After biotech startup Checkerspot created plastic derived from microalgae, outdoor recreation products seemed like a perfect test for new compounds that replicate the properties of petroleum-based plastics.

The winter sports industries have been marshalling a lot of green resources in recent years to become more eco-friendly and environmentally conscious, and with ski resorts expected to be at full capacity and record backcountry skiing and snowboarding forecast for this unique pandemic winter of COVID-19, this is more important than ever.

This Innovation by Design honoree is engineering new high-performance materials that could help wean a variety of industries off petroleum-based compounds.

A ski made of an algae-based composite that dramatically reduces the amount of petrochemicals used to manufacture it.

WNDR Alpine breaks the mold, recasting two totally new (and renewable) core and side- wall materials that are intentionally designed for backcountry skiing rigors first, down to the chemical level.

US materials innovation company Checkerspot has launched skis called Vital 100, which are made from its newest material – Algal Cast. The company unveiled its algae-based bioplastic product via its outdoor consumer brand WNDR Alpine.