Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing and recognised environmental challenges. With its convenience, durability, and affordability, plastic is part of our daily lives. However, its long-lasting nature and improper disposal have led to a crisis that is wreaking havoc on our ecosystems, wildlife and human health.
The scale of plastic pollution is simply staggering. It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050 unless immediate and sustained action is taken.1 Plastic waste disturbs the balance of marine ecosystems and poses a significant threat to marine life. But the problem doesn’t stop with our oceans. Plastic waste can be found in our rivers, forests, and the air we breathe. Microplastics, tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items, have entered into our soil, water sources, and our food.
Addressing plastic pollution requires a collected approach that includes awareness, education, and action. It is crucial that communities, businesses, governments and we, as individuals work together towards reducing plastic consumption, promoting recycling, and finding sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics. And every action, no matter how small, adds up.
Our Partnership with Ocean Bottle
Through our partnership with Ocean Bottle, we waved goodbye to the traditional ‘goody bags’ at our recent Creating the Future conference and instead, gifted each client attending an Ocean bottle. These reusable bottles are not only stylish and practical but also serve as a constant reminder to make conscious choices and reduce single-use plastic consumption.
Ocean Bottle is on a mission to stop plastic pollution at its source. Since launching in 2019, it has prevented over 9 million kgs of ocean-bound plastic from reaching our oceans. Each Ocean Bottle sold funds the collection of 11.4 kg (25 lbs) of ocean-bound plastic, equivalent to the weight of 1,000 single-use plastic bottles. Together with Ocean Bottle, we successfully prevented 336,000 plastic bottles from polluting our precious marine ecosystems.
Our Partnership with Plastic Bank
To engage our clients and empower them to be part of the plastic solution, we also invited them to sign up for Plastic Bank’s Stop 50 campaign. The concept of Plastic Bank is simple. It recruits local people in countries such as the Philippines as collectors to gather plastic waste to be recycled directly from local beaches, riverbanks, neighbourhoods, and households. The collectors get paid for the plastic they retrieve, providing them with a much-needed income, while tonnes of plastic are prevented from entering the ocean.
Each of our clients who signed up for the campaign prevented even more plastic bottles from polluting our oceans. In total, this amounted to 55,000 bottles. This powerful campaign not only multiplied our impact but also encouraged people to take an active role in combating plastic pollution.
We will continue to seek innovative solutions, forge impactful partnerships, and empower individuals to be agents of change. Together, we can create a brighter future.
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