Surfer tests eco-friendly board

The board was designed, developed and produced in Cornwall

An eco-friendly surfboard inspired by a fallen tree has gone on sale.

The sustainable board started life more than five years ago when a giant balsa tree fell to ground at one of the Eden Project's biomes in Cornwall.

To mark the launch of the surfboard, Cornwall's champion surfer Mark Harris tested the balsa wood-based product at Newquay's Fistral beach.

Eden said it was Cornish success story, with local companies developing the innovative technology.

Redruth company Homeblown developed a new foam core, which is partly made from plant-derived materials.

Sustainable Composites, also based in Redruth, then developed a resin made almost entirely from linseed oil.

These were combined by St Agnes local board manufacturer Laminations to produce the Eden surfboard.

More than 50% of the materials used are from renewable sources.

The Eden Project described the board as the ultimate in sustainable surfboards, made from more environmentally-friendly materials than conventional boards.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version