A new environmental campaign with its roots in Tenerife is using surfing to highlight the damaging impact of discarded cigarette butts on beaches and marine ecosystems.
Organised by the Moving The Planet Foundation through its Surfing With Me project, and supported by Turismo de Tenerife, the initiative combines environmental education, sustainability and surfing to encourage people to rethink one of the world’s most common forms of litter.
Surfboards made from cigarette butts
The campaign officially launched after the unveiling of the first surfboards made using cigarette butts collected from Tenerife’s beaches.
These innovative boards are at the centre of a 12-day European tour, symbolising how waste can be transformed into a powerful educational tool while raising awareness of the environmental damage caused by discarded cigarette ends.
The expedition has already begun in Galicia and will continue through Cantabria, the Basque Country, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom, where the team will work with surfers, surf schools, environmental organisations and local communities.
Beach clean-ups launch the initiative
The campaign follows two successful beach clean-up events held in Tenerife.
On 20 June, volunteers gathered at Playa de Las Américas to mark International Surfing Day, removing litter before taking part in the symbolic launch of the recycled surfboards as part of the Colillatón 2026 campaign.
The following day, the initiative moved to Las Arenas Beach in Buenavista del Norte, where volunteers collected cigarette butts and other marine debris before attending an educational session on ocean pollution.
Supporting sustainable tourism
Turismo de Tenerife says the project reflects the island’s commitment to sustainability, innovation and the circular economy.
The Cabildo’s Vice-President and Tourism Councillor, Lope Afonso, said the initiative demonstrates how tourism can also be a force for environmental awareness and the protection of natural spaces.
Meanwhile, Dimple Melwani, CEO of Turismo de Tenerife, described the project as an innovative way of turning one of the most harmful forms of waste into a powerful message capable of inspiring positive behavioural change.
A small piece of litter with a big impact
Although small, cigarette butts are among the most common forms of litter found on beaches worldwide. They can take years to break down and release harmful chemicals that pollute both the sea and coastal environments.
Organisers hope the campaign will encourage more people to dispose of cigarette ends responsibly and help protect beaches and marine life for future generations.