Environmental Responsibility
By definition we are part of our environment. We should act like it.
Equipment
As outdoor enthusiasts we do love our natural world. There is beauty in the presence of the natural environment. Equipment/Kit has helped us explore and enjoy our natural world. We love our natural environment, but how environmentally friendly is our lifestyle.
When you are buying your equipment think of the environmental impact:
- What are the logistics of what it takes to get your item from production to you?
- What does it take to maintain your product and how long is the lifetime of that item?
- What is the Afterlife of the product like?
- Does the item you are buying have to be thrown away within 3 years?
Purchasing something at a cheaper price does not mean always that you are getting it at good value. If you must throw away and buy a new jacket every year it is neither good for your pocket nor the environment.
If you can also find ways to maintain your equipment and clothes so that it will last longer the better it is for your pocket and the environment. For instance, a lot of waterproof clothes can be retreated to improve the water repellency on the surface.
Some equipment is rebuildable so it can be fixed. Instead of throwing the whole component away and getting a new one.
Mineral Sunscreen, why is it so important…
We should not harm the environment we are training and racing in. When we wear normal Sunscreen the chemicals of the sunscreen will wash off and harm our environment, more specifically the Coral Reefs, the home of significant number of marine life. Follow this link to learn more about what sun protection to use: Mineral sunscreens: Protect yourself and the reef! (kohalacenter.org).