Rahul Somvanshi
Our world urgently needs transformative approaches to product consumption and manufacturing. Trashboard represents a groundbreaking solution—an eco-friendly skateboard that exemplifies innovation through sustainability. Crafted from a fusion of upcycled carbon fiber from aircraft and recycled cardboard, these skateboards demonstrate how waste can be transformed into high-performance sporting equipment.
The Innovation Behind Trashboard
Developed in partnership with Airbus, each Trashboard skateboard is constructed from 75% recycled cardboard combined with reconditioned carbon fiber from discarded aeronautic components. This unique composite material creates a skateboard that is not only 100% recyclable but also delivers superior performance characteristics.
The innovative material composition results in skateboards that are lighter, more flexible, and higher-performing than traditional alternatives, while preserving the authentic sensation of wooden boards. Each deck features integrated wooden rails and is finished with a distinctive monochrome, hand-silk-screened marble effect, applied by artisans at the company’s warehouse in the Basque Country, France.
The Origin Story: From Surfboard to Skateboard
The Trashboard concept originated in 2017 when François Jaubert created an award-winning surfboard from packaging cardboard. This initial creation was exhibited across Europe and inspired “Trash Surf and Gold,” a short film that won a surf award in 2018 at Anglet. The film captured Jaubert’s vision of transforming waste into functional sporting equipment.
Following this success, Jaubert dedicated three years to developing prototypes and refining the manufacturing process for industrial scaling. Through extensive testing, he confirmed both the reliability and performance capabilities of this revolutionary cardboard-based material.
Technical Specifications and Manufacturing
Trashboard skateboards incorporate several advanced materials and construction techniques:
- Core Material: 75% compressed recycled cardboard
- Reinforcement: Upcycled carbon fiber from Airbus aircraft components
- Binding: Biosourced epoxy resin
- Rails: 5-ply wooden construction
- Finish: Hand-applied monochrome marble effect
- Manufacturing Location: Handmade in the Basque Country, France
Environmental Impact and Mission
The company’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond material selection. François Jaubert emphasizes their dedication: “We’re dedicated to reducing our ecological footprint by using sustainable materials and environmentally friendly manufacturing practices. Each board is crafted with the goal of preserving our planet for future generations.”
Trashboard’s manufacturing process prioritizes minimal water and electricity consumption while effectively repurposing cardboard, composite materials, and other waste products that would otherwise contribute to environmental degradation.
Industry Recognition and Expert Opinion
The skateboarding and design communities have recognized Trashboard’s innovative approach. JC Torres, a respected voice in design, notes: “To most people outside of the community, a skateboard is nothing more than a wooden plank on wheels with sometimes outrageous artwork painted on it. The probably surprising reality is that a great deal of design and engineering goes into making these skateboards to keep them aerodynamic while also light and sturdy. While it’s fine to stick to nearly perfect traditions when it comes to materials and processing, there’s also a need to push the envelope in order to design a product that will not only stand the test of time but will also help the planet last a little longer as well.”
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The Future of Sustainable Skateboarding
Trashboard represents more than just an eco-friendly alternative—it embodies a complete reimagining of how sporting equipment can be manufactured sustainably without compromising performance. The collaboration with Airbus demonstrates how industries can work together to create circular economy solutions, giving new life to materials that would otherwise become waste.
For skateboarding enthusiasts, choosing Trashboard means joining a community of innovators committed to environmental responsibility. Each board represents a tangible step toward a more sustainable future, proving that ecological consciousness and high performance can coexist seamlessly.
The success of Trashboard’s approach suggests broader possibilities for sustainable manufacturing across the sporting goods industry, potentially inspiring similar innovations in surfboards, snowboards, and other equipment. As François Jaubert has demonstrated, sometimes the most revolutionary solutions come from seeing waste not as a problem, but as an opportunity for transformation.
Trashboard skateboards are handcrafted in France and represent a new paradigm in sustainable sporting equipment, combining Airbus aerospace technology with environmental stewardship to create boards that perform exceptionally while protecting the planet.
