5 Ways To Tackle Ocean Plastics

As consumers, we all know plastics are everywhere. We've produced more plastic in the last ten years than in the whole of the 20th century, and we use 50% of the plastics we use only once. From the Arctic, where the majority of UK plastics end up, to the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, it’s everywhere. In fact, it circles the earth in ways you wouldn’t expect due to ocean currents and seasonal changes. Today, we're looking at five ways to tackle Ocean Plastics.

“At least 8 millions tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean each year... Without action, the ocean is expected to contain more plastics than fish by 2050.”

~ Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Here are five ways to tackle ocean plastics

1)  Be a fashion warrior!

Use a Guppy Friend bag in your washing machine. It’s a mesh laundry bag that captures microfibres as clothes are washed. Microfibres are a massive issue prompting the UK government to ban microbeads.

Related read: Things made with ocean plastics.

2)  Say no! It’s the final straw!

Recycle plastic bottles,  ask for non-plastic straws in restaurants, and at home choose eco-friendly straws instead of plastic alternatives. Use non-plastic cutlery and choose reusable cups, not disposables. There are tonnes of reusable cups on the market, such as Enviro-Cups, for events.

3)  Get active!

Collect rubbish in your local area. It could help prevent the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. If you live near a beach, join Surfers Against Plastics for clean-ups for a great and purpose-filled day out.

Inspirational Lizzie Carr paddle boarded 400 miles around England’s waterways and became the first female to paddle board solo across the English channel! Go Lizzie!

4) Have a beer and support sustainable businesses!

Support businesses that use recyclable products. You can even get the Edible Six Pack Ring from Saltwater Brewery, which is 100% biodegradable, within 2-3 months of being in the ocean! Even brands like Adidas are changing their habits with the UltraBOOST Uncaged Adidas x Parley shoes, so you don’t have to sacrifice style to look after the planet.  H&M’s new  Conscious Exclusive collection features BIONIC - a brand-new material created from recycled polyester from plastic collected on beaches and shorelines.

There are so many more alternative brands out there, too, for every need. For example, Claire Rendell’s beautiful furniture proves you can combine stunning design with a sustainable conscience (check out our brand list of eco-friendly furniture). By supporting brands that are making huge changes in their production methods, we can build momentum and a demand for a more sustainable, more environmentally friendly future.

5)    Make some noise!

We’re in this together, and we can all make a difference. Share Ocean Generation’s #MyOceans, especially with young people and teenagers. To make a big difference, there are many travel opportunities to see the impact of plastics first-hand. For example, Flooglebinders runs educational trips for schools. Alternatively, supporting trips for young people can help encourage the next generation of change-makers. Charities like One More Generation rely on your donations to keep making a difference.

We hope you're inspired to take action through these easy and actionable five ways to tackle ocean plastics!

Want to become a Plastic Ocean warrior? Here are some big questions that could lead to surprising answers.

• Given that only 12% of UK waste is recycled, and current recycling practices only get 5% of the original energy back, are we chasing after the wrong goals?
• Why is there such a low demand for reusable cups but lots of attention around the #lattelevy? Are taxes the only way forward? Why don’t consumers sacrifice convenience for a small discount?
• Will giving consumers extra steps, like using a Guppy Friend, actually make a difference? Wouldn’t creating responsible supply chains and changing manufacturing processes be better?
• Read more: Environmental impact of plastic water bottles