How You Can Adopt a More Sustainable Surfing Lifestyle

Sustainability is a popular word today, but many people don’t really know how to fit it in with their own lifestyle. Surfing is enjoying the waves, loving a day at the beach, and taking advantage of the gorgeous scenery offered while riding a wave. Sustainability fits right in with a surfing lifestyle, provided surfers know what steps to take.

Purchase Eco-Friendly Items

Buying eco-friendly items helps the planet, including the oceans. Ready for new jewelry? Opt for wildlife conservation jewelry, as each sale leads to funds going to wildlife conservation organizations. Are you buying new products? Look for something eco-friendly, whether that’s something that gives proceeds to an organization or products made more sustainably. More sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives are available for many products today, so it’s just a matter of shopping around.

Cut Down on Travel

Travel has a huge impact on the Earth. Traveling by car, bus, plane, or any other method releases pollution into the air, which harms wildlife around the world, including in the oceans. Instead, cut down on surfing-related travel and stick closer to home. Though this may mean missing out on a few fun trips, it is better for the environment and can force you to only go on trips that have a lot more importance. This way, the trips you do take will be more meaningful.

Upgrade Less Frequently

Trash accumulates all too quickly. When surfboards are no longer needed, they’re usually just thrown away. Instead of upgrading each year or more frequently, learn how to make the surfboard last longer and continue using it until it needs to be replaced. Once it does need to be replaced, look into ways to recycle it or offer it to someone who may want it for a project.

Opt for Reusable Products

Reusable products can help cut down on trash as they replace single-use plastics. Opt for reusable products and packaging as much as possible to reduce waste and help the environment. It’s even possible to recycle old t-shirts to use as bags, saving them from the trash can, as well. Look into more ways to reuse or repurpose to cut down on waste as much as possible and prevent the trash from getting in the ocean.

Clean-Up When Surfing

Spending the day at the beach? Don’t forget to take the trash with you and throw it away. Never leave trash on the beach, as it will end up in the water and could injure or kill some of the wildlife that lives near the shore. If possible, take some time to help clean up the beach a little bit before leaving. This doesn’t need to mean walking along the beach and cleaning up everything, but try to at least pick up a few things to throw away if there is any trash on or near the beach.

Volunteer for Clean-up Organizations

A variety of organizations are dedicated to helping clean up the ocean. This fits right in with the surfing lifestyle, as they help keep the beaches and water cleaner. Donate funds to these organizations to help them keep the water clean or look into ways to volunteer. Most organizations could always use more volunteers, so there may be plenty of opportunities to help. Whether you’ve got plenty of time or you’re busy and only have a little time here and there, they will have ways you can help.

There’s nothing quite like the breaking waves on the beach. For surfers, this is a little slice of heaven. Yet, if the oceans aren’t cared for, it’s not going to be so much fun to surf anymore. Trash piling up will make surfing a thing of the past. Instead, take time now to live more sustainably and see what you can do to help save the oceans.