Project Investment:

• Island Coastal Economic Trust: $150,000
• Total Budget: $413,143

Project Highlight:

ReSurf is a new circular-economy business tackling the growing problem of old surfboards and neoprene wetsuits ending up in the landfill, products that typically lack recycling or upcycling options in BC and Canada.

By recovering, repairing, and reprocessing these surf products, ReSurf diverts waste from landfills, advances sustainability within the surf industry, and contributes to a more circular and resilient coastal economy.

Led by Surfrider Foundation Canada, the project operates from a 2,500 sq. ft. facility in Ucluelet on the West Coast. The site is equipped with industrial sewing machines for wetsuit repairs and a granulator for processing materials, and employs wetsuit repair technicians, surfboard recycling staff, and local volunteers to support outreach and events.

ReSurf works in partnership with local surf shops and landfills to collect donated and discarded materials, which are then sorted for repair, resale, or upcycling. The initiative has attracted interest from major surf brands and recycling partners, who intend to use ReSurf as a hub for warranty repairs and material processing within Canada.

Island Coastal Economic Trust is partnering on the project through a $150,000 investment from the Capital and Innovation funding program, under the Innovation and Technology investment priority.

Wellbeing Impact

The Trust invests in projects using a Wellbeing Impact Framework that looks beyond traditional economic metrics. This approach evaluates how each investment strengthens economic prosperity, cultural vitality, climate resilience, and social empowerment. By focusing on outcomes that matter to people and place, the Trust works to spur new investments that create meaningful, lasting benefits across Vancouver Island and the coast.

ReSurf will create inclusive economic opportunities through employment and pathways in the green sustainability sector, diversifying the local workforce and strengthening long-term economic resilience in the region.

Economic Prosperity 

This project strengthens the local economy by:

• Creating one new social enterprise
• Forging over 20 new partnerships across the full circular supply chain, including:
  – B.C. surf shops (consumer drop off/collection points)
  – Ocean Legacy Foundation (collection points for end-of-life wetsuits, diverting materials from disposal)
  – Recycling and upcycling partners, including: Reclaimed Plastics, NexKemia, Lava Rubber, Langley Plastics, and Marko Foam
  – Major wetsuit brands for Canada-wide warranty repairs, including: Rip Curl, O’Neill, Billabong, Xcel, Vissla, Volcom, and Finisterre

Social Empowerment

The project supports social empowerment with:

• Three new permanent full-time jobs
• Two new permanent part-time jobs
• Five direct temporary jobs
• 25 new volunteer opportunities

Climate Resiliency

The project will contribute to climate resiliency by:

• Extending product life, reducing the need for new manufacturing and lowering the environmental footprint of the surf industry
• Increasing regional capacity to manage waste locally
• Recovering materials into new uses over single-use production and disposal
• Reducing marine and coastal pollution by interrupting waste streams

Cultural Vitality

The project will strengthen cultural vitality by:

• Providing opportunities for sustainability workshops and events for the community
• Supporting storytelling about environmental stewardship and coastal culture