Thanks to the efforts of Surfrider’s chapters, student clubs, business leaders, and staff, 2024 was a year of improvement and expansion for Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Programs! In September, Surfrider launched the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program and 20 hotels are already participating. This year, we also reached 576 total Ocean Friendly Restaurants from 32 states (including PR and VI), welcomed 49 new OFRs on the East Coast, released our Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide 2.0, updated our sign-up and renewal process, and worked with business leaders to advance plastic reduction policy.
Collectively our ocean friendly businesses are making a huge impact. Our Ocean Friendly Hotels save 620,000 single-use plastic water bottles and 930,000 mini toiletry bottles from polluting the ocean and landfill. Our Ocean Friendly Restaurants serve over 38 million single-use plastic-free meals a year.
Take a look at some of our accomplishments this year:
Launched the Ocean Friendly Hotels Program
The Ocean Friendly Hotels Program is an expansion of Surfrider's nationally-recognized Ocean Friendly Restaurants Program. This program celebrates hotels that have eliminated unnecessary single-use plastic and offers a simple, straightforward framework to help them implement practices that are better for the health of our ocean. Surfrider has a goal to add 100 hotels in the next five years. This will eliminate over 4,000,000 plastic water bottles and 6,000,000 mini toiletry bottles annually from our landfills and polluting our ocean! Find an Ocean Friendly Hotel Near You!
Released a New Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide
Surfrider released the Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide 2.0 to equip restaurants with tools to avoid greenwashing and choose the best Ocean Friendly products for their businesses.
Components of the Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide 2.0 include:
- Updated definitions of common labels and buzzwords
- A decision matrix to help review products and avoid greenwashing
- Case studies of real OFRs
- Buying guide with new products categorized as ‘best choice,' 'good alternative,' and ‘what to avoid’
- Exclusive vendor discounts for OFRs
Celebrated Ocean Friendly Restaurants Month
In October, Surfrider hosted a successful Ocean Friendly Restaurants Month, where our chapters and clubs came together to host OFR-inspired events and celebrate our OFRs dedicated to eliminating single-use plastic. During this month alone, we added/renewed 50 OFRs and hosted over 10 events to celebrate the program.
The San Diego Chapter hosted an event with OFR Breakfast Republic. For every pinapple pancake sold, 100% of the proceeds went to the chapter.
Improved Our Sign-Up and Renewal Form
Thanks to Surfrider's wonderful tech team and the feedback from our ocean-friendly volunteers, we updated the sign-up and renewal form to improve its function and increase automation. Now, the sign-up form should only take 2 minutes to complete and the renewal process only takes a few clicks! With these improvements, restaurants and hotels can spend more time with customers and less time filling out forms.
Took an Ocean Friendly and Great Lakes Friendly Tour
Our Ocean Friendly Programs Manager took a tour around the country to meet with volunteers on the East Coast and help them improve their programs. She attended the National Restaurant Association Show, the largest annual gathering of foodservice professions on the Western Hemisphere and visited chapters in Puerto Rico, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. Since then, the Northern OH Chapter has added 3 Great Lakes Friendly Restaurants, the Central Long Island Chapter has added 5 OFRs, the NYC Chapter has made progress toward adding a new Ocean Friendly Hotel, and the Rincon Chapter is helping with implementation of a single-use plastic reduction bill.
Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Programs Manager with the Northern OH Chapter.
OFR Received a Surfrider Wavemaker Award
Mayflour is an Ocean Friendly Restaurant and small batch and sustainable bakery specializing in cakes and desserts in Essex, MA. Owner, Jocelyn Pierce received a Wavemaker Award during Surfrider's 40th Anniversary Summit for her dedication to running a sustainable business and leadership in the Massachusetts Chapter. Jocelyn serves on the EC of the Surfrider Massachusetts Chapter and even joined Surfrider in Washington, DC at Coastal Recreation Hill Day to talk with the General Services Administration (GSA) about reducing single-use plastic and packaging.
Left to right: Caitlin Ivester, MA OFR Lead, Dr. Chad Nelson, CEO, Jocelyn Pierce, Owner of Mayflour, and CJ O'Brien Weddle, Ocean Friendly Programs Manager at Surfrider's 40th Anniversary Super Summit.
