WSL PURE: Plastic

The use of plastics is widespread and while recycling helps, most plastic still ends up outside of the recycling system. Plastic pollutes our beaches and affects wildlife and humans through the water we recreate in and the seafood we eat. In light of this, the WSL pledged to eliminate single-serve plastics from WSL Championship Tour and Big Wave Tour events.

The WSL is specifically targeting items related to food-service like bottled beverages, cutlery, and cups, as these single-serve items are often not recyclable. In addition, the WSL already provides clean drinking water stations for fans to refill their bottles and choose compostable materials where possible for food service.

Some facts that propelled the WSL to eliminate single-serve plastics:

• Plastics break down into small microparticles that are ingested by marine life, ultimately entering the food we eat and water we drink. (Van Sebille, E., et al (2015). A global inventory of small floating plastic debris.)
• 4 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. (Angus Chen, Science Magazine. Here's how much plastic enters the ocean each year, February 2015.)
• A third of all fish caught in the UK and 83% of drinking water samples from around the world are contaminated with microplastic. (Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Scientific American. We Need to Kick our Addiction to Plastic, October 2017.)

We can work together to find solutions to the plastic crisis to keep our favorite breaks clean and healthy - WSL / Ed Sloane

While our partners help find solutions from the top down in the form of policy regulation and advocacy, we can all make daily decisions to reduce our consumption and make smarter choices on an individual level. Below are a few ideas for inspiration:

• Bringing your reusable bag, cutlery, and water bottle
• Avoiding items wrapped in plastic when possible
• Choosing bar soaps in place of liquids in plastic containers
• Voting to support policies like single-use plastic bans

At the rate we're going, by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. It's a deep problem, but there are solutions. By cutting out single use plastics, such as straws, bottles, and bags, we can start turning back the plastic tide.

Activists gather at Keramas for a beach cleanup - WSL / Ed Sloane

Make a greater impact. Join us and support our partners below for a stronger ocean:

• 5 Gyres Institute - https://www.5gyres.org/
• Lonely Whale - https://www.lonelywhale.org/
• Take 3 For The Sea - https://www.take3.org/
• Bye Bye Plastic Bags - http://www.byebyeplasticbags.org/
• Surfers Against Sewage - https://www.sas.org.uk/
• Sustainable Coastlines HI - http://sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org/

Hundreds of thousands of sea turtles and other marine animals are threatened each year from plastic pollution. - WSL / Ed Sloane