2018 has opened up a lot of opportunities for environmental change especially when it comes to plastic and and the ever so rapidly growing popularity of The International Coastal Cleanup Day. From the microbead ban in January to McDonald’s filtering out plastic straws in May, step by step the reduction of plastic and non-decomposable matter is being reduced. However, this doesn’t mean it’s all over yet. It’s estimated that 100,000 turtles and marine mammals, such as dolphins, whales and seals, are killed by plastic marine litter every year around the world. That’s why the International coastal cleanup day is so important.

Educating and informing people on the importance of coastal cleanups is the only real way they are going to see and experience first hand just how bad the plastic problem is. More than 4.8 million metric tons of plastic gets dumped in our oceans each year because of no one other than us; the human race. We are so incredibly set in our plastic product ways that we oversee the damage that we are causing to marine life. That’s why the annual September coastal clean up is so important. We need to change our ways not just forget them.

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but they don’t say you can’t teach them the benefits of coastal cleanups in the hopes that they may change in their ways. It’s not so much about one coastal cleanup day a year to raise awareness for everyone to go back to their old ways the next day, it’s about making an impact. Influencing. Changing bad habits. Overcoming plastic pollution. Understandably we’re a modern society that has become dependent on the convenience and accessibility of plastic items, they’re practically everywhere. That’s why coastal cleanups are so important because it’s everyday items that contribute to the amount of waste that ends up in our oceans. Water bottles, cutlery, carrier bags, straws and food wrappers are some of the most common plastic items found during coastal cleanups. As a society, we’re so dependent on plastic that we are reluctant to change our ways. That’s where International coastal cleanup day comes in.

We have no reason to be set in our ways when there are hundreds of options available when it comes to eradicating plastic from our lifestyle. Reusable cutlery, paper packaging, bags for life and paper straws are just some of the ways we can do our bit for the environment. Coastal cleanups wouldn’t have to happen if we all lived a little bit greener. If supermarkets and retail stores can do their bit, why can’t we?

For over three decades, volunteers with Ocean Conservancy’s International coastal cleanup have picked up everything imaginable along the world’s shorelines. Cigarette butts, food wrappers, abandoned fishing gear and even automobiles and kitchen appliances. By joining the coastal clean up you can do your part for the environment and marine life. One day’s coastal cleanup could make all the difference. It’s not hard to get involved in a coastal cleanup, in fact, they’re everywhere, it’s just a case of looking. Who says you can’t have a fun day at the beach with the family and tidy up behind you or, if you’re feeling extra eco, do a bit of litter picking while you’re there.

Coastal cleanups don’t have to be boring, you can get involved digitally to track your eco-progress. By, joining a global movement you can do your bit to keep beaches, waterways and the ocean trash free. You can even head out to your favourite beach and use the coastal cleanup app to easily record each item of trash you collect, which you can then share your effort with family and friends. Don’t let trash make you turn a blind eye, let it be the reason to kick start your litter-picking adventures.

Learning to reuse, reduce and recycle matter that doesn’t decompose is so important. That’s why at Paguro we repurpose and recycle a variety of materials. Our vision is to bring together a collection of the world’s finest upcycled products, focusing on quality craftsmanship and contemporary design. Go online to find out more about how we repurpose a range of materials in desirable and elegant ways.  https://paguroupcycle.com