ECOBOARD PROJECT MANUFACTURER AUDIT SUMMARY - 2017
5th March 2018
Conducted on: 19 Jul 2017
Prepared by: Michael Stewart and Brett Giddings of Sustainable Surf
Location: Amata Industrial Estate, Bangkok Thailand
Overview
COBRA International Co., Ltd. is one of the world’s leading OEMs of highend composite products. Cobra provides manufacturing solutions for the Windsurfing, Surfing, (SUP) Stand Up Paddle, Kitesurfing, Wakeboarding, Kayak, Jet-Ski, Motorcycle and Automotive markets.
In July 2017 Sustainable Surf attended COBRA’s Thailand factory to undertake an onsite Manufacturer Audit and Verification. The primary aims of the audit were to:
- Confirm and verify the factory’s use of ‘Qualified ECOBOARD Project Materials’ following an inaugural audit in 2016, specifically the use of Sicomin GreenPoxy 33 and 56 resin;
- Review the process for applying the ECOBOARD Project label/logo to qualifying boards;
- Review staff training and awareness relating to the application of the ECOBOARD Project label on ‘qualifying boards’; and
- Document the broader sustainability-related activities, programs and processes that COBRA has in place, with the goal of helping to identify opportunities based on Sustainable Surf’s sustainability expertise and industry awareness.
Results: Conformance with all Reporting Areas
The audit confirmed, and further reinforced, that COBRA International has comprehensive systems in place to ensure that boards ‘carrying’ the ECOBOARD logo meet the ECOBOARD Project requirements. The organization has sector-leading processes and procedures that ensure boards are made to the ECOBOARD specification, appropriate protections are in place for staff regarding occupational health and safety risks, and broader environmental impacts are considered and managed.
Key Observations
The following are some of the key observations noted during the audit:
- By only producing molded boards with qualifying Sicomin bio-resin, and having a comprehensive specification process that follows each board through the production line, the opportunity for a non-qualifying board to be laminated with the ECOBOARD logo is significantly minimized, if not negated. Resin barrels, dispensing stations and relevant equipment are also all clearly marked and maintained.
- There has been a dramatic expansion of the number of brands and board types making ECOBOARDS through COBRA’s facility since the initial audit in 2016. Sustainable Surf would like to commend COBRA and it’s brand customers for the key role that they are playing in increasing the number of ECOBOARDS made each year. NSP, Starboard SUP and Windsurf, Surftech, Airush and The Surfboard Agency (Stacey, McCoy, Vampirate, LSD) are all making some or all of their ECOBOARDS at COBRA.
- Reinforcing point ‘1’, the Cobra site holds ISO 9001 certification. The management systems, policies processes and procedures that underpin this, further limit opportunities for non-qualifying boards to ‘carry’ the ECOBOARD logo. The Amata Industrial Facility where COBRA is located also holds ISO 14001certification, ensuring the same level of control is also applied to the environmental management systems relevant to COBRA’s operations.
- Worker health and safety (WHS) and health and wellness programs are at a very high standard. COBRA has implemented many key activities and programs to promote the improvement of safety and support its workers and the broader community.
- COBRA is actively pursuing an extensive range of environmental initiatives to improve energy inputs, waste and water management, shipping and packaging, and supply chain sustainability. These are documented and publicly reported via the company’s Sustainability Report.
- Understanding that employees are integral to the success of the organization, COBRA provides a range of programs to encourage participation in activities that utilize the water-sport products they produce. Cobra supports an employee Windsurfing Club, where employees can participate in Windsurfing, Kitesurfing, Kayaking and Stand-up-paddle boarding.
Audit Summary
The following is a summary of the key findings relating to the processes and systems that COBRA has in place to ensure ECOBOARDS are produced with ECOBOARD Qualified Resin.
| Qualified bio-resin | |
| Manufacturing site is being audited for use of ECOBOARD Qualified bio-resin | Yes |
| List Qualified bio-resins used to build ECOBOARDS and which brands/boards use each resin | Greenpoxy 33 and 56 are both used at COBRA. COBRA completely transitioned to Sicomin GreenPoxy 33 for molded board production in 2016 and many 'custom' boards produced are now also using bio-resin. |
| Process in place for applying artwork with ECOBOARD Project Logo |
Yes |
| Describe the process and how it ensures logo is only applied to boards using Qualified Materials |
|
| Original Equipment Manufacturer authorization | ||
| I hereby confirm that the information provided above is current and accurate: | Danu Chotikapanich | 19 Jul 2017 |
| Position, organization | CEO, Cobra International Co., Ltd. | |
| Sustainable Surf Assessor authorization | ||
| I hereby confirm that the information provided above is current and accurate: | Michael Stewart | 19 Jul 2017 |
| Position | Co founder | |
Sustainable Surf is excited to continue working collaboratively to expand the impact of the ECOBOARD Project. We value the opportunity to work with one of the world’s leading board manufacturers and will continue finding new and innovative ways to work together and add value to COBRA and its ECOBOARD Project partner customers.
