This week in San Diego, California - the worlds Starboard Dealers are hanging out and taking boards. They're considering performance, price, target markets and margins - but most of all, they're talking about the environment.

Svein Rasmussen is leading the charge, and as the CEO of Starboard, he's got quite a powerful position to be working from. Joining the likes of Sustainable Surf and Parley, Starboard are making 2017 the turning point in what they hope is a movement that the whole industry gets behind - they want to go green. And they're not talking about their boards colour schemes, which will stay the iconic 'Starboard Blue'.

Surfboard production is messy business, there's foam and epoxy and plastic and who-knows-what-else going into shaping, shipping and selling boards. Most of it based Packaging, materials used in the build process and the build practices within the factory are under the spotlight at Starboard, dubbed 'Concept Starboard' they have promised that all boards in 2017 will be made from plant based resins. Not only that, but they're eliminating foam packaging, choosing cardboard instead of Styrofoam for the nose and tail protection, and scrapping the 'dust covers' that boards are shipped inside and drive shop staff nuts. Wait! There's more - Starboard are even going as far as producing soft foam deck pads from plant based materials!

As the dealers get back from their conference this week, expect to know more about what the 2017 Starboard lineup contains, but until then - know that times are-a-changin' in the SUP industry, and they're changing to green…

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