The second part of the Sony World Photography student focus with Parley for the ocean, in terms of plastic pollution, I started looking into issues that are relevant to us as South Africans. I found that todays youth doesnt understand the impact that some of the recreational water sports have on the ocean, although we are aware of traditional plastic pollution from single use plastic such as plastic bags, straws and the like. Sports such as surfing also add large amounts of pollution to the industry. Dr Jenna ad, a University of Georgia researcher led a study on marine plastic pollution and discovered 8 million tons of plastic pollution flowed into the world oceans in 2010 alone, in the list of the top 20 contributors to marine plastic pollution South Africa was ranked as number 11, worse than India, the entire United States and 23 European countries.
It was nice to find a company in the local community like WAWA who have found sustainable alternative ways of ethical surf board production through the use of up cycling and by making use of natural products such as cork, agave and mushrooms combined with hemp and natural resins. From using this process these boards do not pollute the ocean and the final product can be re-used and is biodegradable
