This summer, AquaCulture was proudly invited to join the Rising Tide Sustainable Brands Talks at Boardmasters 2025. It was an honour to share the stage with a group of passionate changemakers who are reimagining the way we interact with products, materials, and our environment.
Hosted by Kieran Hill, the Rising Tide stage is dedicated to amplifying the voices of sustainable brands working to shake up industries that often resist change. Alongside fellow innovators Radical Wax and Waterhaul, we explored the challenges, wins, and vision behind creating a truly sustainable business.
The Challenge of Building a Sustainable Brand
Dan Lee Searle, CEO of AquaCulture, spoke about the reality of building a challenger brand from the ground up:
“The main challenge when starting a challenger brand was to build the first initial adopters of the product whilst educating and changing core habits and conveniences to make better choices. Our products are raw, pet and child friendly, and free from single-use plastics – which is a world away from the products currently available in most plant shops and garden centres. Being reactive to how the public want to be educated, and staying transparent about industry truths, is central to building a community of customers who want to make small changes for a growing impact.”
Key Themes from the Panel
The panel discussion circled around a few recurring themes:
- Changing Habits: Encouraging people to move away from convenience-driven products and adopt alternatives that are better for people and planet.
- Transparency: Being open about both the struggles and the wins, so customers can see the genuine impact behind their choices.
- Disrupting the Norm: Each brand shared their experience of challenging industries that are slow to innovate, from surfing and fashion to ocean plastics and plant care.
- Community First: Building trust and loyalty through real stories and honest values.
Looking Ahead 🌱
Events like Rising Tide remind us why AquaCulture exists: to create a circular, waste-free future using what nature already provides. Standing alongside other passionate disruptor brands, it was clear that sustainability is no longer just a trend — it’s a movement driven by collaboration, creativity, and determination.
We left Boardmasters more motivated than ever to continue scaling AquaCulture and to inspire more people to make small but powerful changes in their homes and gardens.
Thank you to Kieran Hill and the Rising Tide team for bringing us into the conversation, and to everyone who came to listen, ask questions, and share ideas. Together, we can turn the tide. 🌊
👉 Stay tuned for more updates on where AquaCulture will be speaking next — and if you missed Rising Tide this year, keep an eye out for the 2026 programme.
