Since 1995 over 100,000 snowboards have been produced per year...where do they all go? This leads to the question of what happens to the large number of boards produced annually. The ReUp program initiated by Jones Snowboards and partnered with Jones Snowboards Australia is an innovative approach to tackle the issue of waste and promote sustainability in the snowboarding industry. By recycling and up-cycling materials from retired and defective snowboards, the ReUp program aims to minimize waste and promote the use of recycled materials in the production of new snowboards.
So what is ReUp? The process of the ReUp program involves various stages to ensure the efficient recycling and utilization of materials from retired snowboards. After collecting warranty boards and retired boards from various sources, including riders and shops worldwide, the boards are transported to the factory using ocean freight to minimize the carbon footprint associated with transportation. At the factory, the boards undergo a thorough recycling process that includes the removal of topsheets, bases, steel edges, and steel inserts. These components are then set aside for recycling with other scrap materials.
The remaining components, including p-tex, epoxy, wood core, and stringer material, are flattened to create a 24-layer thick sandwich of snowboard materials. These layers are then cut into thin slices that are inserted as performance stringers in the construction of new wood cores. The orientation of the layers provides remarkable dampening and stiffening properties, contributing to the high performance of the snowboards. Despite the variability in the composition of the recycled materials, the ReUp program ensures that the performance of the slices remains consistent.
The Hovercraft 2.0, one of the products resulting from the ReUp program, showcases the successful integration of recycled materials and sustainable production practices. With RE-UP tech stringers in the nose and wood core, a flax topsheet, recycled edges and sidewalls, and bio-resin, the Hovercraft 2.0 represents a significant step forward in creating environmentally responsible snowboards.
How do you ReUp your old boards? As a Jones EPICenter in Australia we are an official drop point for you. The dead boards are then shipped to the SWS factory using ocean freight. Shipping them back on a slow boat has the smallest carbon footprint possible, and we believe the benefits of recycling still outweigh this unavoidable impact. From there the ReUp process begins.
When the retired boards arrive at the factory they begin the recycling process along with a small number of defective ‘C’ grade’ Jones boards that got rejected at some stage in the manufacturing process. The ability to recycle factory rejects is another huge benefit of Re-Up Tech.
By implementing the ReUp program, Jones Snowboards Australia demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, setting an example for the snowboarding industry to follow in reducing waste and promoting the use of recycled materials in snowboard production.
