Seven Clean Seas, a UK-based environmental organisation, announced it has achieved a milestone in its mission to combat global plastic pollution. Since its inception in July 2020, it has removed a staggering 2,206,079 kilograms of plastic waste from the world's oceans through a total of 1,886 clean-up efforts. That’s the equivalent of 184 double decker busses, which when lined up, would stretch from Buckingham Palace to St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
Of the waste collected, 36% of the weight is from polyester textiles, 9% from personal care items, 5% from sandals, 8% from product packaging, 8% from plastic bags, 3% from food wrapping, 2% from plastic cups and plates, and 1% from plastic drinks bottles.
Seven Clean Seas aims to remove 10 million kilograms of plastic waste from the ocean by 2025, while also providing sustainable livelihoods for the 200 workers involved in the clean-up operations. The organisation currently removes over 160,000 kilograms of plastic from the ocean each month, which means that at the current pace it removes around 2 million kilograms of plastics from the ocean per year.
“We are over the moon to have reached this incredible milestone and remain resolute in our mission of removing 10 million kg of plastic from our oceans by 2025 as well as creating permanent change in the seven most polluted areas of the world,” said Tom, Peacock-Nazil, founder of Seven Clean Seas. “Seven Clean Seas are also helping other responsible brands in reducing their plastic consumption as well as collaborating with them on a number of clean-up projects. The collaboration with the Soulfresh Group contributed to removing more than 1.300.000 PET bottles from the marine environment,” he added.
The organisation carries out clean-up projects in two locations in Indonesia, the world’s second largest plastic polluter after China, as well as in Thailand.
A recent study has found that around 60% of plastic in oceans is floating at the surface, not just 1% as previously assumed, which if true would significantly facilitate clean-up efforts of organisations like Seven Clean Seas. Nevertheless, it also means that there is much more surface plastic to be removed than previously assumed and thus that urgent action to tackle it is needed.