FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

8 September 2017

For almost 70 years Land Rover has transported people across the world’s toughest terrain, but it is now making its first foray into the ocean with the ‘Waste to Wave’ surfboard, created using recycled plastic derived from early clay design models

  • Plastic foam from early vehicle design models given a second life in Jaguar Land Rover’s ‘Waste to Wave’ project
  • Polyurethane used in the creation of early design studio models will now be turned into surfboards and paddleboards
  • Plastic sent to landfill can take up to 500 years to decompose. Surfboard concept is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s wider ‘second life’ initiative and supports its longer term zero waste strategy.
  • Surfboard was created in partnership with SkunkWorks Surf Co and tested off the coast of Northern Ireland by England’s number one female surfer Lucy Campbell before being showcased at Tech Fest in London

Watch the surfboard being created and tested here or see the first board concepts at Tech Fest, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London from 8‑10 September

FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

With an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic dumped in oceans every year, taking hundreds of years to decompose, Jaguar Land Rover has strengthened its commitment to achieving its zero waste goal by creating a range of surfboards made wholly from recycled plastic.

The surfboard was created in partnership with SkunkWorks Surf Co, a surf company with a focus on minimising environmental impact, and tested by the English Women's Open Surfing Champion surfer, Lucy Campbell off the coast of Northern Ireland. It was hand‑built to the exact dimensions (5'7 x 18 3/8 x 2 3/16) required by Campbell, who is currently competing on the global circuit. It has carbon fibre rails from the nose and a carbon strip from the tail for additional strength while allowing flex to push through high‑intensity manoeuvres.

FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

Polyurethane is used in the manufacture of life‑size clay models which are modelled by hand at the very beginning of the car design process. The polymer forms the ‘skeleton’ of the models, which is normally destroyed once a car is launched, while the clay is recycled and re‑used on site. Now, Jaguar Land Rover is ensuring that all plastic is recovered and sliced into blocks ready for a second life as surfboards or paddleboards.

The very first surfboard, which was created from a Discovery Sport clay model that was broken down in June 2017, was designed and built by SkunkWorks Surf Co in Northern Ireland. Land Rover invited Lucy Campbell, the UK’s number one female surfer, to get behind the wheel of a Discovery Sport before putting the concept through its paces on the waves of Whiterocks beach, Northern Ireland.

FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC
FROM WASTE TO WAVE: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LAUNCHES SURFBOARD MADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

When I first heard about this project I was so excited to be a part of it. The ocean is a big part of my life so helping to raise awareness of the need to preserve it is so important to me. I didn’t know much about the car design process and it’s been fascinating to learn about how Jaguar Land Rover is giving a ‘second life’ to its materials in this way. Getting out into the water and trying the board out for the first time was awesome.

Lucy Campbell
English Women's Open Surfing Champion surfer

I’m a keen surfer so being able to create sustainable boards that can ride the waves is great. When Jaguar Land Rover approached us with their idea of reusing polyurethane we couldn’t wait to get started in helping reduce their waste – a subject that is very close to my heart. It is so useful to get Lucy’s feedback. Her experience riding some of the best waves around the globe will be invaluable as we continue to develop our processes.

Ricky Martin
co‑founder of SkunkWorks Surf Co

The surfboard debuts this weekend in London at Jaguar Land Rover Tech Fest, a free‑to‑enter festival exploring the future of mobility. Tech Fest is open from 8 – 10 September at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Notes to Editors

  • As a business, Jaguar Land Rover is working towards zero waste, focusing on waste prevention through re‑engineering and process change, maximising closed loop processes, and finally material re‑use.
  • Annually, Jaguar Land Rover reclaims 50,000 tonnes of press shop aluminium waste – enough to make around 200,000 Jaguar XE body shells
  • Last year, Jaguar Land Rover reworked and re‑used 18.5 tonnes of recycled clay as part of the design process, which would have otherwise been discarded. Excess clay is bagged up and given to local universities for students to re‑use.

About Tech Fest 2017: Technology with Heart

‘Technology with Heart’ is the theme of Jaguar Land Rover’s inaugural Tech Fest, an event that explores the positive role technology is playing in reshaping the automotive industry and beyond.

The free‑to‑enter festival takes place at the internationally recognised Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. It is open to the general public from Friday 8 September to Sunday 10 September.

The event will be packed full of innovative exhibits and interactive displays that demonstrate how technology is being used to make a positive difference. Attendees can fast forward into the future and take a glimpse into a world where cars drive themselves and vehicles are shared, not owned.

Join the conversation using #JLRTechFest

About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all‑wheel‑drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

We employ almost 42,000 people globally and support around 240,000 more through our dealerships, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centred in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, India and Slovakia.

At Jaguar Land Rover we are driven by a desire to create class‑leading products that deliver great customer experiences. The largest investor in R&D in the UK manufacturing sector, we have invested £16 billion in the last seven years and in the current year alone will spend over £4 billion on new product creation and capital expenditure. In 2016 Jaguar Land Rover sold more than 583,000 vehicles in 136 countries, with more than 80 per cent of our vehicles produced in the UK being sold abroad.