The proverbial phrase “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” was first coined by writer Elbert Hubbard in 1915 and has since been used as an encouraging response to difficulties big and small. It has inspired the creation of solutions in the face of challenges, like shipping a surfboard. Shipping a large, fragile item like a surfboard typically requires a large amount of plastic bubble wrap or large custom foam pieces to safely transport it to its final destination, making it difficult or near impossible to recycle. This solution just didn’t sit well with the sustainably minded Flexi-Hex team, so they got to work trying to make lemonade out of lemons.

As a team of problem solvers and product designers, the Flexi-Hex crew went to work to create an innovative way to transport their beloved surfboards with ultimate protection while focusing on sustainability. A love of our planet’s marine environment drove this team to create a solution that would keep plastic out of the oceans by creating a protective sleeve made of paper that could easily be recycled. Alas, the Flexi-Hex sleeve was born.

The Flexi-Hex sleeve is a patented, honeycomb design made of recycled paper that helps protect products, like surfboards, in transit. Renowned for its strength, the hexagonal cell structure not only provides an incredible layer of protection around fragile products but also creates an adaptable sleeve that has many applications like board sports, beverages, cosmetics, electronics, commercial, and homeware. As of September 2022, Flexi-Hex customers have removed more than 2,000km of plastic from the packaging industry by switching to this environmentally friendly solution.