blue surfing: Quiksilver Initiative

«It is the surf industry’s duty to be involved in environmental policies. We know that the environment’s protection starts by raising awareness.»
Pierre AGNES Quiksilver Europe CEO

Quiksilver is the first European boardriding company to have introduced an environmental unit into its business; “Quiksilver Initiative” established in 1999. It was in 2003 that Quiksilver Europe qualified the ISO 14001 standards for its Environmental Management System, a first in the surf industry. The ISO 14001 norm requires a perfect knowledge of the environment in which the company functions as well as all its impacts. Wanting to be a responsible actor, Quiksilver Europe has set up an Environmental Management System at its European headquarters in St-Jean-de-Luz. Thanks to Quiksilver Initiative, waste management has been introduced into the office and the personnel’s awareness on energy saving schemes is constantly increasing. This environmental policy applies to the company’s whole activity; from contest organisation to the choice of components in product design. In 2005, the headquarters will be equipped with a photovoltaic power station that will cover part of the company’s energy requirement. Quiksilver also continues to support actions and non-governmental organisations that work to enhance the quality of our environment, in the mountains and by the sea.

QUIKSILVER FOUNDATION

Quiksilver continues to support the Tsunamis’ victims.Thanks to the Quiksilver Foundation recently set up, the Quiksilver group has rapidly been able to gather AUS$ 630,000 in order to help populations living in areas devastated by the tsunami. The foundation also created the “Nias Fund”, name taken from the famous surf zone, west of Indonesia. This initiative has been undertaken to centralise the international surfing community’s efforts and continue to raise funds to bring local assistance to those in need. SurfAid International is a humanitarian non-governmental organisation already settled in the region and mainly works to rehabilitate the Indonesians sanitary conditions. It benefits from the ‘Nias Fund’ and its team works hard to help Doctors, nurses, interpreters, nutritionists and voluntary workers that are already in the region. Along with the Indies trader II and other charter boats they have managed to approach the most secluded areas to provide medical assistance and cope with the most urgent needs.www.quiksilver.com/quiksilverfoundation

REEF CHECK / WATER CHECK

The ‘Quiksilver Crossing’ is a integral part of the Reef Check program. The Indies Trader I has scientific teams relaying each other to verify the quality and evolution of coral reefs. In 2002, during its European stops, the Indies Trader underwent an analysis, thanks to its onboard lab, to determine the quality of the water in areas were water sports are present. Due to the partnership with Plymouth University and SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) it has been proved that it is technically possible to survey areas other than public beaches, thus supporting the revised 1976 directive. In September 2004, the ‘Quiksilver Crossing’ enlarged its fleet with a Seaplane, Completing its surf search equipment.

ARVAM / REUNION ISLAND

The partnership established between Arvam and Quiksilver Initiative on the Hermitage, Saint Leu and Etang Salé surf spots allows the survey of the reef’s health. The Reef Check methodology is guiding the surfers/scientists in the analysis of coral expansion, due to the impact of human activity and pollution in threatened areas. In 2005, Quiksilver Initiative provided gear to survey the bacteria levels in the water of these 3 spots. A “Reef Check and Water Check” brief will be produced after a year’s work on this new project.

BACTERIA LEVELS IN WATER CAMPAIGN

Quiksilver Initiative supports Surfrider Foundation Europe, in its will to get regular bacterial level check in water sports areas, and especially on surf spots. This campaign aims to raise awareness of local, national and European governments in order to include water sports activities to the official regulations in order to guarantee a sanitary security identical to that existing for the users of coastal areas, may they be bathers or surfers. This campaign also pushes and supports all actions aiming at the creation of complementary coastal surveys that will, in time, allow for an increased knowledge of our coastal environment in order to better protect it.

ANSEL / BRITTANY, FRANCE

5 years on: Since March 2000, the ANSEL association gathers waste on the south Finistere region coast all year round (35 tonnes since its creation). Quiksilver Initiative supports ANSEL that also organises awareness raising venues and partakes in various events as nature protection also goes through the marine environment knowledge.

