Join the 9Rs Movement this Earth Day! Building Awareness for 9R in Hockey: Kickstarting a Practical Library.

*We stand now where two roads diverge. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road—the one less traveled by—offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the Earth.* - Rachel Carson

On this Earth Day, let's heed Rachel Carson's wisdom as we explore the vital connection between sustainability and sports, especially within the hockey industry. Despite decades of advocating the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle—we find ourselves at a critical juncture where resource/energy usage and waste generation continue to soar, particularly in hockey.

The manufacturing of hockey equipment has evolved into a highly energy-intensive process, often outsourced to regions like Asia, resulting in lengthy transportation routes and heightened carbon emissions. Profit-driven motives have overshadowed sustainability concerns, leading major brands to neglect the principles of the 3Rs in their product designs.

This Earth Day, we invite you to embark on a transformative journey beyond the 3Rs, embracing the concept of the 9Rs to foster a circular hockey economy. Transitioning from a linear "make, use, discard" approach to a circular system ensures continuous reuse of materials and resources, thereby minimizing waste and environmental impact.

But what exactly are these "9Rs"?

0. Refuse: Reject unnecessary waste and unsustainable practices.
1. Rethink: Challenge conventional methods and explore innovative solutions.
2. Reduce: Minimize consumption and resource depletion.
3. Reuse: Extend product lifespan through repair and repurposing.
4. Repair: Maintain equipment to prevent premature disposal.
5. Refurbish: Restore and renovate items to maximize utility and minimize waste.
6. Remanufacture: Utilize discarded materials to create new products.
7. Repurpose: Find alternative uses for items to extend their usefulness.
8. Recycle: Transform waste materials into new products.
9. Recover: Extract valuable resources from discarded items through advanced recycling techniques.

At Good Wood Hockey, we are fully dedicated to integrating the 9R principles into every aspect of our products, from sourcing materials and production to packaging. Our commitment lies in fostering a transition towards a circular hockey industry, one that champions sustainability alongside our fellow players.

To provide practical assistance to the hockey community in adopting the 9R principles to the great sport of hockey, we've curated a collection of examples condensed into flashcards. These flashcards serve as a living library, openly accessible to everyone here.

However, we firmly believe in the power of collective intelligence. We're certain that you, our community, possess a wealth of great examples and ideas to contribute. That's why we're extending an invitation to you to help us expand this library further by submitting your own flashcards by using the form on our Earth Day '24 landing page.

Share your practical examples of any  of the "R" by May 6, 2024, and as a token of our appreciation, receive a 40% discount code for your next purchase (valid until 31 May 2024). Together, let's shape the future of hockey by collaboratively building the first-ever 9R library for the hockey community. Rest assured, we'll continuously update the library with your invaluable contributions and share them with the wider community.