The Surfrider Foundation’s Top Tips For Protecting our Oceans and Beaches

In honor of Earth Day, they’re giving us their top tips to ensure healthy coastlines and oceans for us all to enjoy for years to come, because small changes can make a huge impact…

Earth Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on our daily activities and consider how we can improve on our daily habits to contribute to positive change. How we treat our freshwater resources on land affects water quality downstream at the beach and the health of our coastal ecosystems. Whether at home, at the beach or at work, it’s our responsibility to protect local water supplies and to prevent pollution from reaching the ocean. The Surfrider Foundation’s Clean Water Initiative provides ways you can help reduce, reuse, and recycle water at home and in your community so that we can enjoy our ocean, waves and beaches for years to come.

Scott Dunn USA office enjoying the beach cleanup day with Surfrider

Scott Dunn USA team cleaning up a local beach

CLEAN WATER TIPS

• Turn off the tap while you shave, brush your teeth or wash dishes
• Take a shorter shower (5 mins or less)
• Install low-flow showerheads and toilet
• Fix any leaky plumbing, a single leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day
• Do not flush any chemicals, pharmaceuticals or products containing plastics or microbeads down the drain or sink

As spring inches towards summer, we may find ourselves traveling more, spending more time outdoors or getting together with friends and family. If we want to preserve the treasured places we enjoy now, for us and for future generations, it’s important to have responsibility for our personal impact. Here are some simple tips to help reduce your footprint while having fun in the sun.

Friends enjoying a clean beach

We want future generations to enjoy the ocean

BEACH TIPS

1. Pack In, Pack Out

Plan ahead and pack reusable items to prevent having to throw out trash or leave anything behind. Make sure litter lands in the designated trash bins or bring it back with you to recycle.

Trash that's floated out to sea

Make use of the trash & Recycling bins at the beach

2. Food

Everyone loves a good snack at the beach, right? Bring reusable plates and cups. If you must choose disposable, look for a good paper option.

Enjoy a beach picnic with reusable dishes

Bring reusable dishes like this set

3. Bags

Leave the plastic bags at the store. You don’t need a dedicated beach bag, most reusable bags will fit your towel, reusable bottle and other essential items.

Leave the plastic bags at home

Reusable bags are the way to go

4. Cups

Check out the beach or park on a busy day and you’ll find lots of cups in people’s hands. Plastic and foam cups are found left littered across beaches. Invest in a reusable cup or bring your reusable bottle. In addition to reducing plastic pollution, you could save money in the long run.

Plastic littered across the beach

Reusable water bottles are good for the environment

5. Avoid excessively packaged products

The packaging wastes resources without adding value and, if made from plastic, can release toxins after being discarded.

Avoid products with unnecessary packaging

Plastic can release toxins into our ecosystem

6. Everything else

Avoid foam coolers and other inexpensive items that you plan to use for a day or less because they will likely break and be discarded. A $5 chair or umbrella is not likely to last beyond the weekend. Check local thrift stores, resale shops and websites like Craigslist for quality items at a good price.

All the litter our office found on the beach

Bring durable, reusable beach supplies

7. Reef-friendly sunscreen. Avoid harsh chemicals and opt for sunscreens that are mineral based and reef-friendly.

This is a small change that can go a long way in protecting the world's reefs

Protect beautiful reefs like these

For more information on how you can make a difference, check out the Surfrider Foundation:
www.surfrider.org