The Trash Surfboard is a surfboard art piece made of the isolation of a fridge, cigarette butts, ocean plastics and even a trousers – all found in nature. 

This trash board is more than just a surfboard. It has inspired hundreds of kids around Portugal in the past years, showing how we can celebrate a circular economy and save the ocean. So many people had this piece in their hands (including the ex minister of seas) to learn about giving trash value again.

Unfortunately, it was stolen on the Festival Sol da Caparica while inspiring party people. The Trash Traveler shared this incidence with a positive attitude for people to help finding it. It spread far and 20 hours later, the robber messaged saying he regrets it and wants to hand it back. A beautiful proof of how a community can move mountains together. That’s what we need to save the ocean and our climate.

This sudden story deserved a better continuation. Therefore, The Trash Traveler decided to let the surfboard travel by itself into local communities and raise awareness. Empowering the community to take action.

Will you join, take the surfboard and let it travel to places? Let’s try! 🙂

THE COMMUNITY CHALLENGE:

Check on the map where the board is currently exposed. You can contact the person directly to organise a transfer OR you sign into this form (https://forms.gle/WN49ZD4NiJbufoc56) to be contacted if the board will be close to your place in future. 

Once it is YOUR turn and you received the board, be creative to tell people about the beauty of community and how a circular economy can safe the ocean. Examples: Expose the board in a cafe, museum, institution, school, chess club – whatever! Bring it with you on a festival, into your school class, on your wedding or invite your community for a special event. Any event is great to spread awareness and positivity. 

Take fotos and videos and send it to us / tag TheTrashTraveler, so we can create a beautiful library of what a community creates.

Need help? We can give you guidance – e.g. The Trash Traveler documentaries to show which talk about circular economy and ocean plastics. We may also create a guide with information about ocean conservation, with links and movies. You can be part of this and add more information to this project.

You can create your own event. Only rule: Raise awareness with creativity, empathy and respect. All together for the ocean.