Written by Dan, Founder of Norst

At Norst, we make every balance board by hand - cutting, shaping, finishing, and packing each one with care. That process leaves us with a good amount of cardboard off-cuts from our custom boxes. Most brands would send that waste to landfill. But not us.

Instead, I take it to my allotment.

Turning off-cuts into compost

The cardboard we use is plain, recyclable, and inked with water-based, non-toxic materials — which makes it a perfect base layer for composting. I lay it down under mulch to suppress weeds, balance compost nutrients, and keep the soil ecosystem thriving.

It breaks down slowly and helps support everything we grow: salad leaves, sunflowers, radishes, wildflowers — even strawberries when the birds don’t beat us to them.

Nothing wasted, everything used

Our balance boards are made from cork and birch — sustainably sourced and crafted to last. It only makes sense that the packaging follows the same philosophy: minimal, functional, and recyclable.

For me, using cardboard off-cuts at the allotment isn’t a gimmick — it’s just what makes sense. The boards we build keep people moving. The cardboard they ship in helps grow food and flowers. It’s all part of the same cycle.

Rooted in sustainability

Norst is about more than products — it's about how we move through the world. From boards to beets, from workshop to wild. No shortcuts. No waste. Just honest, useful things built with purpose.

— Dan
Founder of Norst

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