Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association's environmental initiative

by ICSA on 27 Aug 2010 The ICSA Board of Directors has announced an initiative to eliminate single-use plastic bottles from all Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) regattas in an effort to reduce plastic waste from the landfills, the oceans, and the environment in general.

The directive issued includes a requirement for ICSA regatta hosts to provide a suitable water source to replace bottled water customarily purchased by each sailing team at each regatta throughout the sailing season. Collegiate sailors will be required to bring reusable water bottles to events. Recycling bins will also be provided at each regatta site. The stated purpose of this initiative is to 'eliminate the amount of single-use water bottles at ICSA events to the extent practicable.'

Working with Sailors for the Sea, a non-profit organization composed of sailors that educates and empowers the boating community to protect and restore the oceans and coastal waters, the ICSA hopes to reduce and perhaps
eliminate entirely the approximately 25,000 single-use bottles purchased each season for ICSA regattas. More information about Sailors for the Sea can be found at www.sailorsforthesea.org.

Several facts have contributed to this decision. Single-use plastic bottles of water cost up to 10,000 times the cost of tap water. Bottled water does not undergo the quality testing that tap water does. Seventeen million barrels of oil are used in the production of water bottles yearly. The bottles take thousands of years to degrade and contribute to litter problems onshore and offshore. Only 1 in 5 water bottles are recycled; the other 4 contribute to 3 billion pounds of waste.

ICSA is also partnering with Klean KanteenR to provide high quality, food-grade stainless steel reusable water bottles to the college sailors at a discount. More information is available at www.KleanKanteen.com/collegesailing.

About College Sailing
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association (ICSA) is the governing authority for sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and some parts of Canada. The ICSA promotes, legislates, supervises,
and provides overall guidance to 7 member regional conferences and affiliated institutions. The ICSA's 200 member teams compete in over 370 ICSA events annually. More information is available at www.collegesailing.org.

About Klean KanteenR
Klean Kanteen created the first BPA-free metal bottle designed for personal hydration. The family-owned company was created in 2004 and is based in Chico, Calif. The founders of the company were concerned about both the
environmental impacts of plastic use and the early research linking certain plastics and BPA to a growing list of illnesses including cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Klean Kanteens were created to give people an environmentally friendly, healthy alternative to plastic and aluminum bottles. All Klean Kanteen products are made with high quality, 18/8, food-grade stainless steel and are responsibly manufactured in China at a partner facility that is committed to strong environmental and labor standards. Learn more at www.kleankanteen.com.