Surfing has a sustainability problem — but Surf Block Maui is turning the tide.
We’ve always loved surfing — but it bothered us that most surfboards are made from petroleum-based foam that ends up in landfills. That’s what inspired Surf Block Maui: turning surfboard waste into something strong, sustainable, and useful.
Working out of the Pauwela Cannery, in Haiku, Maui, we started collecting EPS foam scraps from local shapers like Quatro (literally across the hall from us) and mixing them with cement and binders to form Surf Blocks — insulated composite concrete forms (ICCFs) that are fire-resistant, super strong, and three times more insulating than a standard wood-framed wall. They reduce concrete use, don’t need plastic connectors, and most importantly, keep surfboard waste out of our ʻāina.
From the ocean to the home — this is how we build the future, one block at a time.
What is SURF BLOCK?
SURF BLOCK MAUI is a locally owned and operated manufacturer of sustainable building materials also known as Surf Blocks.
SURF BLOCKS are insulated composite concrete forms (ICCF’s) that are used to create lightweight, cast-in-place, steel reinforced concrete walls.
The Surf Blocks permanently remain in place as part of the structure and serve as an insulating component for the structure they enclose. There are numerous benefits to this construction methodology which results in an incredibly disaster resistant structure at a competitive price.
Made with EPS (expanded polystyrene) waste
We use surfboard waste to create our blocks, diverting thousands of cubic yards of EPS foam from going into the landfill.
This is a sustainable alternative to ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms), which are hollow foam blocks that are stacked into the shape of the exterior walls of a building, reinforced with steel rebar, and then filled with concrete.
ICF are made of virgin molded EPS. There is little, if any recycled material in white block.
In comparison to white block, SURF BLOCK has approximately 85% of its volume made of recycled EPS foam.
Divert Waste
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MAUI Made
