The sickening and depressing reality of our impact on the environment. Photo: CoastalCare.org
Surfers, divers, swimmers, paddlers and fishermen; we all share a profound connection to the sea. We depend on it. We need it. And in recognizing that special relationship, we should, as one would hope, set out to make fundamental lifestyle changes in order to ensure its continuity.
Every day, we are faced with choices that affect our environment’s health. A primary contributor associated with its degradation is that we are accustomed to consuming single-use products (ie. plastic water bottles). Additionally, many of our products are wrapped in plastic that is wrapped in plastic, and so on like a matryoshka doll. When we begin to educate ourselves on the ramifications of our nasty habits, we see horrifying facts. My intention, however, is not to throw out numbers and tell you how much plastic is in our ocean, or how harmful microplastics are to humans and animals alike–you can read more about that here. Rather, my intention is elucidate the importance of becoming a conscious consumer.
Working for a nonprofit called Save the Mermaids–whose mission is to educate the community on human-sourced ocean pollution–has created a conscious consumer out of me. It also has given me the ability to see when “ocean ambassadors” promote a product that doesn’t align with the ocean’s health. Purps is a new healthy choice of beverage that has been circulating the surf community with the familiar face of Kelly Slater endorsing the all-natural product. I remember stumbling on an Instagram of Slater holding a Purps plastic bottle inside the barrel. Through my eyes, I saw the plastic problem being held directly above the environment that was hurting. It was too ironic. Purps’ mission is “to unite nature and science to promote your life’s health…” I couldn’t help but wonder, “What about our ocean’s health?” By promoting something to our surf community that is a plastic bottle shrink wrapped in more plastic, we are advocating a behavior that is hurting our ocean.
Kelly Slater’s new company Purps, as seen on his Instagram.
For Kelly Slater, the ocean is his livelihood. It’s his passion and playground. However, I can’t help but wonder why plastic on plastic was the packaging of choice during Purps’ creation. Kelly has undoubtedly used his rare position to foster positive change in this world (which is very commendable), but couldn’t Slater have pushed for a biodegrable bottle that would double as a catalyst for future environmental progress?
My glass bottle is raised to those companies that put the extra effort and money into bottling in glass or sustainable products. My glass bottle is raised to those who are aware of their plastic consumption, and avoid it the best they can. Ocean and mountain goers need to come together on this one to protect on the one thing we need to survive: our environment. Take the first step in environmental protection by becoming a conscious consumer. Rise above plastic
