Faro Board Bags is a company born out of a passion for surfing and a commitment to sustainability. Founded by Jack Ventura, this innovative brand aims to address the issue of overconsumption in the surfing and travel industry by creating durable, high-quality products that stand the test of time.
In an exclusive interview with Jack Ventura, the founder shared his inspiration:
"I fell in love with surfing and exploring remote parts of the world. However, I noticed a common problem threatening these beautiful, lesser-known places: overconsumption. I decided to be part of the solution by creating simple, durable products from rugged materials, mitigating overconsumption through quality, long-lasting goods."
Faro Board Bags operates on five core principles:
1. Quality: Producing gear that excels in function, aesthetics, and longevity.
2. Sustainability: Focusing on products and processes built to last, using responsibly sourced materials.
3. Transparency: Maintaining open communication about their practices.
4. Exploration: Inspiring adventure in various forms, from products to places and people.
5. Timelessness: Creating utilitarian goods that remain stylish and encourage exploration for years to come.
By adhering to these principles, Faro Board Bags is not just selling products; they're promoting a lifestyle that values quality, sustainability, and adventure.
Anyway, here's the interview with Jack!
Interview
Hey guys, I'm Jack. I'm the founder of Faro Bags and if you don't know us, we make versatile surfboard bags built from rugged, sustainable materials.
1. Why is conserving and protecting the oceans important to you?
Conserving and protecting the oceans for me is so important because it's our playground as surfers. It's where we play and surf as somebody who works in the surf industry. It's where we work, coming from a family that fishes and hunts. It's where we get our food...
It's important to conserve it and make sure it's here for our generation to enjoy, our kids' generation, our grandkids. And ultimately, the ocean is the heart of the earth. It really helps everything survive and thrive. It's our responsibility to take care of it the same way it takes care of us.
2. What are you doing that is better for the oceans?
At Faro, our commitment to ocean conservation starts with creating products built to last. A single durable product that stays with you for years is far more sustainable than multiple disposable ones that need frequent replacement. This holds true even when using virgin materials—doing once has a smaller environmental impact than doing it repeatedly.
So each board bag is made from at least 25 or more plastic bottles depending on the length of the bag.
3. What do you think the surfing industry specifically can be doing to support the
health of the oceans?
The surfing industry does a comparatively good job supporting ocean health. While we have some practices that aren't perfectly eco-friendly, environmental concerns remain a priority—and now that surfers are increasingly engaged, positive changes are happening incrementally.
The best path forward for ocean health is continual improvement in sustainability practices. As businesses grow and become more profitable, they should reinvest in protecting our planet and oceans.
4. Can you recommend any books, brands, organisations or people our followers should check out for inspiration?
The first thing that comes to mind when it comes to brands and books is Patagonia. Surprise!
I really love the book 'Let My People Go Surfing' - I read that book when I started Faro and it really changed my mindset about what a good business is and what a sustainable business is. If you're into sustainability or business or, into Patagonia as a brand and want to learn more about them, it's a great book and you should check it out.
A non-profit brand we use to contribute to is called Sea Trees and they plant mangrove trees and do kelp restoration around California, Bali, Indonesia and so on. They do really great things when it comes to sequestering carbon and ultimately trying to better the health of our oceans - they're a great company and you should check them out too!
5. Any final message you would like to share? (Don’t stress if you can’t think of any!)
Yes, for sure. The mission at Faro Board Bags is to mitigate overconsumption through quality, long-lasting goods. It's what I'm always talking about - is that the best thing that you can do for our oceans, for our planet, for yourself (and your wallet!), is to buy things that are built to last.
And do your research! Check out the company, whether it's Faro or another company, or buying clothes, bags, whatever. See if they will repair, replace, refund the thing that you're looking to buy. Because most of the time, if they are willing to do that, they're doing a lot of work on the front end to make sure that there aren't people sending things back and that's how you can guarantee that you're going to get a great product.
In addition, the business in turn guarantees that they're going to be profitable. Simply, buy things that are built to last by companies that are backed by real people and I think that would be better for the ocean and our planet - ultimately your gear and your wallet.
Thanks guys for having me, I really appreciate it and thank you Born Slippy for having me here for this little interview, it was awesome! and hope you guys have a good day!
Learn more about Jack and Faro at https://faroboardbags.com