The Pollution Paddles are paddleboarding paddles that embody upcycling productions, identify new markets and deliver compelling stories. Ideally, the paddles would be created through a collaboration between Sanford and the New Zealand-based extreme sports company, Torpedo7. Within this collaboration, local marine waste is upcycled to produce paddles that not only initiate an enjoyable relationship between the user and the ocean but also create a thought-provoking idea on keeping our oceans clean by reusing marine waste within recreational ocean activities. By utilising the unique capabilities of the 3D printer, the paddle designs can additionally look at new markets, more specifically, the growing environmentally conscious consumer market,  through the use of customisation. Customisation can ensure each paddle has integrated unique patterns that are inspired by endangered marine species. This addition to the design of the paddles is based on the idea that a small portion of the product’s proceeds can be donated to charitable industries that support the conservation of the specified marine species, who are currently endangered due to plastic pollution. The use of upcycled marine waste, as well as charitable customisation, is a strong incentive for environmentally conscious consumers to support this eco-innovative design as it can tangibly symbolise their values for protecting the marine environment and supporting enduring upcycling initiatives. Furthermore, to complete the sustainable story of upcycling plastic fishing gear into recreational ocean-based products, each paddle can be returned at its end of life to Torpedo7, to be granulated and formulated back into filament to be used again within future productions.

 

Paddles, grips and handles were all 3D printed using filament made from used fishing nets and buoys. The use of these materials within the organic forms ensured high-quality and robust 3D prints were created. Additionally, each material offered an opportunity to enhance the idea of charitable customisation through distinctive ocean based-colours. The unique green, blue and black colours found on the prints can mimic similar colours found on endangered marine species. In the case of the final 3D printed prototypes, the blue designs represent whale sharks, the green designs represent green turtles, and the black designs represent humpback whales. Beyond these prototypes lies a large variety in unique colours found within other plastic fishing gear that could be utilised through similar recreational concepts to introduce the conservation of a wider variety of endangered marine species to the upcycling initiative.