The Hidden Cost of the Grip: Why Your Wax Choice Matters More Than You Think
Have you ever stopped to wonder exactly what happens to your surf wax after it leaves your board?
As surfers, we pride ourselves on being the frontline protectors of the ocean. We join beach cleans, we support reef conservation, and we agonize over the sustainability of our boards. But there is a silent, sticky polluter that most of us overlook every single time we paddle out.
The 5,000-Tonne Problem
The latest market research tells a staggering story. There are roughly 35 million surfers globally. From the peeling point breaks of Australia to the cold-water slabs of Ireland, we are all chasing the same feeling of connection with the water.
But to get that connection, we need grip.
Conservative estimates suggest that active surfers use between 4,000 and 6,000 tonnes of surf wax every single year. To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of about 1,000 African Elephants worth of wax being rubbed onto boards annually.
How We Got the Numbers: The Math Behind the Wax
You might be wondering, how do we actually know how much wax is being used? We didn't just pull these numbers out of the lineup. To reach this global estimate, we looked at data from the International Surfing Association (ISA) and industry trade groups like SIMA.
Here is the breakdown of the "Back-of-the-Envelope" calculation:
- Participation: Of the 35 million surfers worldwide, roughly 15 million are considered "core" or active surfers (hitting the water at least once a week).
- Consumption: An active surfer typically goes through one bar of wax every 1 to 2 months. Whether it's a fresh coat for a new swell or a top-up for the dawn patrol, it adds up to roughly 6 to 10 bars per year, per person.
- Volume: When you multiply those millions of bars by the average weight of a standard block (approx. 75g–100g), you quickly reach a global volume that exceeds 5 million kilograms.
That is a mountain of wax—and currently, almost all of it is a petroleum byproduct.
The Paraffin Reality
Here is the "performance drag" that nobody talks about: Over 95% of that wax is petroleum-based paraffin. Paraffin is a byproduct of the oil industry. It doesn't biodegrade. Instead, it sheds micro-plastics and chemical additives directly into the lineup. Every duck-dive and every wipeout leaves a trace of fossil fuel behind. We are essentially coating our "playgrounds" in a thin layer of oil-industry waste.
Why "Green Planet Surfer" is Changing the Narrative
At GPS, we don't think you should have to choose between a high-performance grip and a healthy ocean.
We looked at the data and realized that if we could move the needle for even a fraction of those 35 million surfers, we could prevent tonnes of petroleum from entering our marine ecosystems. That is why our Surf Wax is crafted from 100% natural ingredients including beeswax, coconut oil, tree resins and clay minerals.
When you switch to a sustainable wax, you aren't just buying grip; you're voting for a cleaner ocean.
Join the Shift
The next time you’re prepping your board for a session, take a look at your wax. Is it part of the 5,000-tonne paraffin problem, or is it part of the solution?
We’re building a tribe of surfers who demand more from their gear. Because at the end of the day, the best sessions are the ones where the only thing we leave behind is our footprints in the sand.
Ready to make the switch? [Explore the 100% Ocean-Safe Wax Range here.]
Sources: SIMA (Surf Industry Members Association), International Surfing Association (ISA), and Global Market Intelligence Reports 2024.