Call for Ban on Cheap Polystyrene Bodyboards

Beach Guardian has sparked a debate on whether the UK should ban inexpensive polystyrene bodyboards. These boards, which have been a common sight on coastlines around the world, are now under scrutiny for their negative environmental impact.

According to reports by Keep Britain Tidy, an alarming number of these bodyboards – approximately 16,000 – are abandoned on UK beaches every year. These boards, often priced below £10, are known for their bright colours but poor durability, frequently breaking after just one or two uses.

The construction of these boards involves a simple block of standard polystyrene wrapped in a brightly printed nylon cloth. Despite their low cost, the environmental cost is high, as they are typically sourced from China and transported thousands of miles, only to break shortly after their first use.

The widespread discarding of these polystyrene bodyboards has escalated into a national issue. The environmental impact is significant, as the boards add to the growing problem of beach pollution and pose a threat to marine life.

In a positive move to address this issue, Beach Guardian has collaborated with the Ocean Recovery Project and school students in an initiative to repurpose and recycle as many components of these boards as possible. The group has been actively working on collecting the polystyrene from these boards to recycle them into more environmentally friendly and useful products.

This initiative underscores the growing concern over the use of cheap, single-use products and their long-term impact on the environment. The call for a ban on these polystyrene bodyboards is part of a larger movement to promote sustainability and reduce waste on the UK’s cherished coastlines.