From Oslo to Rome: Eco Adventurer Merijn Tinga to Meet Pope Leo XIV After 4,500 km Campaign Journey
Dutch biologist, artist and “Plastic Soup Surfer” Merijn Tinga will depart from Nice on April 28 for the final stage of his long-distance campaign expedition from Oslo to Rome. After more than 4,500 kilometers of windsurfing and paddleboarding across Europe, he is set to arrive in Rome on May 21 where he will meet Pope Leo XIV and also the Mayor of Rome.
The expedition is part of a broader mission to promote deposit return systems for beverage containers across Europe, a policy proven to reduce litter by up to 80%.
For Starboard, long-time partner of Tinga, this moment marks a unique convergence of sport, sustainability and global influence.
A Meeting of Purpose: Sport, Sustainability and Moral Leadership
The meeting between an eco adventurer and Pope Leo XIV is as symbolic as it is unusual.
The Pope, known for his engagement with environmental issues and inspired by the principles of Laudato Si’, and Tinga share a common message: caring for our “common home” requires action, not just awareness.
That this message is carried to Rome by wind and water, through a physically and technically demanding expedition, underscores its urgency.
A Long Journey with Starboard
Tinga has been connected to Starboard since 2017, when he paddleboarded the entire length of the Rhine River, over 1,000 km from source to sea, on a board built from recycled plastic bottles, based on a Starboard design.
That campaign contributed to a major policy shift in the Netherlands: the introduction of deposit return on small plastic bottles and cans in 2021. Within six months, this led to an estimated 80% reduction of these items in litter across streets, rivers and coastlines.
The Final Stage: Nice to Rome
The upcoming Nice–Rome leg is one of the most challenging:
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Departure: April 28, Nice
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Arrival: May 21, Rome
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Distance: ~700 km along the Mediterranean coastline
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Conditions: Exposed, rocky shores and unpredictable winds, sleeping under his sail on the coast.
Like previous stages, the journey is both a physical endurance challenge and a platform for policy advocacy.
Mobilizing the Water Sports Community
A central part of this campaign is activating the global community of sailors, surfers and paddlers.
Through the ‘Rifiuti in Vista’ program participants are invited to: photograph litter encountered on beaches and waterways for citizen science research. This way they can contribute to a growing database of visual evidence. We support them through AI-driven analysis of litter patterns
This citizen science approach transforms everyday observations into actionable data, helping to identify which products most frequently become pollution – bottles and cans normally make up the majority of litter.
From Expedition to System Change
Tinga’s work highlights a critical insight: plastic pollution is not just a waste issue: it is a design and system issue. Deposit return systems remain one of the most effective tools available. By giving value to packaging, they prevent it from becoming waste in the first place.
About Merijn Tinga
Merijn Tinga, also known as the Plastic Soup Surfer, is a Dutch biologist and artist who combines long-distance expeditions with environmental campaigning. His work focuses on reducing plastic pollution through systemic solutions, particularly deposit return systems. His organisation does litter research, packaging design research and leads a community of litterpickers.
About Starboard
Since 1994, Starboard, founded by Svein Rasmussen, has been a leading innovator in windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, wingfoiling, and the Olympic windsurf provider. Starboard has earned recognition for its commitment to sustainability and positive environmental impact through programs like its Plastic Offset Program.
Learn more about the initiative at Starboard Plastic Offset Program.
Starboard’s website: https://star-board.com/
Starboard Blue Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/starboard-blue/
