A Swedish snowboard made from Swedish biocomposite

Important results from the project

The project aimed to develop innovative skis/snowboards made of sustainable materials. Within the framework of the project, fossil-based fibre composites have been substituted with natural fibre composites. The results show that alternative sustainable materials can be implemented without jeopardizing the product performance. Added value in terms of vibration damping performance are even expected. The conclusion from the project is to proceed with prototype production and field testing, as well as perform more advance LCA (Cradle-to-gate).

Expected long term effects

The project has demonstrated the potential of sustainable materials that are applicable in skis and snowboard manufacturing. After further validation, there is great potential in implementing natural fibre composite solutions in skis/snowboards as there is a clear demand for more sustainable alternatives from the customer perspective. These results should be seen as a first step and are guaranteed to be followed up with introduction of even more sustainable material, such as natural fibre composite with a recyclable resin system.

Approach and implementation

The project was carried out in close collaboration between 3 industrial partners and a research institute. The broad range of expertise within the consortium have benefits all. The industry party´s knowledge in skis/snowboard manufacturing have been crucial for the research institute to deepen its competence in a strategically area, which is applicable to other customers and industries. Contribution from professional skiers have been invaluable in terms of providing insights on product performance and on how to communicate on sustainability within the winter sport community.