Wax the Earth: Why waxing your stick hurts the earth

As a grommet, I used to chew on surf wax bits. I would roll it up into little pieces and pop it in like candy. The sweet smell and sticky texture felt so natural. Little did I know that the stuff I put under my feet to surf on was damaging to the earth I walk on everyday.
Necessary Evil
Surf wax is integral to the sport. The surfboard and the wax are as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly and more reliant on one another than any component for any sporting event. To realize the importance of wax, just try surfing without it. Difficult. Or look at how many people use track pads instead. Not many. Surf wax is much more important than most people give it credit for.
What It Is
Plants produce a layer of wax on stems and leaves to protect themselves from nature’s elements. Over millions of years, dead plant material gets buried, accumulates and compresses to turn into the crude oil, or petroleum, that is needed for the myriad of products used in daily life.
Within the crude oil is the wax that was produced by the plants so long ago. Because of the waxes inert and water repellent nature, it is unaffected by the decomposition of the plant material and remains intact, suspended within the crude oil. Most waxes you see today are waste products of crude oil.
Petroleum companies "harvest" the crude oil and process it. They refine the oil, separating the different properties into different products such as gasoline, kerosene, and lubrication oil. In many cases, the wax in the petroleum is considered undesirable and is refined out. The refinery processes the wax into a form that is available to companies who may have a use for it.
From the Ground, but Bad for the Earth
Parrafin wax is basically on the same level as gasoline. Anything made from oil has a direct negative affect on the environment. In reality, the surf wax on your board may come from the huge oilrigs seen in the distance off the California coast or from the oil fields in the Middle East.
Oil spills, pipeline construction, or flat out wars are all negative things that have come from our addiction to oil. Rubbing up your stick with a petroleum-based wax is one of the many things that we as surfers do that is damaging to Mother Earth.
Less Impact
Alternatives to petroleum-based waxes are popping up all over the place. Some are looking for a way to separate themselves from the crowd and others are looking to make a difference in the world. Formulas include wax that originates from beeswax or from wax produced by trees. When plants are directly utilized for their waxy chemicals, there is the opportunity to have certified organic materials.
Rather than being derivative from oil, plants that are grown without the use of pesticides turn into a far superior environmentally friendly product. Such is the case for a California wax company called Matunas.
Matunas
Owner of Matunas Wax, Matt Mattoon, said, “The goal of Matunas Wax is to make a surf wax that uses local ingredients, that are non-toxic, biodegradable, and contain some organic ingredients while still remaining a great product for surfers.”
The company started in 1999 on a kitchen stove in Santa Cruz. Today, Matunas is finding it difficult to keep up with their orders after the 2006 ASR Trade Show. Matt said, “The industry is waking up to consumers who want to make a positive difference. Surfers see that they have a choice for a product that doesn’t do so much harm and they like it.”
In addition, since the entire production of Matunas occurs in California, there is no outsourcing of work or chance of bending environmental laws to get that great bar of wax.
Many wax companies will claim they use recycled paper with soy-based inks but in reality if the oil-based wax is wrapped in a recycled paper cover, you are still getting something that is not good for Mother Ocean.
Money is Power
Your dollar speaks louder than a single vote you may cast during an election. Your money drives companies like Matunas to thrive on creating positive change for our future as surfers.
Asking for eco-friendly products at your surf shop or directly from the big-name companies is one way you can flex your muscle. Conforming to the norm is not going to get you the wave karma needed for the ultimate surf experience. No matter how insignificant it may seem, knowing that the wax under your feet is good for the ocean is an unreal stoke.