SUSTAINABLE SURF ’ S CURRENT PROJECTS
Waste to Waves ( W2W ) is a recycling program that helps individuals “ Turn Your Trash to Slash ,” by recycling Styrofoam into new products like recycled EPS surfboard cores . The program operates in select retail shops in Southern and Northern California ( and Ha-waii ) and is supported by partners such as Reef , Patagonia , Marko Foam and the Surfrider Foundation , as well as the Nell Newman Foundation .
The Ecoboard Project provides the first independent third party , consumer-facing “ eco-label ” for surfboards . Designed to help individuals choose a high-performance sustainable surfboard , the project has been endorsed for use by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Asso-ciation ( SIMA ) and is now being adopted by many of the world ’ s leading surfboard brands .
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and restoring coastal blue carbon ecosystems .
PCM : What are some of the environmental problems you are trying to solve ? KW : Our primary focus is solving climate change , because that ’ s the biggest threat to oceans and our society . Our new SeaTrees program directly tackles that . We ’ re also trying to change the narrative around sustainability . Most people and companies think that it ’ s a good idea to reduce their impact , but then say , “ What ’ s the cost ?” This narrative leads to inaction , because sustainability feels like a tradeoff . A better solution is to say , “ What ’ s the value ?” We think a strong sustainability program has extraordinary benefits to people , companies and society . All of our programs promote this narrative and work to help people and companies experience it firsthand and make their commitment permanent .
PCM : How do you incorporate surfing into helping the environment ? KW : Our research shows that surfers are much more likely to care about environmental issues like climate change and take personal action . But it still remains hard to find solutions that are personal and tangible . So our goal is to make those solutions as easy as possible to undertake . If surfing can become authentically sustainable , it also will have a significant impact on the world at large because surfing is one of those sports that is highly influential on popular culture . We think it can make sustainability seem cooler and more accessible to the average person . This is badly needed , given that most public discussions on sustainabil-ity and climate change tend toward asking the government to take action first . But that creates inaction by individuals , because we think it ’ s not our responsibility . In my opinion , individuals need to take action first , so that politicians have the votes to changes laws . Just look at what ’ s happening on the federal level right now . Surfing has the potential to make a much larger difference than you might expect .
PCM : What are some choices you think anyone could make to help the environment ? KW : Take responsibility for your carbon footprint and wipe that out . There is no single issue more important , and individuals taking action is by far the most important barrier to solve for society to take rapid action to solve climate change .
PCM : What ’ s next for Sustainable Surf ? KW : All of our programs [ will ] continue operations and impact around the world . However , climate change is the issue we ’ re most worried about and thus we ’ re promoting SeaTrees as a way for both individuals and companies to wipe out their carbon footprint and restore coastal ecosystems around the world . ( sustainablesurf . org ) PC
With millions of viewers tuning in for the World Championship Tour surfing events , Deep Blue Events work with global surf brands to clean up their operational and personal foot-prints . The most recent Deep Blue Event ( held for the eighth year in a row ) was Volcom ’ s Pipe Pro , which took place in Hawaii from Jan . 29 to Feb . 10 . At this year ’ s event , Volcom pledged on Instagram to plant a SeaTree “ for every crazy wipeout in the comp …”
SeaTrees is the first program of its kind developed to inspire the global surf community to help fund regeneration projects , from mangrove forests in Indonesia to kelp forests in Cali-fornia . Its goal is to work towards reversing climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide in some of the planet ’ s more threatened ecosystems . ( sustainablesurf . org )
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