Go Ride A Wave is proudly Advanced Ecotourism Certified through Ecotourism Australia.
ENERGY:
Through a variety of measures, Go Ride A Wave reduces its energy output. Our Victorian headquarters has eliminated the need for lighting by installing 12 clear rooftop panels, which act as solar lights. All light globes in all Go Ride A Wave locations are energy-saving LEDs. Go Ride A Wave measures and records its energy use and carbon emissions, and participates in local tree planting initiatives to help offset emissions. We encourage customers to catch public transport or walk/ride to activities where possible.
WATER:
After every wear, our wetsuits are thoroughly washed and disinfected, which can be a water-intensive process. To reduce our impact on our communities’ water resources, Go Ride A Wave collects rainwater from the rooftop of our Victorian headquarters. After being filtered, this rain water is used to wash our wetsuits, equipment, cars and trailers. We also encourage all of our clients to help us save water when showering at one of our shops – please keep your showers under 4 minutes.
WASTE & RECYCLING:
Go Ride A Wave has a full-time maintenance staff member dedicated to repairing equipment where possible. Repairing ensures our equipment is of the highest standard, maximises equipment life and minimises our waste. Since 2019, we have reduced 15,000+ A4 pages a year by switching to electronic smart waivers. Go Ride A Wave purchases only 100% recycled paper (including toilet paper) and provides recycling bins in all locations. In partnership with Australian Textile Recyclers and Rip Curl, Go Ride A Wave collects and recycles its wearable items, including wetsuits, rashvests, and staff uniforms.
CHEMICALS:
Go Ride A Wave operates in pristine water environments daily and is conscious of not introducing any harmful pollutants. Go Ride A Wave uses environmentally friendly cleaning products and provides for FREE – reef-friendly sunscreen (free of the harmful chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate) to all its clients and staff when participating in one of our activities.
TAKE 3 FOR THE SEA:
Take 3 believes in simple actions to address complex problems. Go Ride A Wave embraces the Take 3 for the Sea movement and carries reusable rubbish bags to all our lessons. Our staff are passionate about keeping our beaches clean, feel free to give us a helping hand by picking up 3 pieces of rubbish when out having fun in the sun. Go Ride A Wave takes 60,000+ clients into coastal environments each year, and this simple action can have huge impacts!
CLIMATE CHANGE:
At Go Ride A Wave, we recognise that even modest shifts in climate can significantly affect our operations. Increasingly intense and frequent storms can lead to more class cancellations, especially in regions like the Gold Coast during cyclone season. Activities that rely on calm weather, such as ocean kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, are particularly vulnerable to strong winds.
Heightened fire danger also impacts our scheduling. Following our fire safety policy, we suspend all activities west of Anglesea—including Urquhart’s Bluff, Lorne, Wye River, and Apollo Bay—on days of extreme fire risk to ensure the safety of our staff and participants.
We’re committed to doing our part to reduce our environmental footprint. We encourage all GRAW stakeholders to:
- Carpool, use public transport, or choose non-fossil-fuel-powered travel when attending lessons.
- Care for and maintain uniforms and equipment to extend their lifespan and reduce waste.
- Join our tree-planting initiatives to help offset emissions and restore local ecosystems.
- Power down lights and electronics when not in use to conserve energy.
Together, these small actions contribute to a more sustainable future for our community and the environments we explore.