IKASTXIKI SURF QUIKSILVER BASQUE COUNTRY, SPAIN

This surfing tour addresses youth aged from 10 to 15 that come from Spanish Basque schools. Quiksilver Initiative’s presence on this event boosts the importance of keeping the ocean and the environmen clean. With the Basque surfing federation’s help, the youth at the contest can participate to drawing workshops and enhance the importance of wildlife and flora that live from the ocean.

SURFAPULITO/ ITALY

Surfapulito has been very active in the past months. The best possible recognition is highlighted in its partnership with the largest Italian environmental organisation, Legambiente. This organisation helps in relaying information to the media in order to raise awareness about cleaning beaches in Naples, Portonovo and Gaeta. For spring/summer 2005, Quiksilver and Legambiente foresee the organisation of events to raise funds for the stricken people of Sumatra, following the December tsunami.

SAS / QUIKSILVER ECO TOUR - U.K.

For 6 years, Quiksilver has supported the SAS Eco Tour, an awareness- raising program aimed at the youth; treating about ocean cleanliness across the whole country. Last Year, the Eco Tour left the educational framework to approach beach users and raise awareness on the threats to the coastal environment. Addressing children that surf, teaches them early about the respect of the marine eco-system. Many Quiksilver team riders, amongst which Gary Elkerton and Spencer Hargraves, have joined the Eco tour to pass the message on.

QUIKSILVER ECO-CHALLENGE, HOLLAND

For the third year running, Quiksilver Holland has associated the surf spirit to environmental awareness in the Quiksilver Eco-Challenge. 2004 saw the Eco-Challenge unfold on the great Scheveningen Boulevard (North Sea). Many volunteers gathered to clean the beach with the support of local officials. A skateboard ramp has been set up to attract more youth. Because of the lack of waves, organisers have suggested a paddle race, thus pushing participation. In 2005, the presence of “Natuurmonumenten”, one of the greatest Dutch environmental organisations, should be able to attract, along with Quiksilver Initiative even more people, especially youth, waking awareness for wildlife and flora just as for beach pollution.

SURF-FESTIVAL / FEHMARN, GERMANY

This festival is simply the largest German outdoor windsurf exhibition. During 4days, around 15,000 windsurfers come from the whole of Germany and Scandinavia . Many champions come and share their passion with the crowds, turning the venue into a real festival. Quiksilver Initiative informs the visitors of waste’s lifespan in the environment and partakes to the organisation of a great cleaning of the beach with the youth and surfers.

SOULWAVE / KLITMÖLLER, DENMARK

The Soulwave is both a surf and windsurf event that will boast its 10th venue in 2005. Throughout the past 10 years, many famous surfers have gathered for 4-5 days to share their passion. The Soulwave is well known for its excellent surfing and partying conditions. Quiksilver Initiative informs this community of waste’s lifespan and helps keeping the venues’ area clean. Plastic garbage bags are handed out for free to the hundreds of campers along the coast.

Evian and Quiksilver Initiative side by side on the water and environment preservation theme.

Once again this year, Evian is a major partner on Quiksilver’s surfing and snowboarding events. Beyond the sport partnership, the two brands have decided to organise common ‘on site’ animations in order to raise awareness about recycling plastic and about the Ramsar Convention drafted by UNESCO (first worldwide inter-governmental treaty on the conservation and rational use of natural resources). Every bottle handed out to the public is accompanied by a message on the recycling of plastic bottles. With around 5000 bottles handed out on the last day of the Quiksilver Pro France 2004, this initiative will allow to optimise chances that every bottle will find its way to the appropriate bin.

Quiksilver Initiative keeps its involvement on the European boardriding events organised by Quiksilver. Under Quiksilver Initiative’s tent, an ecological awareness-raising program has been launched. The water cycle and the waste’s lifespan themes allow visitors to take notice of the need to respect the environment.