Celebrating Earth Month at Divers Direct
The earth is a big and beautiful place, so let's take a big, beautiful look at our home planet this Earth Month and connect with how we can incorporate more eco-conscious practices into our everyday operations and life. As a retailer, a lot of our efforts center around choosing vendors who embrace environmentally friendly practices in the production and shipping of their products.
And we don’t stop there. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do because we, as divers, see first hand the impact we all have on our oceans. From our eco-friendly packing and shipping methods to our staff volunteering to help clean the oceans and all the little details in between, we’re putting our best foot forward, investing in our planet, and asking you to join us. Not just this month, but today, tomorrow, and every day. So let’s dive in.
What about Divers Direct’s packing peanuts?
Packing peanuts are a source of contention for any company that ships products. Here at Divers Direct, we use packing peanuts; however, the ones we use are made from biodegradable, compostable material. Check out the video below to watch how quickly our packing peanuts dissolve once they’re submerged in water. We encourage you to try it out yourself, it’s actually kinda fun.
What about the other packing materials Divers Direct uses?
Our commitment to the environment inspired us to write a blog about our use of packing materials. Basically, everything we use is either eco conscious packing materials or reused materials from packages we receive. Although we can’t always choose what someone else uses in their packaging, we are in complete control of what we do with it once it reaches us. Recycle, reduce, reuse is our motto and every little bit helps.
What’s up with Divers Direct’s bags?
When you stop in one of our four locations and select all your new dive gear, at checkout, your items will be placed in a sturdy paper bag which can be reused (like a lot). And if you happen to purchase $100 or more in merchandise, your products will be put in one of our exclusive reusable Divers Direct Red Bags. The dimensions of this bag make it a great addition to your bag collection because it’s perfect for hauling your stuff to and from the beach or boat.
Can I say ‘No thanks’ to a bag?
Yep. Our staff is happy to place your items in a bag of your own or let you carry your stuff out without any bag at all. Up to you. Every little bit counts.
How is Divers Direct helping in the community?
At Divers Direct, we know how important our coral reefs are to our sustainability. That’s why we partner with Friends of Our Florida Reefs—from helping get the organization off the ground, participating in stakeholder groups, having had staff serve on their board, to helping support the Bleach Watch program. We’re committed to helping the environment and organizations working to protect and preserve our aquatic ecosystems, which is why we also partner with Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Foundation. Our incredible staff also cares deeply about the planet, whether it's through beach clean-ups or coral restoration dives.
Some of Our Partners Investing in Our Planet
We work with as many companies as possible that focus on eco-conscious practices and investing in our planet. From eliminating harmful plastics and chemicals from their products to creating more sustainable and biodegradable packaging, here are a few of our many partners and a brief overview on how they’re making our planet a priority.
Project Reef believes the world’s oceans should be loved and respected. With each Project Reef purchase, they prevent 1 pound of plastic from entering the oceans and enable community events that support the regeneration of our planet.
SCUBAPRO has partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory to combine cutting-edge science with a plan to scale reef restoration efforts. Besides being one of the top diving companies, SCUBAPRO is taking action to better the ocean.
Billabong collaborated with Coral Gardeners to create a collection that uses recycled fabric and raises awareness about coral conservation. In addition to this collaboration with Coral Gardeners, Billabong has also implemented several sustainability initiatives such as reducing plastic packaging and promoting responsible sourcing.
EVO Water Gear is working to eliminate plastic waste from their packaging by reusing the same packaging you buy your snorkel and mask in. At the checkout, when you’re buying the EVO Drift Snorkel and Mask Combo in our store, you can elect to take your new EVO gear out of the plastic clam shell packaging. One of our Divers Direct experts will gladly take it and make certain it gets sent back to EVO to be used again—thus eliminating the need to create more plastic, thereby reducing plastic waste.
Mares is working towards making all their dive mask boxes plastic-free, compostable containers. Focusing on their Blue Oceans Plastic Free initiative, Mares has started to change the game on dive gear packaging. They even removed the plastic coating on most of their packaging. Check out the bigger picture on what Mares is doing to invest in our planet.
Osprey has been working to invest in our planet since 1995 and they haven’t looked back since. From reducing harmful chemicals in the production of their products to sewing in the Leave No Trace principles into their backpacks, Osprey is a true leader and innovator in eco-friendly practices. Here’s what Osprey is up to in sustainability.
Fourth Element is one of the top scuba brands focusing on sustainability, eco-conscious business practices, and investing in our planet. From creating their Ocean Positive line that is made from recycled ghost nets, including dive suits to swimwear, to removing single use plastics from their packaging, Fourth Element sets the bar high when it comes to sustainable practices. Check out how they embrace the planet and work to protect and clean our oceans.
Spacefish Army creates fun watersports wear from recycled single-use plastics. Virgin polyester is not exactly a planet-friendly material, which is why Spacefish Army takes the extra steps necessary to keep plastics out of our landfills and oceans by recycling them into creative and unique apparel rather than using virgin polyester for their material.
Nomadix towels were once upon a time 30 plastic bottles. That’s right, Nomadix takes single-use plastic bottles and turns them into versatile towels perfect for the beach, boat, pool, and anywhere you might want a towel. By eliminating plastic waste and creating innovative gear that works, Nomadix is raising the bar on towels.
Stream2Sea creates Protect Land + Sea Certified sunscreens that are tested and proven safe for fish and coral larvae. Additionally, they use sustainable ingredients and sustainable packaging too. Good for you and good for the oceans, does it get better than that? Find out more about this amazing company's eco-conscious efforts and activism.
Costa not only created their UNTANGLED collection which turns used-up fishing nets into frames for sunglasses, they also created their OCEARCH line that’s dedicated to ocean conservation. When you buy a pair of Costa OCEARCH sunglasses, you’re helping fund shark research expeditions to aid in protecting our ocean’s ecosystem. Did you know that sharks play a huge role in our ecosystem?
4Ocean is on a mission to remove trash from the oceans and waterways. To fund that mission, they create bracelets and other products made from recycled materials, then the proceeds from the sale of each bracelet covers the cost of removing one pound of trash from the ocean. They raise awareness on the importance of protecting these areas and the magnificent creatures within them, offering the much needed reminder that we can all do a little more.
MANG® will plant a mangrove, with every purchase, to help restore and preserve coastal ecosystems with their Buy One. Plant One.® initiative. Since its founding, MANG® has partnered with nonprofits, scientific researchers, and communities to plant over 520,000 mangroves.
Fahlo is partnered with a variety of wildlife conservation organizations and donates a portion of their proceeds from every purchase to the organizations connected with the campaigns. Falho wants to educate about wildlife and excite others about conservation by offering a tangible, stylish bracelet and an interactive tracking experience.
As we celebrate Earth Month, let's take a deep dive into our planet and consider how we can incorporate more eco-conscious practices into our daily lives. As a retailer, we prioritize partnering with environmentally responsible vendors for the production and shipment of our products. However, our commitment to sustainability extends beyond this. As avid divers, we witness firsthand the impact we have on our oceans. That is why we strive to make sustainable choices in every aspect of our business, from eco-friendly packaging and shipping methods to volunteering in ocean clean-up efforts. We invite you to join us in making a positive impact on our planet, not only this month but every day.