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Standup Magazin: Starboard wins Sport Positive Award 2024

Outstanding environmental commitment

Leading watersports manufacturer Starboard receives the award in the ” Climate Impact Reduction ” category for its commitment to significantly reducing its own negative impact on the climate and even having a positive impact. Starboard is known for developing this year’s iQFOiL Olympic Windsurfing Class. The new Sport Positive Awards, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, the BBC Green Sports Awards and UN Global Climate Action, recognize those who are leading the way in using the power of sport to tackle some of the biggest issues of our time, namely climate change, environmental justice and biodiversity.

Beyond climate neutrality

There were some strong nominations in the “Climate Impact Reduction” category, such as the celebrated Ocean Race. However, the independent jury of experts, including prominent figures from UEFA, Formula E and NBA, chose Starboard as the first winner of the title. According to the jury, Starboard was not only recognized for its work on land restoration, marine conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also for its performance in creating additional positive impacts. According to Starboard, climate neutrality, i.e. offsetting one’s own emissions, is no longer enough. Instead, the manufacturer uses innovations to protect the planet for future generations and to generate a positive impact in line with its credo of Innovation Quality .

Concrete actions

From founding its own VERRA-certified beach cleanup and community support project, the Plastic Offset Program , to developing products from recycled materials, reducing packaging, and planting mangroves with Worldview International Foundation to sequester ten times its total corporate emissions, Starboard is demonstrating the power of both sport and business to make a positive impact.

Svein Rasmussen, CEO of Starboard and former Olympic windsurfer, on the company’s motivation: “It’s about progress, about ambition and about sharing… We have proven that leading companies and even Olympic sports can have a positive impact on the planet.”

Rasmussen is referring to Starboard’s collaboration with other sports organizations such as the Professional Windsurfing Association, the International Canoe Federation and World Sailing. But Starboard is best known for developing and supplying the iQFOiL Olympic Class, which debuted this year in Paris as one of the most environmentally advanced events at the Olympic Games.

Another winner and Starboard partner: Amara Wichithong

The celebrations continued with Amara Wichithong, Thailand’s first female windsurfing world champion, dedicated environmental activist and long-time partner of Starboard, winning the title of ‘Regional Manager for Asia’. The inspirational former Olympian escaped a childhood of extreme poverty and dedicates her life to her local community’s commitment to protecting the ocean she calls home.

For Amara and Starboard, standing out and gaining recognition in the world of sport is a truly significant achievement. Despite the company’s modest market share in the water sports sector, Starboard and Amara have proven that it’s not about size, but motivation.

The team at Starboard is committed to supporting others in similar efforts and creating meaningful change across the industry.

Read the full article here.