Moana surfboard fins : the resurrection of plastic

• Autor(a) principal: Allar, Corentin Pascal V
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/26925
• topic: Plastic recycling; Circular economy; Environmental impact of plastic waste; Entrepreneurship; Surfboard fins; Reciclagem de plástico; Economia circular; Impacto ambiental de resíduos de plástico; Empreendedorismo; Quilhas para prancha de surf; Domínio/Área Científica::Ciências Sociais::Economia e Gestão

The impact of plastic waste on the natural environment has been increasingly alarming and largely acknowledged as potentially irreversible. Nonetheless, entrepreneurial endeavours can actively change the synergies of the plastic industry that partly hold sway over the global economy. The aim of this dissertation is to investigate how the birth of Moana, a Portugal-based start-up that produces 100% recycled-plastic surfboard fins, can contribute to the collective effort towards influencing the plastic industry synergies at a micro-level by implementing an artisan business model. To control for its viability as an alternative approach to producing environmentally friendly surfboard fins, customer segments are defined by means of a survey analysis, competition is examined on a comparative basis and a technologically singular production process are explored. Subsequently, results provided valuable insights on Moana’s feasibility. Competition is rather mild, and the technology used for production is economical and user-friendly. Additionally, proximity to the customer base is of utmost importance to ensure that sustainable oriented surfers are offered the knowledge and the sense of community required to root awareness and change their perception on plastic waste. In conclusion, Moana proves to be an achievable endeavour as a start-up rich in potential. If executed diligently, it may become a leading example and eventually offer the opportunity to replicate its business model in future entrepreneurial undertakings in numerous industries.