Using Algae To Replace Petroleum In The Outdoor Industry

We often focus more on the function of our outdoor gear than the design, which can lead us to overlook the materials that make up the products we use to go outside. Often, this oversight comes at an environmental cost given that petroleum, a fossil fuel product, is a major component in the manufacturing of outdoor equipment. And the preponderance of petroleum products in an industry that touts the importance of preserving and enjoying natural spaces is an unfortunate irony at best, irresponsible capitalism at worst. While certain brands are working on incorporating organic cotton or recycled materials, there continues to be a lot of room, a need for, and consumer desire for, high quality functional items and products that are good for the planet.

Moving away from petroleum in the materials supply chain altogether could lower the outdoor industry’s environmental impact and better align its materials usage with its values. But transforming an entire system is a tall order. Checkerspot biotechnology and WNDR Alpine are demonstrating how algae could be the solution.

Synthesizing Oils From Algae

Different strains of algae contain unique oil molecules. These molecules can be harnessed in the lab and serve as the core building blocks for different materials. Mixing and matching oils from different strains of algae allows for the development of materials with specific physical properties.

Chemically, oils derived from algae can function just like petroleum, but the environmental impact of algae-based materials is much lower than that of fossil fuel-based materials. Cultivating algae and extracting the oils uses less energy, less water and land, and emits fewer greenhouse gases. Furthermore, scientists can manipulate algae’s oil production to maximize oil yield per unit of algae biomass, which increases efficiency of production and minimizes resource use.

In this way, algae may serve as a viable alternative to petroleum in the production of outdoor materials. Checkerspot, an advanced materials company that uses biotechnology to create high-performance, bio-based materials, is putting this idea to the test. Based in Alameda, CA, Checkerspot is committed to developing better materials across a range of industries and applications. It does so by synthesizing algae-based oils at its lab that can be used to replace petroleum-based materials.

The Checkerspot approach is novel in that it offers a sustainable and effective replacement for petroleum in materials design. But beyond that, the Checkerspot approach to this design allows for materials to be designed more intentionally with the end product in mind.

When it comes to assembling oils from molecular building blocks, structure equals function. Because Checkerspot controls their supply chain from the synthesis of the algae to the materials development to final product, they have the ability to select which molecular structures work well in specific applications. In other words, specific materials can be synthesized to meet the demands of specific products. In this way, Checkerspot enables the creation of bespoke materials and meets the needs of a range of different functional and design requirements.

Checkerspot’s core components are summarized by their Wing Platform:

Molecular Foundry

Developing strains of algae and selecting strains based on the molecular structure of the oils they express.

Chemistry and Materials Science

Formulating the biobased oils into materials, then testing and refining them for use in their chosen application.

Fabrication

Integrating materials into complete products to prototype, test, and then serially produce.

Consumer Engagement

Bringing products to market and engaging with consumers to solicit feedback which can then be used to continue to iterate and innovate.

Building Community

Creating a strong community around algae-based materials and other, more sustainable alternatives is key to shifting the outdoor industry away from petroleum-based products.

WNDR Alpine embodies this culture by not just selling skis but creating community. The Friends of WNDR team comprises a mix of athletes, guides, and ski industry icons. Being a WNDR athlete or consumer offers a way for people to continue to pursue the backcountry activities they love while also being more intentional about their environmental impact.

For Jack Stauss, a WNDR athlete, skier, environmental advocate, small business owner, and backcountry educator, the focus on backcountry skiing is an important part of WNDR’s appeal and aligns with the broader environmental ethic behind the brand.

“Resort skiing offers a more curated mountain experience. You have chairlifts and cut runs so it’s a lot easier to disconnect from thinking about the snowpack and the ecological biomes through which you’re moving,” explains Stauss. “Backcountry skiing allows you to understand nature on a more holistic level. It’s a lot less intensive in terms of the resources you need (i.e. no chairlift, no snowmaking, no grooming) and it requires you to have a strong awareness about the environment and terrain you’re moving through. In this way, WNDR products help us think about and build our relationship with the natural world – both through the construction of the skis and through their intended use.”

“WNDR has put an incredible amount of energy into growing a backcountry community that values pivotal technology that works with our planet, safety in the backcountry, and passion for sliding down mountains on snow,” says Melissa Gill, another WNDR athlete.

To further foster consumer engagement and build community, WNDR hosts different events. These include:

• WNDR Rendezvous: safety courses designed to help consumers gain more skills and confidence when moving through backcountry terrain and snowpacks
• WNDR Outposts: guided ski trips across the world in collaboration with the brand’s retail partners that bring WNDR consumers together.
• The WNDR Roost: an annual event that brings together WNDR athletes, friends, and the broader community for three days of backcountry skiing in WNDR’s backyard: the Wasatch Mountains.

“The WNDR community is a really passionate, energized, and kind group,” says Stauss. “It means a lot to me to have support from a brand that embodies a strong environmental consciousness while also making high-performing products. And I strongly believe that supporting companies, like WNDR, that align with your values both on and off the slopes is really important.”

Stauss is not alone in wanting to back brands who are outspoken on sustainability. In the past several years, more consumers have expressed interest in supporting businesses and products that are conscious of reducing environmental impact. A 2020 Consumer Culture report found that 73% of consumers between 35-54 years old stated that it is important to them to support companies that align with their values.