Tenerife Project Turns Cigarette Butts Into Surfboards

The Moving the Planet Foundation has launched an innovative project in Tenerife: they're turning thousands of cigarette butts collected from beaches into surfboards. This initiative, announced on Monday, aims not only to clean up the coastline but also to create a powerful symbol for environmental awareness.

Last Sunday, about a hundred people gathered at Martiánez Beach in Puerto de la Cruz for a cleanup day. This event, part of the 'Surfing With Me' project, was a collaboration with Turismo de Tenerife and the City Council. Volunteers collected dozens of bags of rubbish and two large containers full of cigarette butts, which are one of the most persistent pollutants on our coasts.

These cigarette butts add to the roughly 6,000 already collected from other coastal activities for the project. This total is enough to make two surfboards. Yanes Surfboards is currently developing these boards, which are designed to be a powerful symbol of transformation and environmental awareness. They show how a highly polluting waste product can gain new value.

Lope Afonso, Vice President and Minister of Tourism for the Cabildo de Tenerife, highlighted his support for projects that bring together sustainability, community involvement, and responsible tourism. He emphasized that these initiatives show the kind of destination Tenerife aims to be, where quality tourism is closely tied to respecting and caring for the natural environment. Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, stated that their collaboration with these actions aligns with the entity's sustainability strategy. She stressed the importance of protecting ocean health for marine biodiversity and the balance of coastal ecosystems. She also thanked institutions like the city councils of Arona and Puerto de la Cruz, along with social groups and citizens, for their involvement.

José Alberto Hernández Pérez, president of the Moving the Planet Foundation, called the day a success. He highlighted the strong response from both citizens and institutions as proof that change is possible through action. Desiré Díaz Torres, the Councilor for Tourism and Culture of Puerto de la Cruz, also attended the event. Gesplan supported the cleanup and gave a talk on marine litter. Maison Catering and Hyundai Canarias handled the logistics and ensured the volunteers were well looked after. Influencers like Álvaro, Asier, Tom, and Nici (Tandem Surf) helped spread the message on social media.

The 'Surfing With Me' project aims to raise awareness about the importance of caring for our coasts. It also highlights the impact of cigarette butts on the marine environment and strengthens the connection between sport, sustainability, and the local area, which are all fundamental parts of this initiative.