Volcom Pipe Pro 2016

The 2016 Volcom Pipe Pro has been designated as a Deep Blue Surfing Event™.

A Deep Blue Surfing Event is a more “Ocean Friendly” event that sets a clear path for reducing environmental and community impacts of a professional surfing contest. This sustainability report is a transparent description of the sustainability performance of the event, and includes measured data, photos and videos, and suggestions for improvement. It is based on the international standard for sustainable event reporting – the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

Deep Blue Surfing Events address impacts directly related to the local contest area, including waste reduction, protection of natural resources, and the building of stronger communities. They also reduce direct threats to the global sport of surfing itself, such as: sea level rise, ocean acidification, and the loss of the world’s living coral reefs, which leading scientific institutions warn are already harming our oceans, waves and beaches.

* The 2016 Volcom Pipe Pro has exceeded the minimum requirements of all five categories measured (Waste Diversion, Renewable Energy, Community Outreach, Climate Change and Transportation).

To receive a Deep Blue Surfing Event designation, an event is required to reduce environmental and social impacts of the event. It must also develop a data collection plan to measure performance on impact reduction, and this data must show that it has met minimum goals for at least two of the five major categories of environmental and social impacts.

Sustainability Performance Summary:

1. Waste Diversion:  74% of waste diverted from landfill
2. Renewable Energy: Contest powered by 80% renewable biodiesel fuel and solar electricity
3. Climate Change: 100% of CO2 footprint mitigated (337 tons CO2e)
4. Community Support: Supported local community organizations with $68,000 in donations
5. Transportation: Promoted alternative transportation for athletes, staff, and spectators

 

* The 2016 VPP has exceeded the minimum goal for Waste Diversion with a total diversion ratio of 74%

ASP Green Guidelines Recommendation: Implement a comprehensive management and diversion strategy to limit event waste. Minimum goal is 25% of total event waste is diverted from landfill.

The 2016 Volcom Pipe Pro (VPP) has shown a strong commitment to waste diversion with a significantly increased effort to reduce waste throughout the event. Each year, the methods used to collect waste are improved. The total waste diversion ratio improved to 74% vs. 65% in 2015.

Waste diversion services were provided by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. All collected food compost was taken across the street to Waihuena Farm, which uses the bokashi compost system to turn food waste into… more food.  Some of the food eaten at the contest comes from Waihuena Farm, for a beautiful “closed loop” waste system.

Learn more about waste diversion on the additional information page, including detailed data, analysis, suggested improvements, and more photos and videos.

 

* The 2016 VPP has exceeded the minimum goal for sourcing Renewable Energy by sourcing biodeisel for renewable energy used to power the event and webcast

ASP Green Guidelines Recommendation: Source significant portion of power from clean, renewable energy sources. Minimum goal is 25% renewable energy utilization for event’s power needs.

The VPP sourced B80 biodiesel from Pacific Biodiesel. It was used in Viking Generators for the entire event. This is the fourth year of using biodiesel to power the generators for the event.  The conversion of used oil from local restaurants and businesses to biodiesel is a great step forward in linking the community with the event.  Locally produced biodiesel creates local jobs, and reduces impact on the environment and ocean. Pacific Biodiesel is one of the world’s leading biofuel companies and a key part of Hawaii’s sustainable future.

This year, Volcom installed solar photovoltaic energy systems on one of the two Volcom houses in front of Pipeline. This house is part of the infrastructure of the contest, so solar electric energy helps reduce the fossil fuel energy needed for the houses. All panels installed totaled 11.7 kW of capacity, and generated 55 kWh of electricity per day during the event. The average usage of each house during the contest is 95 kWh per day. This also reduces dependence on fossil fuels for energy needs and creates local jobs.

Learn more about energy on the additional information page, including detailed data, analysis, suggested improvements, and more photos and videos.

 

* The The 2016 Volcom Pipe Pro has exceeded the minimum goal for Community Support by providing support and visibility for several community group partners

ASP Green Guidelines Recommendation: Support and showcase the efforts of local environmental and social organizations, and include them as stakeholders for possible event legacy efforts. Minimum goal is to support at least one NGO working on a local issue relevant to the event.

The Volcom Pipe Pro supported three charitable organizations with $68,380. Funds are generated by the sales of Volcom Pipe Pro merchandise at the contest and through sales of specialty items throughout the year. Supported charities were: The Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii, The Live Like Sion Memorial Fund, and Sunset Elementary School.

Learn more about community support on the additional information page, including detailed data, analysis, suggested improvements, and more photos and videos.

 

* The 2016 VPP has exceeded the minimum goal for Climate Impact through offsetting 100% of the measured CO2 footprint of the event

ASP Green Guidelines Recommendation: Calculate the total CO2 footprint of event, and mitigate it by purchasing verified carbon offset credits or otherwise through direct actions taken at event. Minimum Goal: 50% of CO2 footprint of event offset or mitigated.

The total overall estimated footprint for the event is 337 tons CO2e. The 2016 Volcom Pipe Pro has offset 100% of these carbon emissions for the event with verified carbon credits from the Wildlife Works Carbon Kasigau Corridor, Kenya REDD+ Project.  See the registry certificate for the purchased offsets.

Mitigating the event’s CO2 footprint helps reduce direct threats to surfing from climate change/global warming such as: sea level rise, ocean acidification, reduced wave heights and loss of coral reefs globally.

Learn more about climate impact on the additional information page, including detailed data, analysis, suggested improvements, and more photos and videos.

 

* The 2016 VPP has met the minimum goal for providing greener transportation options with shuttle services for event staff, athletes and media personnel.

ASP Green Guidelines Recommendation: Enable shuttle services, source hybrid/alternative energy powered vehicles, and encourage the use of public and alternative transportation for event spectators. Minimum Goal: provide shuttle service to and from event for event staff, and/or encourage and facilitate the use of human powered modes of transport such as biking, skateboarding and walking by local spectators.

In partnership with the VPP, the Turtle Bay Resort provided daily shuttles to the contest. This effort reduces individual car trips, traffic congestion, and CO2 emissions.

Learn more about alternative transportation on the additional information page, including detailed data, analysis, suggested improvements, and more photos and videos.

 

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The authors on this report are Kevin Whilden and Michael Stewart of Sustainable Surf, with assistance from Tina Nguyen.

Special thanks to Nathan Peracciny for the amazing work done to document all the sustainability efforts at the 2016 VPP through video and photos (used extensively throughout this report), Meliana Judd of Waihuena Farms for facilitating the composting, and to Kahi Pacarro at Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii for being a committed pillar of the North Shore sustainability community.

Extra Special thanks goes to Derek Sabori, former VP of Sustainability at Volcom, for his leadership and general stoke for wanting to highlight sustainability at Volcom’s major surf contests, and for supporting and showcasing all of the partners that make a sustainable surf contest possible. This thanks also goes to Richard Woolcott, Todd Hymel and Ryan Immelgart for supporting Derek’s efforts and being stoked on sustainability. Finally, Sustainable Surf would like to thank our athlete ambassadors, Alex Gray and Dave Wassel, for helping create excitement and interest on Deep Blue Surfing Events.