Enviro-Mental: Beans For Barrett

Photo: Tim Zimmerman

Mervin Manufacturing Mervin’s entire factory is heated with biodiesel fuel. Mervin uses no solvents in their factory—only citrus-based cleaners. Mervin uses fast-growing farmed wood in their board cores. All electricity at the Mervin factory is “green,” specially contracted by the PUD. Mervin sublimates the bases of their boards, because you can’t recycle excess base material with silkscreen inks. Mervin’s sublimation process eliminates the need for automotive lacquer gloss coats that harm the environment.

Words: Tom Monterosso

Rocky Mountain ruler-turned- Northwest native Barrett Christy is perhaps the most-decorated competitor women’s snowboarding has ever seen—her resume reads like a Roman scroll of on-hill accomplishments. Aside from medaling in every Winter X Games category she has ever competed in, Barrett’s a former Olympian, Baker Banked title holder, US Open victor, and much more. Christy has recently added “environmental supporter” to her list of achievements, with the help of Mervin Manufacturing’s earthfriendly attitude.

Under the umbrella of the Mervin empire, GNU Snowboards produces the longest-running women’s-specific pro model of all time—the B-Pro. Now, the board’s selling points focus just as much on preserving powder as how the plank performs. Barrett’s board boasts eco-friendly asterisks that other companies often overlook, such as BEANS technology, a new type of plastic topsheet material that is not only stronger and lighter than conventional types, but also healthier for our ailing earth. The oil used to make the topsheets comes from castor bean plants, unlike the sticky, glossy, and hazardous resins layered atop most boards. With the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any topsheet in the industry, Barrett backs the B-Pro’s BEANS technology. “The castor bean topsheets are something that Mike Olsen had been using on the Cygnus. When I realized I could get a snakeskin-textured topsheet made from beans, I immediately set out to find the right graphic for it. I also wanted to incorporate bamboo into the boards—not only because it looks beautiful, but because it’s lightweight, flexible, and strong.” (Bamboo is one of the most sustainable plants on earth, regenerating at a speed 30% quicker than the next-fastest plant’s growth rate.) According to Barrett, “The choices we make now will effect the next generation, and so on. I’ve got a son now, and I want to build up as much earth karma as I can for him!” Ain’t no beans about it—think fast, ride hard, and act now.

Related Links:
Enviro-Mental: En Bleiler
Enviro-Mental: Quiksilver
Enivro-mental: ThirtyTwo
Enviro-Mental: Salomon Sick Stick

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