By providing recycling options for these used nets, through the initiative Net Positiva, Bureo keeps them from entering the ocean and contributing to the significant amount of fishing gear castoffs that pollute our waters.
Each sporty board keeps 30 square feet of fishnet plastics from going into the ocean. And, at the risk of sounding like a complete girl, they’re really attractive. The deck is shaped like a fish in homage to the cause and each one features a gripping scale pattern on its surface for the ultimate in form and function. Left in their natural black hue—the color of the fishnets used in the production—the boards are accented with eco-friendly paint in colors like lime green or ocean blue.
To collect the nets, Bureo has established Net Positiva. The initiative is the first fishnet-recycling program of its kind in Chile. The process is simple, but as with most things, we shouldn’t confuse “simple” with “easy.” It takes everyone’s part to make a difference. Net Positiva provides free fishnet collection bins throughout Chile, which fishermen are encouraged to use rather than just leaving the nets in the ocean. Then, utilizing the most efficient shipping and operations options available, the nets are recycled into the premium decks at the local injection molding plant located in Santiago, Chile.
And that’s not the only thing that’s eco-friendly. Once the decks are completed in Santiago, they’re shipped via ocean freighters to Los Angeles where they receive their wheels. Through a partnership with Satori Movement and designer Gabriella Laruccia, the Cruiser Wheels that come on each board are made from 30 percent vegetable oil with 100 percent recycled cores.
The boards, which are currently in the process of acquiring funds via KickStarter, have been tested for safety and consistency by the skateboarding and surfing enthusiast trio that make up the Bureo team. Combined with the stability of the 108-millimeter Paris Trucks underneath and the security provided by Bureo’s own B-hook carabineer with a combination lock, it’s almost enough to get this uncoordinated girl out on a board.