Sustainability and Surfing - Student Presentation John Watts

John Watts

Contents: Abstract and acknowledgments

Concept

Sustainability

People – Scott Laderman, Splinters

Products – Firewire & NevHouse

Places – Serge Dedina et al

Up-cycling

Conclusion

Abstract and acknowledgements: Aim of this presentation –

To show a clear understanding of sustainability within the surfing industry.

To conclude whether surfing in the 21st century is sustainable and how – 3 P’s

Sustainable Stoke – Transitions to Sustainability in the Surfing World (Borne & Ponting et al, 2015, in press)

Sustainability:

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Brundtland, 1987)

Within the surfing world – making a conscious effort to lead a sustainable lifestyle to conserve the environment and support a sustainable industry.

Concept:

People Products

Places

People: Community Splinters – sustainable development for a community in

PNG. The film shows Papua New Guinea as a beautiful country with a deep

sense of community spirit and generosity; but it’s also a place where poverty reigns and food is scarce.

In the 1980s, an Australian pilot called Crazy Tas landed on the shores of Papua New Guinea. He brought with him a surfboard. The villagers of Vanimo didn’t realise at the time, but this was the start of something that would change their town forever.

Surfer carrying one of the locally made wooden surfboards called ‘splinters’

People: Industry Scott Laderman – Beyond Green: Sustainability,

Freedom and Labour of the Surf Industry.

Chinese Labour Law, 2007 – Billabong and Quiksilver

FireWire – did not have direct contact with the manufacturing process, could not ensure safe working conditions. Changed policy to reduce toxicity in working environments to reduce health risks to employees.

Products From Firewire to NevHouse

Sustainable surf boards to up-cycled housing and communities.

Places Serge Dedina et al – Surfing and Coastal Ecosystem

Conservation in Baja California, Mexico.

Pristine surf spots are inaccessible due to private development on the coastline, private development is not environmentally friendly and damaging the coastline.

Aim of preserving the marine ecosystem rather than the land environment if it is developed correctly.

Up-cycling Recycling vs. Upcycling

Recycling takes consumer materials — mostly plastic, paper, metal and glass — and breaks them down so their base materials can be remade into a new consumer product, often of lesser quality.

When you upcycle an item, you aren’t breaking down the materials. You may be refashioning it — like collecting 72 washed up beer cans and turning them into a surfboard— but it’s still made of the same materials as when you started. Also, the upcycled item is typically better or the same quality as the original.

Board created by Rich Morrison, artist & Gary Seagraves, board maker, San Diego

Conclusion Since in 2006/7 when surfing had started to become

more sustainable as we entered the early 21st century, the industry and concept of sustainability has grown with it.

10 years later private companies and organisations are taking the lead on developing a more sustainable surf industry.

As the industry grows it is becoming more sustainable through the individual efforts of companies pushing the 3 pillars of sustainability through all aspects of the industry.

People –Community (Splinters) & Industry (Laderman)

Products –Firewire & NevHouse

Places – Coastal Ecosystem Conservation, Baja California

References Brundtland

http://mpora.com/articles/papua-new-guinea-the-surfers-paradise-with-a-dark-undercurrent#z3yxo5EsOb73s14v.97

Laderman, S, (2015) (in press) Beyond Green: Sustainability, Freedom and Labour of the Surf Industry. In Borne, G and Ponting, J. Sustainable Stoke: Transitions to Sustainibilty in the Surfing World: Plymouth, University of Plymouth Press: 98-102

Hyman, N, (2015) (in press) Beyond Green: Sustainability, Freedom and Labour of the Surf Industry. In Borne, G and Ponting, J. Sustainable Stoke: Transitions to Sustainibilty in the Surfing World: Plymouth, University of Plymouth Press: 150-156

Dedina, S, et al (2015) (in press) Beyond Green: Sustainibility, Freedom and Labour of the Surf Industry. In Borne, G and Ponting, J. Sustainable Stoke: Transitions to Sustainibilty in the Surfing World: Plymouth, University of Plymouth Press: 210-216

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/from-72-recycled-beer-cans-comes-a-sweet-surfboard.html