Vans and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii teamed up to implement a comprehensive sustainability initiative during the period of the Vans Triple Crown, a three-event series held at the iconic surf breaks Haleiwa, Sunset, and the Banzai Pipeline. It’s one of the biggest surfing events in Hawaii, drawing tens of thousands of people to North Shore beaches each year. According to the City and County lifeguards of Honolulu, on competition days, an average of 25,000 people pack the sand to watch Pipe Masters.

This competition marked the fifth year of the partnership and organizers aimed to minimize the events’ contribution to marine plastic pollution, sea level rise, and ocean acidification.

Over the past five years, Matsoukas said the Triple Crown has been carbon neutral. They measure the event’s carbon footprint — including travel (athletes, their entourage, WSL, and Vans), hotel accommodations, food production, and the biodiesel generators — and purchase verified carbon credits to offset 100% of that footprint.

The most tangible and unique part of the initiative was the full-scale waste management system. Bins were set up on the beach, clearly labeled with accompanying photographs to encourage people to sort their trash into the proper waste stream — recycle, compost, or trash.

Read the full article on sustainable sporting events by Christine Yu at GOOD Sports