Wavechanger is here to be your guide into a better consumption for a healthier blue planet
What's the problem?
The vast majority of surf products on the market rely on polluting petrochemicals in their production today. This reliance on petrochemicals to make our surf gear is incompatible with taking meaningful action on climate change and addressing many other environmental impacts that affect our oceans, our playgrounds - we all need to ‘get off the petros’ as quickly as possible.
Luckily, there is so much innovation taking place in materials sciences and product development and Wavechanger is here to be your guide into better consumption for a healthier blue planet.
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OUR VISION
Create a carbon neutral, waste-free surf industry that's respectful to nature, yet retains the innovation, high performance and excitement we all expect from surfing.
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OUR MISSION
Leading the surf community to embrace sustainable solutions and reduce the environmental impact of surfing.
Wavechanger history
Wavechanger is a program of Surfers for Climate today, but its journey started years ago when its founder Tom Wilson believed more could be done by the surf industry, and recognised a huge knowledge gap on sustainability. Tom had a vision - help create a carbon neutral, waste-free surf industry that’s respectful to nature, yet retains the innovation, high performance and excitement we all expect and enjoy from surfing. With that vision in mind Wavechanger was born and has since delivered the bulk of sustainable surf knowledge you can find globally.
With Wavechanger becoming a program of Surfers for Climate, the opportunity to scale this purpose and mission is front of mind, and we’re all stoked to be on the party wave of change together.
Here's what the future holds for Wavechanger:
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EDUCATIONAL TOOLS
Our informative guides and annual industry review highlight innovations and suggested behavioural nudges to reduce the impact of the surfing industry. Additionally, we've assessed the carbon emissions associated with surf equipment; encompassing manufacturing, materials, and lifetime maintenance and usage. There's more in the pipeline, watch this space...
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PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
We're driving the mitigation of industry effects on the environment. Our focus lies in researching and advancing responsible consumer behaviours, recycling programs and tools tailored to the sector. Additionally, we're advocating for conscientious design and manufacturing with an eye on improving the end-of-life phase.
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INDUSTRY RESEARCH
As of November 2023, Surfers for Climate and Griffith University have began a multi-year partnership with PhD candidate Tom Wilson, Founder of our Wavechanger program. This research will dive into the historical and cultural roots of surfing, examining their environmental intersections.