Meet the changemakers: Fairphone Ambassador Gony Zubizarreta
We’re on a journey to change the electronics industry – and we’re not alone. While the Fairphone is a physical expression of the possibility of change, it also happens to be a great storytelling device that connects us with inspiring changemakers from all over.
In this series, we want to shine a light on our ambassadors: A group of bright individuals that share our vision of a fairer future and contribute to sustainable change in their own meaningful way. Next up is Gony Zubizarreta an Argentinian born, Galician raised professional surfer.
Thanks for being a Fairphone Ambassador, Gony. Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Buenos Aires, but as a baby moved with my parents and my bro to Galicia, in northwest Spain. At the age of 7, in 1992, I discovered surfing. It was my passion from day one and I never stopped. I started competing a few years later, and was lucky enough to turn my passion into my job. I get to travel to surfing events, meet new friends, experience new cultures, and be in the ocean — I’m truly living the dream!
Was there a turning point in your life that made you think and act more sustainably?
When I was surfing in the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, about ten years ago, it was impossible to ignore the plastic and the trash in the water. I started getting more conscious about sustainability. I realized it was really important to do my part, to try to avoid single-use plastics, to recycle, do beach clean-ups, eat locally, buy locally: there’s so much that each of us can do not just to reduce our own footprint, but to send a signal to our friends and followers that all this disposable junk is not ok. We think we’re just throwing it “away” – but too often, “away” means we’re throwing it in the ocean.
What is something you’re super passionate about?
Obviously, I’m passionate about surfing, but snowboarding and skateboarding as well. Outside of extreme sports, I really like drawing and painting. That runs in the family. My dad and my brother are great artists.
And what’s something you can’t live without?
I feel super lost if I’m inland or in a big city. I’m so at home on the beach. I really couldn’t live without the ocean.
Got any tips for living more sustainably?
Each of us can do our part, with little changes like eating locally, buying from the farmers’ markets instead of the big supermarkets, consuming less single-use plastic. We can recycle, reuse, buy for life, buy less, and repair rather than replace. And we can turn any walk on the beach into a contribution by just picking up trash that will otherwise end up in our beautiful oceans.
How did you first learn about Fairphone?
I knew nothing about Fairphone until my friend and partner Marlon Lipke called me and told me about it. I loved the idea and philosophy of the brand instantly and was super happy to become part of the Fairphone family as an ambassador.
What are your 3 favorite photos taken on the Fairphone 3 and why?
Marlon Lipke running as fast as he can on an empty beach to get his surfboard and wetsuit… as the waves build toward perfection with the incoming tide, at one of our favorite surf spots in Southern Portugal.
How does the Fairphone 3 help you do what you do?
Using a Fairphone3 enables me to work on the road, whether it’s at a surf competition or a photoshoot. I can have access to my emails, social media and everything I need for my daily job. I’m really happy with this amazing device, and happy to see so many people becoming part of the Fairphone family. As an ambassador, it’s really gratifying to be able to introduce more of my friends who love surfing to yet another way they can help protect our oceans.