Our planet is drowning in plastic pollution! While plastic has many important uses, we have become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic — with severe environmental consequences. Around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year. In total, half of all plastic produced is designed to be used only once — and then thrown away.
Researchers estimate that more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic has been produced since the early 1950s. Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. About 12% has been burnt, while the rest — 79% — has accumulated in landfills, dumps or the natural environment.
Through our Education and Environmental Centre in the Mentawai Islands, we are continuously educating and empowering the community about making sustainable choices to protect their health, marine life, ocean and environment. We are starting to make a difference to this small part of the world and people are noticing!!
We recently made Padang TV during the Mentawai Surfing Cup. Check out the video – even if you don’t understand the Indonesian language you can still see the impact of our work!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR5cTAK7jM4&feature=youtu.be
So remember if everyone makes small changes in their day to day lives, we’ll all make a huge global impact together. Say no to single use plastic bags, straws and bottles and remember to reduce, reuse and recycle to protect our environment!! #BeatPlasticPollution #WorldEnvironmentDay
Besides our main project in the Indonesia, we also collaborate with other NGO’s and organisations that align with our values and mission. We have just partnered up with Holiday Inn Kandooma Resort in the Maldives as part of a Corporate Social Responsibility project on the local island of Guraidhoo. We have donated a 120 litre water cooler machine and 300 refillable bottles for the patients and staff of a new “Home for People with Special Needs Centre” being developed. By supplying the water bottles we hope the community will eliminate the need for single use plastic waste such as bottles and straws and help create a plastic free environment and ocean for the Maldives.
Thanks again for your continuous support in helping us make a global sustainable difference!