European Expedition Launched from Tenerife to Tackle Cigarette Pollution
The Moving The Planet Foundation has initiated a European expedition from Tenerife, aimed at raising awareness about the environmental impact of cigarette butts and promoting the conservation of beaches and oceans. Supported by Surfing With Me and Tenerife Tourism, the project started after two clean-up events last weekend in Las Américas and Buenavista del Norte.
The expedition kicks off just days after the official launch of surfboards made from collected butts, symbolising a partnership of sport, sustainability, and environmental education. Over the next twelve days, the Surfing With Me team will visit renowned surfing spots across Europe, starting from Galicia and moving through Cantabria, the Basque Country, France, Portugal, and the UK. They plan to engage with surfers, schools, local organisations, and industry representatives.
Tenerife Tourism emphasises that this initiative aligns with its strategy to promote the island as a hub of sustainability and innovation. Lope Afonso, the Vice President and Tourism Councillor of the Cabildo, stated that the project showcases how tourism can raise environmental awareness and protect natural spaces. Dimple Melwani, the CEO of Tenerife Tourism, added that turning harmful waste like cigarette butts into a tool for inspiring meaningful change is crucial.
The European route follows two volunteer clean-up events held last week. On June 20, coinciding with International Surfing Day, a clean-up and symbolic launch of sustainable surfboards took place at Las Américas beach, aided by the Colillatón 2026 campaign. The next day, a similar clean-up and marine waste talk occurred at Las Arenas beach in Buenavista del Norte.
The Surfing With Me initiative merges environmental activism with surf culture and public involvement, delivering a clear message: a single cigarette butt can contaminate hundreds of litres of water and can persist in the natural environment for years.
