Our editors curate highly rated brands that are first assessed by our rigorous ratings system. Buying through our links may earn us a commission—supporting the work we do. Learn more.
Sourcing more ethical and sustainable surfwear to hit the waves in styles aligned with your morals and your needs can be tricky, so we’ve done the hard work for you and rated and rounded up the best brands for the job.
Inject more sustainability into your surfing
Picture this: it’s early morning, conditions are excellent, the ocean is glassy, the surf has been epic so far, you’re paddling to the line-up, ready to take your last wave of the day. Suddenly, you feel something brush against your hand. IS IT A SHARK? Nope, it’s “just” a plastic bottle. And another. And another. And another. You get the idea.
Plastic pollution, melting ice caps, overfishing, global warming, acidification—you name it. These issues have been all over the news in recent years. The main message? Our oceans are in danger.
Surfing is a sport closely linked to nature, and surfers worldwide have felt the effects consumption and pollution have on the ocean. Surfers’ concern for the environment is inherent and, although the industry is still not perfect, it has started using more ethical and sustainable materials. Many surfing organisations, like Plastic Soup Surfer and Surfrider Foundation, have also been spreading awareness.
However, despite some positive movements in the space, major surfwear brands are not keeping up with the times and are still guilty of harmful production practices. The likes of Billabong (“Not Good Enough”), Rip Curl (“Not Good Enough”), Volcom (“Not Good Enough”), Quiksilver (“We Avoid”), O’Neill (“Not Good Enough”), Roxy (“Not Good Enough”), RVCA (“Not Good Enough”), and Hurley (“We Avoid”) all score “Not Good Enough” or “Very Poor”—our two lowest scores—for the planet, with only Vans coming out with the middling score of “It’s a Start” for the planet and overall.
Thankfully, these days there’s no need to rely on mainstream brands to get your gear. So if you’re a surfer who’s looking to protect our planet, then the first step might be to choose better, more environmentally-friendly surfwear. Side note: if you’re looking to purchase neoprene wetsuits specifically, you can find some from the brands Patagonia, Seea, and Finisterre as mentioned in this list. Let’s dive into our ultimate guide to more ethical and sustainable surfwear.
