Couple Builds SUPs From Plastic Bottles For Europe Expedition

LA DORDOGNE RIVER, France - To bring attention to the huge global issue of plastic pollution this World Ocean’s Day, two teachers are completing a marathon on their (SUP) stand up paddle board made out of plastic bottles.

Carlos and Carolyn are a Brazilian/British couple, who are passionate about sport and protecting the environment. This summer to raise awareness of the problems of plastic pollution in the ocean, they have built their own paddle board out of plastic bottles and they are paddling their way across Europe, completing a marathon in 12 different countries.

The proposed route along the La Dorgogne River. 

On Thursday 8th June, they will complete their first marathon on La Dordogne River in France from Saint Julien de Lampon to Saint Cyprien. You can follow their progress on their Facebook page or their website. They hope to do their final marathon on the Thames in London in September as part of Totally Thames, which focuses on plastic pollution this year.

Carlos and Carolyn built their first paddle board out of 124 plastic bottles in Brazil earlier this year, inspired by Brazilian surfer Jairo Lumertz, who runs the very successful, ‘Eco Board Project’. He has toured over 200 schools across Brazil, teaching children about the importance of preserving the environment through sport. Having made their first board and seeing the incredible impact it had when they took it to the beach, Carlos and Carolyn came up with their marathon expedition across Europe to get people talking and thinking about how they consume plastic. They have also offered to build plastic bottle boards with SUP clubs and schools along their route to teach others how to find a good use for their waste plastic bottles. If you would like to work with them, email: supmarathon@gmail.com.

Carlos and Carolyn want to encourage as many people as possible to get active and re-connect with nature through the sport and witness for themselves the problems of pollution in the water because once you have paddled alongside plastic rubbish, it becomes impossible to ignore!

Carlos showing off his SUP made from plastic bottles. | Photo via: Carlos & Carolyn 

Carlos and Carolyn are volunteers for the charity Watertrek. If you would like to donate to their expedition please go to their JustGiving page HERE.

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