Responsible production
We manufacture our surfboards and accessories in Portugal and in France, within an 800km radius of our head office.
Producing in Europe and France is a key criterion for Nomads, in order to be as close as possible to our partners, to promote the local economy, and to ensure that social conditions are up to French standards.
Responsible production using recycled, recyclable and/or natural materials is a major challenge for us in the years to come, in order to limit our environmental footprint as much as possible.
Our idea of a sustainable economy involves local production, in France where possible or in Europe. We work hard every day to find local partners to manufacture our products.
Producing surf accessories in France is no mean feat when 95% of them are produced in Asia. Finding the right synergies and interlocutors is a challenge in a globalized surf industry, and we’re proud to be gradually succeeding in reindustrializing these forgotten skills.
Being as close as possible to our suppliers enables us to exchange ideas and work efficiently with them, and to develop our products rapidly to best meet surfers’ expectations.
Our production sites
Our suppliers
We are in direct contact with all our partners to better meet our customers’ expectations.
For most of our products, we source the material ourselves, which is then processed by our manufacturers. This allows us to control the origin and composition of our products.
Transport
As part of our commitment to responsible production, we also try to ensure that our products are delivered by carriers who care about their impact. La Poste in France, for example, now only uses electric vehicles for deliveries. For our part, in partnership with Volkswagen Véhicules Utilitaires, we have equipped ourselves with a fleet of hybrid and electric vehicles to enable us to further reduce our emissions.
European and French manufacturing
As far as possible, we try to produce as much as possible in France. This is the case for some of our surfboards, fins and traction pads, as well as for our luggage. When “made in France” is not an option, we look for solutions in Europe. We want to reindustrialize in France everything that is now made in Asia.
Best practices
We are working to set up a charter for our suppliers concerning the good social and environmental practices involved in the production of our products. Our development and growth will enable us to set up initiatives alongside them.
Our impact
To date, we have not carried out a total carbon assessment of our activity (SCOP1 2 and 3). It’s a project we’d like to carry out quickly, with the support of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region and ADEME, so as to have a starting point for understanding our emissions.
Today we carried out a life cycle analysis of our EVO boards, our fishing net daggerboards and our cork traction pads. Our aim is to carry out LCAs for all our surf products. We use the ADEME impact database to carry out these assessments.
We try to offer circular economy products. We use recycled and/or bio-sourced materials, working to extend the lifespan of our products. You can resell your used Nomads products and buy second-hand using our ReSurf service. You can also rent our products. All this helps to extend the life of our products.
We want to work with all the players in the surfing industry to guarantee consumers real transparency on the impact of their surfboards.
We want to work with all the players in the surfing industry to guarantee consumers real transparency on the impact of their surfboards.
Alternative materials
to minimize
the imprint of our
products.
Surfboards and surf accessories are mainly produced by the oil industry.
The surf industry creates an average of 220,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
The surfing industry pollutes enormously. To reduce our impact, we source and develop alternative raw materials that allow us to reduce our carbon footprint.
Raw materials
Surfboards: made from 100% recyclable recycled polystyrene foam (EPS). The resin is 40% biobased.
Surfboards: made from 100% recyclable recycled polystyrene foam (EPS). The resin is 40% biobased.Also known as ghost nets, they contribute to marine pollution. Recovered in France and Spain, they are transformed to serve as raw material for our fins.
Also known as ghost nets, they contribute to marine pollution. Recovered in France and Spain, they are transformed to serve as raw material for our fins.Collected in France, their recycling enables us to manufacture our pads. Natural, waterproof, resistant and biodegradable, cork is the perfect material for surfers.
Collected in France, their recycling enables us to manufacture our pads. Natural, waterproof, resistant and biodegradable, cork is the perfect material for surfers.
How can we extend the life of our products?
Second hand
Before buying new, we encourage you to buy second-hand. Whether you’re into surfing or not, it’s one of the most eco-friendly things you can do!
Maintenance
In order to extend the performance and life of our products, we invite you to follow our simple maintenance recommendations, which you will find on each product sheet.
Repair
By repairing, you extend the product’s lifespan and reduce its impact. Find out more about our partner repairers
Recycling
Recycling a product at the end of its life is the last alternative when nothing else is an option. We offer recycling for all our products. Drop off your boards and accessories at headquarters, and we’ll take care of the rest.
5% donated to the associations we support
The sales generated enable us to subsidize three ocean protection and clean-up associations with 5% of our sales.
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