Plastics

Plastics beach clean on the Isle of Mull

Posted by Frank Hewetson — 23 June 2017 at 10:26am - Comments

Child on a beach holding old bottle caps

Our beach clean began with a 2 hour drive up the most amazing coastline from Fionnphort to Ulva on the Isle of Mull (having stopped by Beluga II in Tobermory) to meet up with 3 very small local primary schools.

Cath and Janey from Marine Conservation Society arrived just after us, having had the same problems finding this quite beautiful and remote beach, only to find the school kids hard at work - getting stuck in to clearing up the seriously large amount of plastic waste.

Article tagged as: beach clean, marine conservation society, oceans, plastic pollution, Plastics

Coca-Cola's marketing strategy = a gift for the End Ocean Plastics campaign

Posted by Louisa Casson — 22 June 2017 at 2:16pm - Comments

Oh the irony. As part of a millennial-focused marketing strategy to associate Coca-Cola with beach holiday fun and sunkissed selfies, Coke last month launched its summer campaign. This year’s gimmick? Coke bottles labelled with exotic beach destinations and a competition to win glamorous holidays every day.

Why ironic? Because it's these very plastic bottles that are polluting the beaches and rivers of many of these holiday hotspots.

Article tagged as: Coca-Cola, end ocean plastics, ocean plastics, oceans, Plastics

What I learnt on board the Beluga

Posted by Louisa Casson — 14 June 2017 at 1:26pm - Comments

Puffins flying around cliffs with the sea in the background

This week hasn’t been a normal “day at the office”. I’ve spent the last few days on board the Beluga II, the Greenpeace boat currently sailing around the Scottish coast to document and investigate the impact of ocean plastic pollution on Scotland’s internationally significant wildlife.

Article tagged as: Beluga II, ocean plastics, oceans, Plastics, scotland

When Coca-Cola washes its hands of the ocean plastic problem, this is where the problem washes up

Posted by Luke Massey — 12 June 2017 at 4:08pm - Comments

Picture of empty Coca-Cola bottles on a beach in Scotland

Last week I was standing over a pile of plastic Coca-Cola bottles, on a remote beach in Mull on the west coast of Scotland.

Article tagged as: beluga, Coca-Cola, end ocean plastics, ocean plastics, oceans, Plastics, scotland

In Pictures: Campaigning to end Ocean Plastics, the Beluga II Tour so far

Posted by Angela Glienicke — 7 June 2017 at 1:08pm - Comments

Greenpeace has brought its ship the Beluga II on an expedition of scientific research around Scotland

Last month our ship the Beluga II set sail on a two-month scientific expedition around Scotland investigating the impact of ocean plastic pollution on some of the UK’s most beautiful landscapes and wildlife.

Article tagged as: beluga, oceans, Plastics, slideshow, slideshows

How Scotland’s marine wildlife is in danger from plastic pollution

Posted by TishaBrown — 4 June 2017 at 8:27am - Comments

Scotland is the envy of the world with its rich waters teeming with wildlife and spectacular coastlines and beaches. But it’s increasingly at threat from the scourge of marine plastic pollution.

Article tagged as: basking sharks, Beluga II, gannets, ocean plastics, oceans, Plastics, puffins, scotland, seals, wildlife

Are basking sharks eating plastic? We went to find out.

Posted by Luke Massey — 31 May 2017 at 4:24pm - Comments

Crew on the Beluga II search for basking sharks on the west coast of Scotland

“Basking sharks!”

At 5am, these words shatter the silence in the sleeping quarters on the lower deck of the ship.

The crew burst into life, wrestling on clothes, cameras, binoculars.

Up on the helm, eyes pace back and forth across the expansive blue of Gunna Sound – a known feeding ground for these gentle giants off the west coast of Scotland – searching for the elusive fins which moments before pierced the water.

And then… nothing.

Article tagged as: basking sharks, Beluga expedition, Beluga II, end ocean plastics, Gunna Sound, Mull, ocean plastic, oceans, Plastics, scotland, Tiree

Microbeads in the spotlight!

Posted by Louisa Casson — 2 March 2017 at 1:00am - Comments

This week, microbeads shot up the political agenda (again) - thanks to Greenpeace supporters (again!) and a host of coalition members.

Article tagged as: DEFRA, microbeads, microplastics, oceans, Plastics

Microbeads consultation: the good, the bad, & the ???

Posted by Elisabeth Whitebread — 20 December 2016 at 1:17pm - Comments

Back in September, the government announced it was planning to launch a consultation on banning microbeads, those pesky toxic beads that companies have added to face washes, toothpastes, washing powders and other products.

Article tagged as: consultation, marine plastic, microbeads, microbeads ban, oceans, Plastics

A joint mission: ending plastic pollution

Posted by Louise Edge — 14 September 2016 at 4:27pm - Comments

Back in July I was lucky enough to be one of 100 people who spent the day cleaning up a heavily plastic polluted beach on ‘Freedom Island’ in Manila Bay, Philippines. The beach was in an appalling state - piled high with throwaway plastic wrappers, straws and bottles which also littered the water. This was just a snapshot of the estimated 8-12 million tonnes of plastic that scientists tell us goes into our oceans every year.

Article tagged as: #breakfreefromplastic, Ocean, oceans, plastic pollution, Plastics

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