Climate Change Data

The Wave

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022, 2023-2024)

Reporting Period: 2022

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Social Impact
  • Governance

Environmental Achievements

  • 10% net saving on water use due to leak repair
  • Planned installation of a £3.2 million solar and energy storage array (to be completed in 2023), aiming for net-zero operational carbon emissions.
  • Switched to a more eco-friendly cleaning product supplier.
  • Purchased sustainably sourced logs for The Camp.
  • Used Rapanui for most own-brand merchandise (renewable energy powered factory, audited for social and sustainability criteria, water-based inks).

Social Achievements

  • Delivered 1,484 surfs via social impact programs.
  • Gave away almost 800 free beginner lessons.
  • Supported 122 adaptive surfers.
  • Ran 4 x 6-week surf therapy courses with The Wave Project.
  • Ran a 6-week course with women from Bristol’s female Muslim community.
  • Worked with Active Being Connect to run courses for women in deprived areas of South Bristol.
  • Hosted the English Adaptive Surfing Open.
  • Launched the Summer of Waves pilot program for vulnerable young people.
  • Launched ‘Sister Sessions’ for women-only surf sessions.
  • Launched a ‘surf tool’ for surfers with upper body limb differences in collaboration with I Am Possible Foundation and Koalaa Prosthetics.

Governance Achievements

  • Welcomed new investors, Sullivan Street Partners.
  • Refreshed Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
  • Developed a revised strategy to deliver purposeful impact as a triple bottom line business.
  • Submitted a B-Corp application.

Climate Goals & Targets

Medium-term Goals:
  • Plant more trees; work with corporate partners for tree planting.
Short-term Goals:
  • Make The Wave Bristol a resounding success.
  • Enable 2,000 surfs via social impact programs.
  • Build the solar array and start generating own power.
  • Reduce carbon footprint.
  • Develop a carbon and climate change strategy and sign up to Net Zero pledges.

Environmental Challenges

  • Cost control
  • Green algae bloom affecting water quality (believed to have depressed sales by almost 20%).
  • Inefficient adaptive surf club and booking process.
  • Lack of ethnically diverse workforce.
  • Lack of public transport access.
  • Shortage of female surf coaches.
  • Difficulty sourcing female wetsuits above a size 16.
  • Unsustainable neoprene wetsuits (environmental and health concerns).
Mitigation Strategies
  • Reviewed every part of the business to streamline operations.
  • Researched solutions and hired specialist filters to address algae bloom; developing a long-term solution.
  • Reviewing adaptive surf booking process for improvement.
  • Continuing to address workforce diversity in 2023.
  • Conversations with local councils and employers to improve transport access.
  • Exploring ways to encourage female lifeguards and team members to become coaches.
  • Working to develop a circular solution for wetsuit recycling.
  • Committing to working with industry partners to create a sustainable surf school wetsuit.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainably sourced logs
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • Rapanui for merchandise (audited for social and sustainability criteria)

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Algae blooms due to heat waves
Opportunities
  • Solar energy generation

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Seasuit
  • Merchandise from Rapanui
  • New t-shirt range made from SeaBlend®

Reporting Period: 2023-2024

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • People
  • Planet
  • Profit

Environmental Achievements

  • Reduced water consumption year-on-year.
  • Reduced electricity consumption year-on-year.
  • Installed a £3.2 million solar array, becoming Net Zero Carbon in operational energy.
  • Recycled over 3,000 kilograms of wetsuits.
  • Planted 4000 trees.

Social Achievements

  • Delivered 938 surfs to over 150 adaptive surfers.
  • Provided free surfing lessons to 90 children as part of World Ocean Day for Schools.
  • Supported various social impact courses and activities with partners.
  • Hosted the UK premiere of Wave Women UK, inspiring more women from BAME backgrounds to surf.
  • Raised £4035 through online donations.

Governance Achievements

  • Submitted B-Corp application, hoping for accreditation by Summer 2024.
  • Implemented directional lighting, allowing extended operating hours.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Partner with University of Bristol for PhD research on surfing's impact on mental well-being.
  • Work with partners to baseline and record CO2 emissions and develop a reduction plan.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Complete and communicate The Wave’s EDI strategy.
Short-term Goals:
  • Achieve B-Corp accreditation by end of Summer 2024.
  • Enable 2,000+ surfs via social impact program.
  • Embed energy-saving practices throughout staff.
  • Ensure wetsuit partners commit to sustainable materials.
  • Work with corporate partners to increase tree planting.

Environmental Challenges

  • Slow progress in making booking quicker and easier for para-surfers.
  • Lack of progress in recruiting and training more female surf coaches.
  • Workforce not representative of the ethnic diversity in the area.
  • Limited accessibility by public transport.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implemented additional training for in-water supporters and para-surfing coaches.
  • Created a pathway to qualify more female lifeguards, aiming for progression to surf coach training.
  • Developing ED&I strategy for workforce diversification.
  • Ongoing conversations with local councils and authorities to improve public transport access.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Working with Rip Curl for wetsuit repair and resale.
  • Collaborating with partners to develop sustainable wetsuits.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: B-Corp