Is This Sustainable? Cabrinha Interview – James Boulding
Features / Mon 14th Oct, 2019 @ 5:07 pm
It’s evident that climate change is happening – but what can we do to mitigate it? Rou Chater got the chance to catch up with Cabrinha’s Marketing Manager, James Boulding, to ask him the main question on everyone’s mind… Is this sustainable?
What are you working to as a brand to reduce your impact on the planet?
There are big steps that can be taken in sustainability when it comes to the raw materials, the processes and chemicals involved in kite production. Cabrinha’s kite factory is a BLUESIGN factory, a standard with very stringent measures in place for textile production and importantly works together to offer sustainability solutions for the chemicals and material processes involved.
This new ‘blue way’ concept ensures the factory releases less hazardous materials into the environment. There’s definitely a boom in sustainability interest in materials manufacturing and so much the kite industry can learn from big industry players that focus on sustainability and it’s through these types of relationships were acquiring knowledge is key.
Why is it so difficult for us as an industry to move away from plastics and chemicals in the production process?
In kite production, we’re looking for incredibly lightweight and strong materials and that’s why nylon gets used, but the landscape is changing, and with so much research into materials and chemicals as well as the views of each of us involved in the industry we must make it our mission to work towards better processes.
Are there any charities or foundations we should be aware of?
This year Cabrinha launched ‘The Soundwave Project’, an initiative to promote ocean awareness and maintaining a healthy marine environment. As part of our 20 years in business celebration, we presented 10 hand-painted Lanikai ukeleles by the brand’s creative heads and artists Pete Cabrinha and Pat Dunne. They have been sold for $1000 each with 100% of the proceeds going to Surfrider Foundation who do amazing work with our oceans. This is just the beginning as we will be expanding this idea into limited edition product items with all proceeds benefitting environmental work.
Mon 14th Oct, 2019 @ 5:07 pm
By Jen Tyler
Italian/Egyptian Jen Tyler grew up on the sandy beaches of the Red Sea and has been on the IKSURFMAG & Tonic Mag team since 2017.
