Prevented Ocean Plastic announced it has hit a new milestone. There are now 500 types of products packaged in its recycled plastic made from discarded plastic collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution.
Its partners use the fully traceable recycled plastic in products across a range of applications, including cosmetics, cleaning products, health, pet care, food, and drink. Brands and retailers include Lidl, Chateau Galoupet Rosé, Hana Sushi, Patagonia, Child’s Farm and cosmetics retailer Lush, which is transitioning to using the material in its clear PET bottles in-store and online.
“We won’t stem the flow of plastic pollution without a real commitment from businesses,” said Raffi Schieir, director of the Prevented Ocean Plastic programme. “We are delighted that so many brands and retailers are choosing more responsible options when it comes to their packaging. Every product with the Prevented Ocean Plastic logo on our supermarket shelves has played its role in helping us shift towards a just and equitable circular economy. With the support of our brand partners, we are creating value from what’s already out there, and building a more sustainable future for those most impacted by the plastic crisis.”
Earlier this year, Prevented Ocean Plastic hit another milestone by collecting over 50,000 tonnes of plastic since the programme launched in 2019, equivalent to 2.5 billion bottles prevented from reaching the ocean.
The programme celebrated its ‘recycling heroes’ during Global Recycling Day on March 18. It said it is committed to supporting the lives and livelihoods of waste pickers and is thereby conducting research into bottle collector demographics, starting in Ecuador, to further understand their priorities, needs, and how to support them.