Surf and collect litter: Help the marine environment on a SUP board
A team-building day at Surf Agency can provide both camaraderie and green points for the environmental ledger. The surf and wellness company aims to increase awareness of the marine environment while simultaneously offering people a great experience with their SUP Ocean Clean Up event.
As a surfer, you get close to nature and the sea, and many find through the lifestyle an increased awareness of the marine environment in particular, and how we can look after it.
This also applies to the surfers behind Surf Agency in Aarhus. The surf and wellness company takes many people out on the water and generously shares their passion for the sea. Both companies, stag parties and groups of friends come to Aarhus Marina and enjoy events on surfboards.
Concept for a cleaner garden
One of the bookable events offers a bit extra for both the experience and the green conscience. On a SUP Ocean Clean Up, the trip out into Aarhus Bay on surfboards also includes collecting rubbish. The concept is a collaboration between Surf Agency and the NGO Green Kayak., working for cleaner seas and harbours worldwide.
A chance to help the marine environment
One of the companies that has been on such a trip is Chainalysis, a provider of investigative software.
– We would like to take the opportunity to do something good for the environment. Since our office is located in Aarhus"with Ø, it was obvious to do something for our local area," says Elinor Kind de Lorenzo, Office Coordinator at Chainalysis.
Success experiences on the SUP board
That is precisely part of what Surf Agency wants to enable for companies.
– When we're out on the SUP board, we often see rubbish in the sea, and we think an Ocean Clean Up trip is an obvious way to raise awareness about the marine environment. At the same time, it's a really fun way to spend a day on the board. You can find community by working together to retrieve the rubbish, and experience success from making a good effort for the marine environment, says Michael Allman, who is co-owner of Surf Agency.
Surprisingly a lot of rubbish in the sea
Among Elinor Son of Lorenzo and colleagues had some tried SUP before, while others were complete novices. As part of the Ocean Clean Up trip, the group got bins and equipment for waste collection with.
– We most of all expected to have a nice time on the water, while also doing something good for the environment. We were incredibly lucky with the weather and we found a lot of rubbish! It was quite a surprise, especially for myself, how much rubbish there actually was, says Elinor. Child of Lorenzo.
Dedicated colleagues
When participants on Clean Up return from the water, all the waste is weighed so that it can be included in Green Kayak’s joint clean-up statistics. Since 2017, paddlers have collected over 158 tonnes of waste under the Green Kayak organisation.
The group from Chainalysis had amongst other things, picked up a large tractor tyre.
– My cool colleague Tobias was quite persistent about getting the tyre back to the base, so he towed it onto his board, and sat on top of the tyre while he paddled back to the harbour. That was very dedicated!, says Elinor Child of Lorenzo.
Upgrade to green team building
Michael Allman finds that people return from Clean Up trips surprised by the amount of rubbish they encounter along the way, and with a new awareness.
"Many appreciate the opportunity to upgrade their team-building day with a green dimension," says Michael Allman.
Lovely day on the water
The day was also successful at Chainalysis.
– It was a wonderful experience, and some lovely surroundings for a truly delightful day on the water and in Surf Agency’s fine setting by the harbour! I would definitely recommend others to take advantage of these events, says Elinor Child of Lorenzo.
Surf Agency donates 10% of the proceeds from the SUP Ocean Clean-up to Green Kayak and their work towards a cleaner marine environment.
SUP Ocean Clean Up events are available all year round.
