Rip Curl help to save the planet

MORE than 150 Rip Curl staff members joined local environment groups last week to help enhance the Surf Coast environment on Rip Curl Planet Day.

All Rip Curl full-time and part-time staff members joined experts from the Surf Coast Shire, Parks Victoria, Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority, Torquay Coast Action, Jan Juc Coastal Action and the Surf Coast Energy Group for annual environment nourishment works.

The group helped to clear invasive weeds along several environmental sites from Point Impossible to Southside Beach and helped plant 1000 indigenous trees and shrubs along key coastal zones in need of revegetation and maintenance.

Since its inception in 2000, the Rip Curl Planet Day concept has seen staff dedicate a total of 3,910 working days to the environment.

During this time, over 105,000 indigenous plants have been reintroduced across the region, thousands of litres of rubbish have been saved from landfill and water saving strategies have been implemented.

Rip Curl chief executive officer Brooke Farris said the environmental works continued to showcase the organisation’s commitment to local sustainability action.

“Our company value of community and environment is all about acting locally and thinking globally about how we can contribute to the community we live in, and the environment we live in.

“Over 20 years of Planet Day shows how connected it is to our company and brand values.”

KMD Brands group chief executive officer, Michael Daly also participated during the session and said the Planet Day concept has become a popular tradition for Rip Curl and its staff.

“We are proud that every Rip Curl staff member allocates a working day to help the volunteer community groups improve our local environment.

“It’s awesome to see the results from previous years in our coastal areas.”

Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority conservation supervisor, Scott Hives said the Rip Curl Planet Day’s had many fantastic benefits for the environment.

“Weed management is one of things that if you don’t stay on top of it, it’ll get away from you.

“That’s where groups like Rip Curl come in handy with Planet Day, which actually makes jobs like this possible.

“That’s just the start of what’s been achieved with the Rip Curl Planet Day.”

Rip Curl also run similar environmental initiatives in other areas where they major offices, including San Clemente, Hossegor, Kuta and Sao Paulo in Brazil.