SUSTAINABILITY AT AQUAGLIDE

At Aquaglide, nature is at the core of everything we do. We build products that are designed to get us outside, enjoying our most precious resource: water. Unfortunately, human-induced climate change is an unavoidable fact of modern life, and threatens the places we love most. With this in mind, we aim to take every step we can to protect our one and only planet, and hope to inspire our community to become advocates for our natural spaces along the way. Our mission of sustainability is to continually improve our processes and products, in both large and small ways. While we aren’t perfect, we strive to be better every day, and each step forward is a step in the right direction. 

What does it mean for Aquaglide to become more sustainable? Here are some steps we’ve taken so far:

• We’ve begun offsetting our carbon footprint via EcoCart donations (an algorithm that calculates the carbon cost of online orders). In 2021, we offset over 115,000 lbs of carbon.
• We utilize 100% post consumer recycled packaging. This means all of the cardboard that our goods arrive in is made of recycled materials.
• In our ultralight product line, we utilize TPU, or Thermoplastic Polyurethane. TPU is an advanced material that is much more environmentally friendly than alternatives such as PVC, since TPU is recyclable and biodegradable in 3 – 5 years.
• We’ve implemented a manufacturing code of conduct to ensure our product is ethically made. 
• We offer industry leading warranties across our product lines. 
• We are compliant with REACH Restricted Substances List (RSL) and beginning to implement AFIRM RSL to reduce the use of harmful substances and chemicals in our supply chain.
• We embrace remote work and technology to reduce our need for travel – this includes limiting international/cross-country travel.
• By relying on welding our products, we both reduce use of toxic adhesives and create a product that is more durable.
• We are committed to building products that last, and are designed to be repaired, not thrown away. At every step, our aim is to encourage products that will last users a lifetime. 
• DEIS initiatives are an integral part of our work in sustainability. We’ve implemented creative controls to prevent cultural appropriation and encourage diversity and inclusion in our assets. 

There is still much work to be done, and we have lofty goals for the future. Some of these goals include:

• We are working towards 100% carbon neutrality. We have taken steps to begin this process, starting by offsetting emissions of our paddlesports products, and are currently conducting a more in depth study of our carbon footprint. 
• We aim to lessen packaging material waste, via higher recycled content, less polybag plastic, and alternatives to traditional plastic packaging. 
• We are exploring sustainable alternatives to our boat materials, such as TPU. We will remain on the cutting edge of developing sustainable technologies.
• We plan to streamline and refine logistics and transport to reduce redundancy and increase efficiency, which will in turn reduce emissions.
• We aim to further encourage diversity and inclusion in the outdoors through programs and support focusing on underrepresented communities.

We will continue to update our sustainability statement as we work through our targets and add new ones. If you have any suggestions on efforts or specific ways you’d like us to improve, we’d love to hear from you.