Partnering for the Planet: How We’re Building a Resilient Future for Coral Reefs Together
When you think of a coral reef, you might picture a serene underwater garden. But at Reef-World, we like to think of them as the ocean’s corporate headquarters.
Reefs are the heart of "ocean business." They provide the essential infrastructure that supports 25% of all marine life and protects our coastlines. Just like any global headquarters, they keep the economy—both underwater and above it—thriving and resilient. But without the right support and maintenance, this vital infrastructure is at risk.
To protect this asset, we don't just work in the water; we work in the boardroom. We partner with forward-thinking businesses to reduce local threats to reefs, helping them build the resilience they need to withstand global challenges like climate change.
The Power of Collaboration
For us, a partnership isn't just a logo on a website. It’s a collaborative effort to move the needle on marine conservation. We’ve found that when businesses align their strengths with our mission, the impact is ground-breaking.
Our partnerships take many shapes, each playing a unique role in our work:
The Foundation: Straightforward donations and 1% for the Planet contributions provide the reliable funding we need to plan long-term conservation strategies.
The Power of the Consumer: When businesses donate a percentage of sales, they invite their customers to join the journey, turning everyday purchases into a force for good.
“Reef-World’s work - particularly through globally respected initiatives like Green Fins - demonstrates how tourism can be a powerful force for good when guided responsibly. We see this partnership as a natural extension of our mission to protect what inspires us. Most importantly, it allows our travellers to give back directly to the beautiful places and ecosystems they love to experience.”
- Noah Robinson, Director of The Super Yacht Optical
Behind the Scenes: Sometimes the biggest help isn't a cheque - it’s a "gift in kind." Flights and accommodation allow our team to reach international conferences to advocate for the ocean, while donated merchandise helps us raise funds to keep our programmes running.
Rolling Up Sleeves: From sponsoring beach cleans to engaging staff in fundraising, our partners show that they are just as invested in the "dirty work" of conservation as we are.
Why Businesses are Diving In
You might ask: “What’s in it for the business?” The answer is: a lot. We believe that for a partnership to be truly sustainable, it has to be a win-win.
“PADI have been partners of The Reef-World Foundation for years. They have enabled us to enhance our operational sustainability profile in the diving industry and have provided a further incentive to our customers to choose us over our competitors.”
- Katie Thompson, Senior Director, Environment & Sustainability, PADI
Today’s employees want to work for companies that "do good." Research shows that staff retention is significantly higher when teams feel their work contributes to a healthier planet. Beyond the "feel-good factor," these partnerships help companies meet their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals with tangible, science-backed data.
"We are thrilled to officially partner with The Reef-World Foundation. This collaboration underscores our shared belief that operational efficiency and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand.”
- Bart Klein Goldewijk, Co-founder and CEO of Diversdesk
Whether it’s through brand visibility in the diving community or hearing first-hand accounts of our work through exclusive webinars, our partners get to tell a story that is authentic, meaningful, and - most importantly - true.
“Eco Beach has been supporting The Reef-World Foundation for some years now. We enjoy sharing updates with staff and regularly see customer engagement from posts on our social media channels celebrating our partnership.”
- Simon Drury, Owner, Eco Beach
Impact You Can See
The ultimate goal of these collaborations is to create a shift in the marine tourism industry. By working with businesses, we aren't just pointing fingers at the problems; we’re building a community of leaders who are proving that tourism can be both profitable and sustainable.
We know that everyone is at a different stage of their sustainability journey. Our role is to provide the knowledge and tools to help them move forward. When a business supports Reef-World, they are supporting a future where the marine tourism industry acts as a guardian of the reef, rather than a threat.
Our work is only possible because of the incredible community of partners and supporters who share our vision for a healthy ocean. From simple donations to creative business collaborations, there are so many ways to make a tangible impact for coral reefs today.