1. WHY IS CONSERVING AND PROTECTION THE OCEANS IMPORTANT TO YOU?
For the majority of my life I took this playground for granted. It wasn't until I went on a surf trip to Bali in 2007 that the mass pollution of our oceans became really evident. It had been my dream since I was a little boy in Brazil, to surf the perfect wave, but I was absolutely shocked by how much plastic was in the ocean where these picturesque and world-famous breaks are located. You don’t see as much in the water in Australia, and I didn’t pay much attention when I was in Brazil. But, in Bali, I could not ignore the fact that we were facing a future with oceans full of plastic. I just couldn't stand for that, and I knew I wanted to do something about it.
2. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THAT IS BETTER FOR THE OCEANS?
It is a widely known fact that the fashion industry is the second worst polluter on the planet, behind only the petroleum industry. This is a startling fact that is true due to the nature of fast fashion, which not only negatively impacts the environment but is also the source of a lot of the world's unethical workplace practices. The throw away mass consumerism culture that this has produced leads to an enormous amount of waste. According to a Business Insider Australia article, 85% of textiles produced each year end up in landfill. What's more, the washing of a lot of these garments end up sending thousands, if not tens of thousands, of microplastics into our oceans, as they are made from cheap fabrics such as nylon and polyester. I knew there had to be a better way.
The production of our gear is both sustainable and ethical. We use natural and recycled materials in all of our products, and we use sustainable methods to produce them. We have certifications from the Global Organic Textile Standard, the Carbon Footprint Trust and the Fearwear Foundation, and our products are PETA approved as vegan. We do not mass produce our gear, but rather use local suppliers with small minimum order quantities and a print-to-order technique for our apparel to ensure there is no textile waste from designs that prove to be unpopular. This significantly reduces the environmental impact of our business. Furthermore, we use fully biodegradable, compostable, PVC-free packaging or 100% post-consumer cardboard boxes to send all of our orders. However, probably one of the biggest things we are doing for the ocean is to raise awareness and to educate consumers. All of our t-shirt designs have a message attached to them and we use our social media following to promote a more sustainable lifestyle for ocean lovers. We run community beach clean ups, engage in environmental rallies and assist people to become more conscious consumers. We have strong affiliations with several organisations and individuals that are also fighting for the oceans and we are part of the 1% for the Planet community of businesses.
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SURFING INDUSTRY SPECIFICALLY CAN BE DOING TO SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF THE OCEANS?
At Panamuna, we uphold the belief that when we create something from pure intent and with our impact in mind, then the benefits spread further than to just the person wearing our gear. More companies and businesses in the surfing industry need to change their mindset and adopt a similar one to ours. Once they have been able to think more broadly than solely about profit margins, then the real key is for action to be taken. The members of the surfing industry must look at ways that their businesses, competitions and events can minimise their impact on the planet.
4. CAN YOU RECOMMEND ANY BOOKS, BRANDS, ORGANISATIONS OR PEOPLE OUR FOLLOWERS SHOULD CHECK OUT FOR INSPIRATION?
I have to admit, I have never been a big reader, but we definitely have a community at Panamuna that is full of people and organisations that are incredibly inspirational. We have a strong connection with Project Hiu and SharkGirl Madison Stewart. Her work on shark conservation is truly making a difference at the very core of the shark fishing industry, where she is convincing underpaid and overworked shark fishermen to transform their fishing boats into vessels for surfing trips in and around Lombok in Indonesia.
The Ethical Turtle, a retail store in Port Douglas that stocks our gear, but only stocks
Positive Change for Marine Life
Some must see documentaries include Blue: The Film and Envoy: Shark Cull
Our Journal, found on our website, has an assortment of short blogs that are great reads, and are particularly related to the ocean, sustainability, ethical manufacturing and conscious consumerism.
ANY FINAL MESSAGE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?
At times it can seem like the problems that are facing the oceans, and our planet in general, are just too large and insurmountable. However, it is our firm belief here at Panamuna that the power to do more and to be better is in the hands of each and every one of us. It is due to this belief that we know the importance of education and little steps towards a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle is paramount. That is why we do what we do, and that is why we continue to build our Panamuna community, our Conscious Minds Crew, as together, we create change.