This 20,000-tonne achievement means 50,000 tonnes of CO2 saved by not using new plastics. This is equivalent to growing 826,761 tree seedlings for 10 years[2], the energy use for 6,021 homes energy use for a year or ten wind turbines running for a year.
To paint a picture of 20,000 tonnes, this is about the weight of 200 Blue Whales and around 12 plastic bottles for every UK citizen[3]. With the average number of water bottles consumed per year in the UK being 7.7 billion, this equates to 10% of the total amount of plastic water bottles which are consumed in the UK in a year.
Research shows, if we continue on our current trajectory, the annual flow of plastic entering the ocean will triple by 2040, to 29 million metric tons[4]. With the United Kingdom one of the top ten producers of waste and plastic waste in the world[5], Bantam Materials moved quickly to find a plastic packaging solution that prevented damage to the world’s oceans.
The resulting Prevented Ocean Plastic product is a certified recycled plastic that has been collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution. In addition to meeting all regulatory health and safety standards, each batch is traceable back to source and means it can be reliably verified as meeting the recognised criteria for being ‘ocean-bound’.
Raffi Schieir, Director of Bantam Materials, said: “World Oceans Day is about acting for our oceans, using marine resources in a sustainable way and preventing pollution. We are very proud of reaching the 20,000-tonne milestone and want to use this moment to thank all our customers but in particular Group Guillin who were our first partner. They recognised the importance of ocean-bound plastic as a reliable source of recycled PET and led the creation of what are now award-winning initiatives with international brands.
“Sadly, the plastic waste shows no signs of slowly down and we need to rapidly accelerate recognition and use of ocean-bound plastic as part of the solution. It is a key element of creating a circular economy for plastic while also protecting our oceans and marine life from devasting pollution.
“We’ve reached this 20,000-tonne milestone in a little over a year’s time. Now we have the systems and foundations in place we endeavour to grow the programme so we can deliver this, and more, every year.”
