Conscious by Nature

INTRODUCING THE SECTION C.B.N. - ELEMENT’S MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE BOARD TO DATE.

After more than two years of research and development, Element is proud to launch the Section C.B.N. — a skate deck that is proven to have 43% less impact on the planet than our traditionally made decks*. Through the conducting of a Life Cycle Analysis with independent environmental experts, and close collaboration with our Spanish-based factory HLC, we are excited to take this first step toward a more responsible way of making skateboards.

(*Click the link below to access the independent Lifecycle Analysis study.)

WHAT MAKES THE SECTION C.B.N. LESS IMPACTFUL?

This board represents progress, a push toward making our skateboards as responsibly as we can. While it might just be one board now, it has always taken just one thing to start something big, something important. This is being Conscious By Nature.

SECTION C.B.N. DECK:
Construction Features-Produced 100% by HLC in Spain

1. RESPONSIBLY SOURCED WOOD
Our wood comes from responsibly managed forests in Canada that have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The rigorous certification set out by FSC guarantees that the forest is managed in a sustainable way to preserve the ressource and biodiversity. Decks made with FSC wood have a reduced impact on climate change by 16%.

2. WATER-BASED VARNISH
We use a solvent free varnish coating to protect the graphics and increase strength, while significantly reducing the board’s harmful impact. Using this varnish, the impact on climate change is decreased by 10%.

3. WATER-BASED GLUE
A solvent free glue has been chosen for this assembling process guaranteeing a strong durability and lower impact on the environment. Using this glue, the impact on climate change is decreased by 11%.

4. NATURAL VENEERS
We decided to remove the dyed veneers in the deck in order to avoid the use of dyes and harmful chemicals. This creates an improved adhesion of the water-based glue giving the deck a higher resistance, durabilty and strength.

5. BIO-BASED PACKAGING
For shipping purposes we have chosen to use a biobased shrinkable wrap to better protect the board and achieve an overall lower environmental impact. This material is 100% vegetal and made out of corn plants. Its impact on climate is decreased by 1%.

6. SINGLE COLOR GRAPHIC
We use a single color graphic that is hand made in the HLC factory. This avoids the transportation of the raw materials to be treated overseas and the excess ink can be reused. With this use of production and localized shipping (overland v. airplane) the impact on climate change is decreased by 2%.

SECTION C.B.N. DECK:
Fabrication Details - Prodcuced 100% by HLC in Spain

1. SMART RECYCLING & WASTE MANAGEMENT
Through their endemic manufacturing practices, HLC manages the wood waste by-product from the manufacturing process to transform it into usable chipboard wood for furniture. We will also encourage consumers to recycle the deck at a wood recycling facility at the end of its usage life. Using this process, the impact on climate change is decreased by 1%.

2. SOLAR POWERED MFG. PROCESS
HLC has an impressive solar panel array that provides roughly 30% of its power needs per year. This represents a savings of 97.25 tonnes of CO2 eq. / year.

3. MADE IN EUROPE
Located less than 30 km from our global headquarters in the heart of the Spanish Basque Country, HLC’s factory offers a localized base of production and distribution for our EMEA partners, eliminating trans-oceanic shipping logistics.

4. LASER ENGRAVED TOP GRAPHICS
Using advanced laser machinery, all top sheet graphics and info will be imprinted into the wood, eliminating unnecessary stickers and info cards. A scannable QR code has been imprinted into the deck to give you access to all of the information about the Section C.B.N.

5. APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY TO FUTURE RANGES
The Section C.B.N. is the first step toward improving our overall skateboard manufacturing practices. With this technology and process in place, we can easily apply these steps to our future hardgoods ranges as well as making this process available to everyone from 2025.

With these practices and materials in place, the Section C.B.N. deck is 43% less impactful on global warming.

GET TO KNOW THE FACTORY

Located in the the heart of the Basque Country in Northern Spain, HLC is known as one of the most advanced skateboard factories in the world. As a family business, it was founded by the Iraola brothers in 2000. Since then, HLC has gone from making decks in a small garage to running a state-of-the-art factory, manufacturing skateboards to the highest standards. Working in cooperation with Element and the environmental impact consultants at AirCoop for two years, HLC is now able to produce the Section C.B.N., with the goal of making this process open source to the skateboard industry in 2025. Learn more about HLC and AirCoop here.

Thank you to our partners for helping to realize this project. Future = Nature.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW