For us at the Canoe Centre and Rafting.ie every day is earth day but today marks a very significant moment on the Earth Day timeline.

It is most unlikely that when Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 that it’s pioneers imagined us celebrating it’s 50^th anniversary while in lockdown fighting the Coronavirus across the globe.

As part of Earth Day 2020 we want to tell you about some of the measures we take  to improve the world around us and some of the fantastic sustainable products that we are very proud to sell.

An Taisce National Spring Clean

For the last number of years we have been involved in the National spring clean organised by An Taisce. We have worked with local residents associations and groups within our community to try and clean up the River Liffey from Lucan right down to our base in Palmerstown. In 2019 we had a fantastic clean up removing all sorts of rubbish from the river ranging from plastic bottles to car parts and everything in between.

We had great intentions of gearing up for a similar haul this year but unfortunately much of the National Spring Clean has been put on hold with Covid-19 restrictions. As soon as things are back to normal we will get back to organising what might end up being an Autumnal clean of the Liffey! Head over to our Facebook page to check out our gallery from the 2019 Liffey Clean Up.

Our Buzzy Bees

If you don’t already know about our resident bees then check out our previous blogpost where you can read all about our favourite tenants!

Bees are a vital part of our eco system as the worlds primary pollinator meaning they have a direct effect on our food growth and supply chain. The banks of the River Liffey provide a fantastic habitat for these little guys and we have some expert bee keeping friends who make sure the standard of care is only the best.

Keep an eye out for an blog update on our bees later in the week!

Around the office

Have you ever noticed that all of the orders dispatched from our online store are parcelled in recycled paper and cardboard? We seal all packages with recycled tape in an effort to reduce our need for single use plastics.

We use recycled paper for all our printing and note taking purposes and all our on-site cleaning, gear and equipment washdowns are carried out with natural, chemical free cleaning products.

Leave No Trace

As a business comprised of avid outdoor enthusiasts we are extremely proud to be members of the Leave No Trace initiative. Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics programme designed to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.

The seven principles of Leave No Trace are:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Be Considerate of Others
3. Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife
4. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
5. Leave What You Find
6. Dispose of Waste Properly
7. Minimise the Effects of Fire

 If you would like to know more about Leave No Trace you can have a look at their website here.

In our shop

Although the Paddlesports industry is not one that historically has been synonymous with environmentally friendly materials, in recent years there have been incredible developments in the use of recycled materials throughout most of our product ranges.

 Islander Kayaks have been leading the charge with their range of Marine Recycled kayaks constructed from plastic that has been reclaimed from the sea and rivers all thanks to a collaboration with Odyssey Innovation.

 Palm Equipment have a fantastic range of lifestyle clothing for off the water that is produced in line with the Global Organic Textile Standard.

The (GOTS) is recognised as the world's leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres. It defines high-level environmental criteria along the entire organic textiles supply chain and requires compliance with social criteria as well.

 Dewerstone have been a recent but very welcome addition to our product range. These guys pride themselves on producing excellent garments and accessories that are totally environmentally sustainable.

From the Life shorts made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles and polyester to the very slick sunglasses range made from wood and bamboo.

For all your beverage carrying needs Palm equipment make a stainless steel flask which is great for keeping your water cool and reducing the need to buy plastic bottled water. For the lovers of hot drinks, Dewerstone make a neat little reusable bamboo coffee cup that is fully biodegradable.

Last but by no means least come the Durt wipes. Perhaps one of our favorite products. For a long time wet wipes have divided the opinion of outdoor enthusiasts  as they are very convenient for cleaning up but they are not all that kind to the environment. That was until the Durt wipe came along!

Durt wipes are a premium face and body wipe that is biodegradable and produced with all natural ingredients. They are a generous size at 12” x12” and are super strong. On top of all that they are an Irish company.

Pick up some Durt wipes here for your next adventure!