Chalk it up to better choices: What is seawater processed chalk?
At GEKCO, we believe that your climb should leave nothing but chalk marks - and even those should wash away with the rain. That’s why we only use seawater processed magnesium carbonate, a cleaner, more sustainable option for climbers who care about the planet as much as their projects.
What is seawater processed chalk?
Let’s get nerdy for a second (just a second, promise). Climbing chalk is made from magnesium carbonate (at least it should be..), which helps keep your hands dry and your grip, well… grippy. Traditionally, magnesium carbonate has been mined from the earth - usually in large-scale operations that leave scars on the landscape.
Seawater processed chalk, on the other hand, is made by extracting magnesium from - yep, you guessed it - seawater. Handily amongst many other useful salts and metals, seawater contains dissolved magnesium and magnesium salts.
Let’s break it down.
There are two main sources for producing magnesium carbonate:
Mining it from naturally occurring magnesite or dolomite (magnesium-containing rock)
Extracting it from seawater
Put simply, the seawater-processing method works like this:
Magnesium Extraction: Relying heavily on solar evaporation, not only is it less harmful to the planet than mining but it uses much less energy. Seawater is concentrated through evaporation to produce highly concentrated brines where the salts can be collected with ease. No mountains harmed in the making. These various components are used in a variety of industries and are separated to go on their own journeys.
Conversion: Magnesium is then reacted in a controlled environment with carbon dioxide to form magnesium carbonate in various forms.
Drying and Purification: The final product is filtered, dried, and purified into the fine white powder we all know and love, known as magnesium carbonate (chalk).
The key point? This method has a drastically lower environmental footprint and produces a superior product compared with mined chalk. The energy required for production is lower, the direct environmental impact is lower, the regulations around production and resource gathering are much stricter and ultimately the end product is of a much higher purity, which means you need less per climb.
Why It Matters
Here’s why seawater processed chalk is a win for the environment - and for climbers:
🌊 Abundant Source: Seawater is a practically limitless resource. Magnesium is the third most abundant dissolved element in seawater.
🏞️ No Land Destruction: No quarries. No blasting. No stripping mountainsides. The production happens in controlled environments with minimal disruption to ecosystems.
💨 Lower Carbon Footprint: The energy required to process seawater chalk is lower than that used in traditional mining - and primarily utilises renewable energy sources such as solar power and carbon capture.
♻️ Cleaner Supply Chain: Seawater-based production avoids the environmental and social issues tied to large-scale magnesite mining in countries such as China with weak regulations (where 70% of the world’s chalk comes from - check out more here).
What About Performance?
We get it. You want chalk that performs. We’ve tested seawater processed chalk indoors and out, in dry seasons and sweaty ones - and the verdict is in:
Excellent moisture absorption (actually better than most) meaning you need less
Incredibly smooth, even application
No compromise in grip, friction so good you can hear it
In short, it’s everything you want from climbing chalk - with less environmental trade-offs.
Mined Chalk: The Not-So-Great Alternative
Most climbing chalk on the market today still comes from mines, typically extracted via open-pit mining. And here’s the reality:
Ecosystem Damage: Open-pit mining often destroys habitats, forests, and landscapes that may never fully recover.
High Emissions: Mining, processing, and shipping chalk from distant locations (often China, Turkey, or Brazil) burns fossil fuels and increases CO₂ emissions.
Waste & Pollution: Mining operations produce dust, chemical runoff, and heavy waste that can contaminate local water sources and communities.
For a deeper dive into the reality of mined chalk, check out this blog: What’s In Your Chalk Bag. Be prepared for eye-opening truths, unveiled secrets and impactful insights.
If you’ve ever stood on a remote cliffside and felt in awe of nature, you probably agree - it doesn’t make sense to destroy one piece of the planet so we can climb another.
Our Commitment to Better Climbing
Seawater processed chalk is one of many choices we made pre-launch in order to reduce our impact and support sustainable climbing. It’s not just about performance - it’s about protecting the places we love to climb.
Every time you dip your hand in the chalk bag, you’re making a choice. We think that choice should feel as good as a clean send on the perfect day.