How to Save the Planet When You Don’t Have a Sustainable Paddle Board
As a group, we can still make a difference, and what better than getting people involved with an adventure sport that allows them to be active, outdoors, and most importantly, feel connected to nature?
Whether you own a fully sustainable paddle board or not, you can always save the planet as a paddle boarderand.
This article will be organized into three sections: what to do before getting your SUP board, what to do during your paddleboard outings, and what to do when you are not paddling.
Courtesy to Samantha Deleo
If everyone gets hyped after knowing about the sport and directly buys himself a paddleboard, manufacturers will produce more pollution than needed, and when they finally lose interest and throw their board, they will also negatively affect the planet.
This is why you have to make sure that you are really interested in the sport before buying anything. How to do that? It's what I will explain to you next.
This way, you are not just making sure about your interest before committing to buy or saving the planet by limiting the CO2 emission during the manufacturing process, you also save your money.
If these days, you can rent clothes, why can't you rent paddleboard equipment, there is a rental service for almost everything. Just Google “paddleboard rental service near me” and you’d really be surprised what it could yield.
There is not just black or white (buy or recycle) in environmental sustainability, there are many other colors like reusing.
Reusing other people’s SUP equipment and gear extends their lifecycles and keeps them away from landfills. If the majority of us adopted this methodology in living, we will reduce the need to produce new products and the impacts coming from the production.
So, what we all should do is resist the urge of getting new equipment unless we don't have an option.
Now that you are sure about your interest in paddle boarding, and you will get yourself a brand new paddleboard because you don't have another option, how to be more climate-friendly?
So, do not get yourself a brand new product unless you are sure that its quality can serve you for a long period of time. An example of a product that fits the description is , which is well made, durable, easy to paddle, and stable, which makes it a great choice for beginners.
If you are looking for a faster inflatable paddle board that you can easily grow into as your skills improve, I’ll recommend the .
For accessories, I recommend the, it is amongst, if not THE best in the market. It is sturdy, portable, and able to recharge two SUP boards in a row without needing to recharge because it has a built-in rechargeable battery.
SWITCH TO REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES
Do you know that just in the United States alone, 1500 plastic bottles are consumed every second? The majority of them are discarded or left in the trash for the landfill, while others join billions of thrown plastic bottles in the ocean.
As we all know, hydration is very important for us paddlers, and grabbing a bottle of water from the store every time you head out for a paddle is easy and can become a habit.
So, what I recommend to you is to make a small investment in a reusable water bottle, and why not treat yourself with a stainless vacuum insulated flask that can clip to your board.
Even if this change is small, it actually makes a big difference in helping the environment and also in saving you big money in the long run.
CHANGE HOW YOU GET TO YOUR SUP SPOT
Courtesy to Flo Karr
Again, I will pull out my weapon of statistics.
Did you know that, based on information collected by the EPA, a typical vehicle in the USA pumps out around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year? (This does vary on different factors like the fuel type, the number of miles driven per year, and the vehicle’s fuel economy).
What I want to convince you is that, if you can go to the paddle spot on foot or on your bike, you will not only help save the environment, you will also save money and have a small warm-up as a bonus.
If you think that you can't do that just because the SUP package is heavy or bulk, you can use a board trailer for bikes, they are inexpensive and rapidly pay for themselves with saved gasoline.
If you can't walk or use a bike because your destination is far away, I suggest you use public transport, share a ride with the help of technology or take some friends and carpool. This way, you’ll have a lot more fun than alone.
PICK UP LITTER ALONG YOUR WAY
Courtesy to Kwido Hu
I don't know of anyone that enjoys looking at the litter. So, if we all help clean while SUP paddling, the ocean will be a better place for us people as for the marine creatures.
Compared to others on a kayak or a canoe, SUP paddlers are more fitted to pick up litter from the water, because they are freer to move on their boards.
I do not say that you are responsible for every litter you see, but if you adopt the habit of picking up just three pieces of plastic each time you paddle, you have done your part toward saving the planet.
By doing that, you are not just collecting three pieces of plastic, you also educate and encourage others around you.
MAKE YOUR EQUIPMENT LAST LONGER
Saving the planet is not limited to the ground or the air, it also includes the birds and the wildlife.
I understand that it's hard to stop the habit of feeding the wildlife because it's a thing that we all enjoy.
But when you feed them, consider that you are decreasing their willingness to forage for food on their own, changing their migration activity, and when we give them food that is not proper for their diet we are negatively impacting their health and can make them ill.
MAKE YOUR EQUIPMENT LAST LONGER
Reducing your carbon footprint can also be done by taking care of your equipment and gear. Doing that, you make them live longer and not have to throw them away.
If you paddle in the ocean, the first thing to do after you arrive home (or directly after you go out of the water if you can) is to rinse off the saltwater with a clean one to prevent damaging the seams over time.
My second tip for you is to prevent mold from forming on the board. So, always make sure that your paddleboard is totally dry before storing it, and that the place where it is stored is well aired.
The same thing with the inside of your inflatable paddleboard, repair any puncture straight away to prevent any water from getting inside.
Finally, always transport your paddle board inside its bag to prevent any accidents that can damage it.
REPAIR INSTEAD OF BUYING A NEW ONE
You applied all you can do but your paddle board or accessory got damaged? Don't rush to buy a new one. Instead, try to fix it with the help of a video online and if you can't, seek the help of a professional or people with experience, like a surfboard shaper.
PARTICIPATE IN BEACH CLEAN-UP EVENTS
Clean-up programs are also a great way to encourage each other to save the planet.
To start, just contact your state, Recreation Department, or environmental organizations and they will instruct you on what you can do to help.
If calling is not your thing, just google “clean-up + your city” and you will find an upcoming event to join.
The other way that helps you get familiar with the others before joining them on cleaning day is Facebook groups. If you don’t see a cleanup scheduled, you can always organize your own.
By the way, you are always welcome to join or host events using our SUP Facebook group.
HELP CLEAN WITH YOUR MONEY
Clean-up programs are also a great way to encourage each other to save the planet.
To start, just contact your state, Recreation Department, or environmental organizations and they will instruct you on what you can do to help.
If calling is not your thing, just google “clean-up + your city” and you will find an upcoming event to join.
The other way that helps you get familiar with the others before joining them on cleaning day is Facebook groups. If you don’t see a cleanup scheduled, you can always organize your own.
By the way, you are always welcome to join or host events using our SUP Facebook group.
SPREAD THE WORD
If you encourage just one person to start using a reusable water bottle, get used to picking up a piece of the plastic when he gets out of the beach, or just throw his litter where it belongs, that’s already a great win.
Another simple way to spread the word around you without having to speak is through social media. Especially since liking, commenting, and sharing need very little energy and time.
This one is simple. If you have kids, help them get good habits related to environmental sustainability and remind them about it from time to time.
Last but not least, stickers that you put on your car, paddleboard, or other things like your computer or your refrigerator are another way to spread the word, especially if they are funny.
Stickers are inexpensive, so you can get more than you need to share with others around you.
That's all I know, if I forgot something, let me know in the comments below. Do not forget that you can share with us if you have a story or experience related to environmental sustainability, do you own a sustainable paddle board or not, we will be pleased to hear from you
Hicham Benali
Ben is a content writer at Outdoor Master who loves all things outdoor, and nature is his happy place. He joined our team to share with us his experience ranging from SUP equipment, technique tips, and safety info.
