World Oceans Day 2018

The oceans are the largest ecosystems on our planet, they are Earth’s life support system. At a time that climate change is gathering pace, it is crucial that we act to protect our oceans. This is why on the 8^th of June, Bywaters will be honouring World Oceans Day 2018.

The Importance of Our Oceans

The diversity and productivity of the world’s oceans is a vital interest for humankind. Our security, our economy, our very survival all require healthy oceans.

Together, the world’s oceans:

• Generate between 50 and 80% of the oxygen we breathe
• Contain around 97% of the planet’s water
• Provide over a sixth of the animal protein we eat
• Consume more than 25% of carbon dioxide (CO2) on the planet, reducing climate change

It is for these reasons that the oceans are often referred to as the “lungs of the planet”. Not only do they provide biodiversity and produce the air we breathe, but they also play a crucial role in reducing carbon emissions.

It is pivotal that we act to raise awareness of ocean pollution and protect the seas for future generations, which is what World Oceans Day is all about.

An Ocean Plastic Pollution Crisis

One of Bywaters’ central initiatives currently is our fight against single-use plastics that travel down our waterways and into the ocean. The amount of plastic in the ocean is now reaching crisis levels.

The unfortunate truth is that millions of tonnes of plastic has entered our ocean and will continue to do so.

A significant percentage of this plastic drifts into large systems of circulating ocean currents, also known as gyres. Once trapped in a gyre, the plastic will break down into micro-plastics and become increasingly easier to mistake for food by sea life.

Bywaters Celebrates World Oceans Day

Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honour, and help to protect and conserve, our world’s shared oceans.

As a leader in recycling and recovering plastics, Bywaters is always coming up with workable solutions to the plastic problem. Our comprehensive approach to waste management helps divert plastics away from our oceans, while we simultaneously clean up the mess that has already been made.

Our Actions Against Ocean Plastic

Through recovering plastic before it reaches the ocean to organising large scale beach cleans, Bywaters is passionately committed to tackling this global issue and spreading awareness to our client partners.

Recently, to spread awareness of the amount of plastic pouring into the oceans every day, Bywaters teamed up with Sky TV to tour Plasticus (a 10 metre long plastic whale) around the UK. Plasticus was made from plastics recovered by Bywaters, plastics that would otherwise have gone into the ocean.

To celebrate world oceans day, Bywaters has organised four beach and river cleans in Brighton and London. By making this commitment Bywaters can ensure that any of its activities that may interact with the ocean are compliant with our exceedingly high standards for sustainability.

Get Involved in World Oceans Day

If you want to learn more about World Oceans Day, donate to the cause of saving our seas, or organise your own events, then head here. Everyone can do their bit to help, and with everyone chipping in, we can build a more sustainable world.

The ocean belongs to no one and yet everyone. Let’s all do our part, and remember: if you can’t reuse it refuse it.