Best thing since sliced bread

Published on October 1st, 2024

The goal was to replace conventional wood-based building materials in manufacturing and construction. Arizona-based Supersede says they have done it with the world’s first 1:1 marine-grade plywood alternative for boat building. Here’s their announcement:

The Supersede Marine Board, an engineered extruded sheet crafted from plastic waste, is modern, scalable and cost-effective. It is 100% recyclable, waterproof, and rot-proof, and does not splinter or split.

As traditional plywood prices are still ⅓ higher than in 2019, following pandemic-related supply chain challenges, boat manufacturers are increasingly facing a rise in plywood warp, rot, splinter, and performance issues due to change in moisture levels.

Additionally, marine-grade plywood is processed using harmful chemicals that are known to pose possible health, safety, and environmental hazards.

While marine-grade plywood has been in use for decades, the unreliability of its supply chain, its non-durability, and its potential risk to human and environmental health makes the plywood market—worth $31.5B in the US alone—ripe for transformation.

“Boat manufacturers and their insurers have more experience than almost anyone with the headaches of plywood—from the persistent challenges associated with inconsistent performance, warping and splinters, to extensive maintenance, high costs, and little peace of mind,” said Supersede CEO and Co-Founder, Sean Petterson.

“We have created the first modern breakthrough addressing these issues with the Supersede Marine Board that has all the attributes boat manufacturers look for: a durable, reliable, and affordable solution that is non-hazardous, environmentally sustainable, and always consistent. This isn’t just an upgrade to the legacy plywood industry—it’s a long overdue leap forward.”

The potential environmental impact of the Supersede Marine Board is substantial. For every 72 sheets of 1/2′ plywood displaced, one tree is saved. Additionally, Supersede’s manufacturing and engineering process eliminates VOCs, adhesives, and waste from the equation.

The solution also provides an effective, cost-incentivized solution for plastic recycling, which can help counter the spread of microplastics entering the ocean and negatively impacting human health.

Supersede also eliminates steps in the manufacturing process such as sanding, sealing, and drying, and its offcuts are also 100% recychlable; the company’s offcut buyback program enables customers to achieve their zero waste goals. The Supersede Marine Board is also safer for partners’ employees because it prevents exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins like CCA, splinters, and sawdust.

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