Chapters Won the OFR Coastal Champion Award
The Massachusetts, Charlotte, North Orange County, Kaua'i, and San Diego Chapters won the Coastal Champion OFR Program Award at Surfrider's 40th Anniversary Summit! These awards were given to chapters and clubs that are doing extraordinary work to protect our ocean, waves, and beaches across the country.
Advanced Plastic Reduction Policy with Our OFRs
This year, approximately 60 ocean-friendly business leaders took action to advance Surfrider's plastic reduction policies by signing comment letters, joining policy working group calls, collaborating on case studies, and more.
Tiny Turtle OFR owner, Kelly Lieneke (left)
In Florida: Surfrider FL successfully blocked a law that would have expanded the existing preemption to preempt all single use and reusable bags, cups, bottles, containers, and wrappings sourced from plastic and other materials. The owner of an OFR, The Tiny Turtle co-wrote an op-ed urging legislators to oppose this bill as it hinders innovation and makes it more difficult for small businesses to reduce single-use plastic.
In the White House: One of Surfrider's federal priorities this year was to strengthen the plastic procurement phase-out plan by the federal General Services Administration (GSA), the largest purchaser of goods and services in the United States. 55 Ocean Friendly Restaurants signed and submitted a comment letter urging GSA to propose a strong plan that includes all single-use plastic products and packaging. If small businesses like our OFRs can eliminate single-use plastic, then the GSA can too!
In Oregon: Policy and programs teamed up to tackle single-use foodware and elevate reuse in Oregon's Foodware Working Group. Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide was crucial in developing guidance and recommendations for alternatives to polystyrene foodware.
Highlighted Ocean Friendly Businesses All Year Long
Wild Honey Bistro in Homer, AK
Each month, Surfrider shared the ways our OFRs and OFHs are eliminating single-use plastic and making more sustainable choices for our ocean on the Coastal Blog.
January: Retro Roast in Orlando, FL is a coffee shop that only serves coffee in reusable mason jars. Or you can bring your own!
February: Wild Honey Bistro in Homer, AK is a cozy bakery committed to Alaskan flavors and eco-friendly practices. Make sure to try their famous sourdough croissants!
March: Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth, MN is a Great Lakes Friendly Restaurant and smokehouse specializing in smoked fish, meats, and quality cheeses.
April: Banana Dang Coffee in Oceanside, CA is a craft coffeehouse where you can enjoy delicious drinks, smoothies, toasts, and sweet treats.
May: Stoneface Brewing Co. in Newington, NH is a state-of-the-art brewery and restaurant that prioritizes sustainability and supports local community organizations.
June: Crew in New York City, NY is a hospitality group of truly original restaurants all featuring strong maritime themes.
The Pilot Bar as part of Crew in New York City, NY
July: Mimosa Brunch Farm to Table in Aguada, PR is a cafe featuring delicious food from local forms prepared with native flavors.
August: Mitch's Seafood in Point Loma, CA is a waterfront restaurant known for its fresh and sustainable wild-caught seafood and inviting atmosphere.
September: Adrift Hotel and the Inn at Discovery Coast in Long Beach, WA are the first Ocean Friendly Hotels to join the program.
October: Moku Kitchen in Honolulu, HI is a chef-driven concept restaurant that brings Hawaii's rich upcountry farming and ranching heritage to downtown Honolulu's urban lifestyle.
Island Cottage Inn in Flagler Beach, FL is a charming beachfront Inn meant for romantic getaways and peaceful retreats.
Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach, CA
November: Hotel Joaquin in Laguna Beach, CA is a boutique property nestled just above Shaw's Cove in Laguna Beach.
December: Rincon Brewery is a craft brewery with three locations in Carpinteria, Ventura, and Santa Barbara, CA.
Stay tuned in 2025 as we continue to grow our Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Hotels Programs, advance more single-use plastic policies, especially "Skip the Stuff" campaigns, and exhibit at the National Restaurant Association Show.
Want to help Surfrider stop plastic pollution at the source? Consider donating today!