Here at Blue Jellyfish SUP, we feel it is important to shop sustainably and locally when you can. There are lots of local companies that put an emphasis on quality. They use materials that will last and either provide minimal environmental impact or they reinvest in the local area and environment to mitigate their footprint. When you chose to buy from sustainable brands that also make high-quality products, not only are you doing your part to reduce waste, but you can feel good knowing that your money is going toward a company which is environmentally responsible.
So what are some sustainable paddling brands? Let’s dive in and see what kind of eco-friendly gifts we can come up with.
Cascadia Board Co makes some of the best boards around and they stand by that with a tagline “All boards include a lifetime warranty because peace of mind shouldn't expire.” - How could you resist?
But what about their sustainability efforts you might ask. Well, Cascadia is a proud member of the 1% for the planet whose mission is to bring dollars and doers together to accelerate smart environmental giving. Buying a Cascadia SUP or paddle means you’re contributing to
You can learn more about 1% for the Planet here.
Surftech joined Sustainable Surf’s ECOBOARD Project back in 2018. Since then the brand has developed all sorts of eco-friendly innovations such as the Sicomin Greenpoxy Bio Resin which can be up to 50% derived from plant-based sources, or its BLOOM DeckPads made with algae from freshwater sources that are highly susceptible to algal blooms.
We recommend the Cocoflax Allrounder board built with flax fibres as a replacement for traditional fibreglass means that CocoFlax boards are some of the most eco-friendly boards on the market right now.
LifeStraw is a great gift for any outdoor adventurer and can be the difference between life and death. You can get them a small portable water filtration system that they can take with them on every adventure.
I thought this post was about sustainable gifts? That's the beauty of LifeStraw. For every product sold, they give provide 1 year of safe drinking water to a child in need.
Smartwool is another great brand to shop for if you are looking to shop sustainably. They use recycled materials and a low-impact manufacturing process whenever possible, only sourcing their merino wool from eco-friendly farms.
They have also partnered with a company called Material Return on a project to learn how to better recycle socks into usable yarn once again.
Patagonia is another great business to buy from if you are looking to shop sustainably. They are the founders of the 1% for the planet organization and they are working with Yulex to create some pretty cool wetsuits.
Patagonia's Yulex Wetsuits use 85% Yulex a plant-based rubber alternative as well as 15% synthetic rubber by polymer content. This replaces a huge amount of material that would otherwise be made from crude oil. Shop full suits, booties, gloves or hoods.
TenTree is super well-known and has been around for a while now. They create great quality apparel that is comfortable and environmentally friendly. So far, Tentree has planted 88 million trees and their goal is to plant 1 billion by 2030. For every sale they make, 10 trees are planted in locations around the world.
Giving the gift of climate offset is a no-gift gift option that supports the adventure lovers on your list. We recommend the Weekend Getaway or the Road Trip off-sets as great stocking stuffers or secret Santa gifts.
Sustainable Sunscreen
Did you know Scientists find 14,000 tons of sunscreen deposited in the ocean and reefs every year? This is why it's super important to get sunscreen that isn’t harmful to your skin and the reef.
We recommend Green People Organic Sun lotion. Perfect for sensitive skin and will give their body full protection while not adding to the environmental problem.
Which sustainable gift will you give this holiday season?
There are many great sustainable brands that focus on making high-quality products while being environmentally responsible. We've listed a few of our favourites, but there are many more out there waiting to be discovered. So go out and find the perfect gift for your favourite outdoor adventurer while knowing you're doing your part in preserving our planet!