CleanHub is a company that is focusing on addressing the global plastic pollution problem. We made the decision to join forces with CleanHub at the start of the year, with the goal of supporting and enhancing their endeavours in tackling the global plastic pollution crisis.
Their waste collection strategy involves gathering non-recyclable plastic waste and ensuring its responsible disposal, which includes transforming the waste into usable energy. This blog will provide an update on our progress and hopefully shed some light on the harmful impact plastics have on our marine ecosystems.
How severe is the impact of plastic on marine life?
Year after year, a devastating number of animals fall victim to the deadly impact of plastics. With over 2000 species affected, it is fish and birds that bear the brunt of this environmental catastrophe. The majority of these deaths are a result of entanglement or starvation. Seals, whales, turtles, and other animals are strangled by abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings.
In many instances, sharp pieces of plastic are ingested by animals and then pierce their organs which leads to internal bleeding. Some plastics are ingested without immediate harm but are challenging to expel. The animal's stomach becomes so packed with plastic that it ultimately starves to death. This is undoubtedly a grim reality that we must face.
The Hidden Threat of Microplastics
One of the most overlooked issues we face is microplastics, which are tiny shards of plastic that can measure a few micrometres in size. These can come in the form of microbeads in washing products to degraded plastic debris. Synthetic fibres from the clothes we wear shed plastic fibres each time that they are washed. Laundry alone causes around 500,000 tonnes of plastic microfibres to be released into the ocean every year – the equivalent of almost 3 billion polyester shirts.
Preventative Measures
Once plastic waste finds its way into the ocean, it's nearly impossible to retrieve. There are large mechanisms like Seabin and WhaleShark that can remove large bits of plastic off the ocean surface. However, when smaller plastics break down due to sun constant sun exposure or wave activity, they are practically impossible to recover.
The key lies in preventing the initial entry of plastic waste into our rivers and oceans. This can be achieved through the implementation of improved waste management systems, effective recycling practices, innovative product design that considers the short lifespan of disposable packaging, and a reduction in the production of unnecessary single-use plastics.
Plastic Waste Recovery in August: The Figures
At the time of creating this blog, we have assisted in the retrieval of 1,459 kg of plastic waste in collaboration with CleanHub. That is equivalent to 145,900 0.5 litre-size plastic bottles. This represents just shy of 60% of our overall target. To provide some context, the total weight of our 'half-litre plastic bottles' would equate to the combined weight of two football starting XIs.
We are truly grateful to be partnered with an organisation like CleanHub. Their dedication and commitment to tackling the global plastic pollution crisis is truly inspiring. They have managed to recover nearly 10,000,000kg of plastic. We look forward to continuing our partnership to make an even greater difference in the future.
In Conclusion
Our partnership with CleanHub goes beyond simply meeting a target of recovering plastic waste; it's about leaving a lasting impact on our oceans and environment. We take great pride in our achievements thus far. Stay tuned for future updates as we continue our journey towards recovering 2500kg of plastic waste. Be sure to bookmark the report link to follow our progress and discover the valuable insights we've gathered along the way: https://www.cleanhub.com/impact-report/theiceway.
Leave a Comment