials sourced, how they extracted for manufacture. This important, because it effect our environment.
I will explain what users and manufacturers could be doing to reduce environment impact. I will be discussing different strategies and materials bellow. To find more information about classic skateboard which as well known as generic, you can watch this Youtube video.
As you can see in whole system system map bellow:
I will explain what users and manufacturers could be doing to reduce environment impact. I will be discussing different strategies and materials bellow. To find more information about classic skateboard which as well known as generic, you can watch this Youtube video.
As you can see in whole system system map bellow:
Click on image to enlarge
We can see that after use skateboards end up in landfill but, yet some parts could upcycled or downcycled. Parts such as bearings which made out of steel and might as well contain nylon. Trucks of skateboards as well could recycled, because they made out of aluminium. Different nuts and bolts could upcycled or downcycled too, because they made out of low grade steel in most cases.
Usually users throw away skateboard and recyclable parts to landfill, because its easiest thing to do. To motivate users of skateboards recycle like me and maybe even you. Retailers could follow scheme developed by company called Satori Wheels. Satori Wheels developed scheme called "ReLife". User bring their skateboard wheels to retailers which take part in this scheme and gets their wheels renewed. They use old wheels as core for new wheels so there is less impact on environment rather than manufacturing new wheels. Manufacturer make wheels out of polyurethane which is expensive and hard to recycle.
Materials causing less environment impact are available for skateboards components which are rarely used. For wheels instead of polyurethane, manufactures could use soy. Company called "Sector 9" is selling soy wheels for few years now and have great feedback about their product. For more information about Sector 9 soy wheels you can read newsletter by Biobased Solutions.
For grip tape manufacturer use five main materials, which are; paper, silicon carbide or aluminium oxide, acrylic resin, PVC film sheet and adhesive film. To replace grip tape which is hard to recycle due to adhesive, users could be using different grip tape. For example users could be using grip tape made out of hemp which would help to reduce carbon footprint. Company called "Ramshackel" is already selling kit for making your own hemp skateboard grip tape. To get better understanding of how make your own grip tape with their kit, look at this video
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Manufacturers could produce boards from different materials, instead of using adhesive and wood. Boards with adhesive and wood can only downcycled into particle board. Company called "Bureo" had kickstarter project. In this proejct which they were collecting money for manufacturing boards from nets which are not in use anymore.Conclusion is that everything is already available to us and we can reduce carbon footprint. Different materials are available to which can used for skateboards but they might be more expensive. This is good investment, because its towards less polluted environment and better lives for us all.
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