A spotlight on... Starboard Blue: Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste

At GoodFX, we love to shine a light on businesses using innovation and purpose to create real-world impact. Starboard Blue is doing just that—transforming the ocean sports industry while tackling one of the world’s biggest environmental challenges: plastic waste. 

We spoke to Ava Hider, Starboard Blue’s Eco Sales and Marketing Coordinator, about their important work and how you can get involved.

Starboard Blue is the for-purpose arm of Starboard, a leading manufacturer of windsurfing and paddleboarding equipment. The initiative was born from a moment of frustration when Starboard’s CEO, Svein Rasmussen, witnessed windsurfers struggling to navigate through plastic-ridden waters during the Formula Windsurfing World Championship in Thailand in 2000. 

During the event, competitors found themselves crashing as their fins got caught on floating plastic debris. This alarming issue sparked action, leading Starboard’s crew to start conducting regular beach clean-ups. What started as Svein personally picking up plastic from beaches quickly turned into a larger movement. 

Plastic credits: A scalable solution

After 16 years of continuous collections, the company officially launched the Plastic Offset Program (POP) in 2017—the world’s first initiative of its kind. Starboard Blue has pioneered a unique approach to plastic waste reduction through plastic credits, a system verified by Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Standards.

One plastic credit represents one tonne of plastic waste collected from the shorelines in Myanmar and Thailand, where plastic pollution is particularly severe. For every board and product Starboard produces, the company picks up 1.4 kilograms of plastic waste as well as planting mangroves.

Through their pioneering Plastic Offset Program, Starboard removes ocean-bound plastic while simultaneously creating social benefits for vulnerable communities. With the urgency of plastic pollution growing every day, the initiative not only offsets plastic use but also empowers local communities with employment, education, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. Since its inception, POP has expanded significantly, removing thousands of tonnes of plastic from coastal areas and integrating waste management solutions into local communities.

Making waves beyond Starboard

Starboard encourages other companies to join and take eco-action. Companies and individuals can purchase Starboard’s plastic credits to offset their own usage and empower vulnerable lives. Whether a company is just beginning to understand its plastic consumption or taking the first steps in its ESG strategy, plastic credits provide a solution at any stage of a company’s sustainability journey to make a difference.

Although plastic credits are an emerging voluntary market, the plastic credit programme has gained momentum, with companies of all sizes buying credits to offset their plastic footprint. 

Ava says:

“Our first plastic credit buyers include Phonecases3D, a phone case company in Spain, Element6 Evolution, a boat manufacturer in Thailand, and Jessie’s Juice Bar, a café in the Cayman Islands. Now we’re looking for companies who can scale and help us expand the program, especially those in industries with a heavy reliance on plastic.”

Unlike many offset programs that rely on third parties, Starboard directly manages and runs its own collection programs, ensuring transparency, live communication updates from the team, and direct community involvement.

More than clean-ups: Livelihoods and education

Beyond reducing plastic waste, Starboard Blue is making a tangible difference in the communities where it operates, particularly in Myanmar, integrating social programs, including education, employment, and long-term community empowerment. The initiative provides stable jobs for local clean-up teams and runs learning programmes to foster environmental awareness. 

Ava explains:

“Local residents rely on our program for a source of income and education in addition to waste management initiatives. Recently, our team leader in Myanmar gathered a group of four-year-old children from the community who do not have access to school and educated them about the importance of the environment by the river. It is incredibly powerful to leave a positive impact on children who need us most.”

Urgent action in Myanmar

The recent earthquake in Myanmar has made Starboard Blue’s work more critical than ever.

“People have lost their homes, and there’s no fresh water. Every basic necessity is gone.Our impact in Myanmar is more important now than ever.”

For companies looking to make an immediate impact, Starboard Blue offers an accessible way to contribute. Investing in Starboard’s certified plastic credits provides an immediate impact on the planet and lives. 

“The credits are already verified and available, so businesses can start taking action right away.”

The time to act is now

Starboard Blue’s model proves that environmental responsibility and business success can go hand in hand. As plastic pollution continues to threaten marine ecosystems, companies across industries—from apparel and maritime insurance to consumer goods—have an opportunity to be part of the solution.

“We’re not just about picking up plastic. We’re about people, education, and creating lasting change. Any company, big or small, can help.”

If your business wants to take action, now is the time. Get in touch with Starboard Blue, email ava@star-board.com, purchase plastic credits, and help turn the tide on ocean plastics