MATERIALS
BIOMANUFACTURED ALGAE OIL
- High levels of monounsaturated fat; low in saturates and polyunsaturates
- Highly stable
- 100% biobased content and readily biodegradable
- Low odor
- Highly enriched for triolein
- Industrial
- Plasticizer
- Ingredient in lubricants
- Leather processing (fatliquoring)
- PU system flush
- Food & Feed
Polyurethane Cast Elastomers
- Thermoset
- Algae-derived
- Hardness, flexural strength and impact resistance can be tuned to meet needs of the end-use application
- Shore A and D formulations available
- Can be pigmented in an array of colors
- No added mercury, tin, MOCA, or TDI
- Can enable the manufacture of products containing USDA Certified Biobased content up to 66% (ASTM D6866)
- Explore samples of Checkerspot® Cast PU
- Ski sidewall made with AlgalCast has 15% greater flexural strength than traditional petroleum-based ABS sidewalls at room temperature, and 60% greater flexural strength at low temperatures*
- 138% better damping than a traditional petroleum-based ABS sidewall
- Manufacturing AlgalCast can reduce plastic waste compared to use of extruded plastic sidewalls
- Sidewall cast, unlike extruded plastic, forms an intimate bond to wood core eliminating the need for glue/resin
- Utilizing the cast urethane can reduce raw material input because AlgalCast can be dispensed to desired thickness and depth depending on end-use application
* Example of one formulation used in prior year ski models
Rigid Polyurethane Foams
- Rigid, high-density algae-based polyurethane foam with a closed cell structure
- Utilizes water as a blowing agent (no cyclopentane, n-pentane, methyl formate or hydrofluorocarbons)
- No added mercury, tin, MOCA, or TDI
- Can enable the manufacture of products containing USDA Certified Biobased content up to 41% (ASTM D6866)
- Lightweight composite made from Checkerspot® AlgalFoam and wood (e.g., aspen), utilized in ski and snowboard cores
- Can be manufactured with a variety of wood species
- Can be fine-tuned for lightweighting and damping
- Enhanced compressive strength to withstand common layup techniques
TeXTILE FINISHES
Commercialized by Beyond Surface Technologies
- 100% biocarbon content
- Improves wicking and moisture management
- Reduces drying time - fast dry
- Readily biodegradable
- Up to 80% lower carbon footprint vs. petroleum-based wicking finishes
*Data provided by Beyond Surface Technology, our partner and the makers of miDori® bioWick
- PANGAIA's Activewear line pulls moisture away from the skin and towards the surface of the fabric for evaporation
- Helps to keep the body cool and dry when working out
- Excellent durability
*Data provided by PANGAIA
RECYCLED MATERIALS
- Recycled composite of fiberglass, wood, AlgalCast, and biobased resin derived from reclaimed production waste
- Can be molded or routed into a variety of shapes for a diverse range of applications
- Provides an opportunity to integrate recycled content into product construction, diverting waste from landfill
- For skis, provides ~35% better binding screw retention strength than the previously used maple inserts
- For snowboards, 5mm Spiral Plate insert packs enable ~5% better binding retention strength than inserts surrounded by traditional aspen wood.
- Spiral Plate insert packs for snowboards provide a wider platform for power transfer, resulting in better energy transmission to the snowboard’s core
Better Products Bring Biology Inside
An incredible number of the products we interact with on a day-to-day basis rely on petroleum and other unsustainable sources of oil. With a single microorganism, we're aiming to change that. When you choose Checkerspot® materials, the butterfly mark serves as a signal that the product contains a better source of oil. The butterfly shows which products bring Biology Inside, prioritizing both their performance and sustainability — since we believe that having to choose between the two is a false choice.
EcoVadis Silver
We're committed to continuous evaluation of our policies, supply chain, and actions related to social and environmental impact and sustainable procurement. We're proud to have earned a Silver rating from EcoVadis, one of the leading international monitoring agencies for sustainability in global supply chains. Their team of sustainability experts analyzed and cross-checked our data to rate our performance at the Silver medal level and we continue to strive for improvement year over year.
Learn More
It takes a community united behind a shared vision to create long-lasting, sustainable change.
Are you interested in partnering with us or curious about our materials?
We want to hear from you.