The Jeffreys Bay Billabong Pro Goes Green

Stop No.5 on the 2009 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour sees Billabong partnering with Cleaner Climate to make the Billabong Pro 2009 a greener event.

It will be the first surfing event in South Africa to make a concerted effort to reduce its impact on climate change and is another step along Billabong's environmental sustainability journey.

Billabong has recognised that the immense interest in the event presents the ideal opportunity to heighten the awareness of the local and global surf community to the challenge of climate change. Surfers are going to be affected by the changes that will accompany a warming world. Sea level rise will affect tide dependent surf spots, water pollution will increase due to heavy rains, intense storms will batter coastlines and there will be changes in prevailing winds that affect wave quality.

Billabong partnered with Cleaner Climate to calculate the carbon footprint of the Billabong Pro and identify opportunities where event emissions could be reduced. Cleaner Climate also advised Billabong on communicating and marketing of the green aspect of the event to the surfers, media, webcast viewers and spectators.

Billabong has implemented a series of sustainable event initiatives which include solar water heating for the surfers showers and Jacuzzi, recycling programs for waste and wetsuits, a green guide for local accommodation providers to assist them in reducing their energy and water use, using paper instead of plastic bags, biodegradable food and beverage containers and biodiesel made from used cooking oil in event vehicles.

The remaining emissions from the Billabong Pro were offset ensuring that the Billabong Pro is a low carbon, climate-conscious event with a minimised environmental impact. “Greening the Billabong Pro is about the journey towards a sustainable future, and getting as many people on board as possible for the ride,” say Tara Hossack of Billabong SA.