European Glass industry partners with Surfrider Foundation Europe for cleaner and healthier oceans

When it comes to the environment, conversation about packaging waste usually flows back to one place: the ocean. With this in mind, Europe’s Friends of Glass community has recently announced a partnership with marine conservation organisation Surfrider Foundation Europe in support of activities to protect the ocean for future generations.

Glass is the ocean-friendly choice

Since last autumn’s release of BBC’s Blue Planet II, concern over the state of our marine systems and oceans has exponentially grown and public attention has increasingly focused on the need to make more sustainable choices in everyday life.

According to a recent Europe-wide survey carried out with the Friends of Glass community, 78% of Europeans have noticed a change in their own behaviour and pay more attention on the environmental impact of their daily life and actions.

This is having an impact on how European consumers are choosing to shop. The survey reveals that 73% of Europeans rate glass as the most ocean-friendly packaging, and 78% rank it amongst top packaging choices when buying their food and beverage products.

Because of its infinite recycling potential, glass is regarded as one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly forms of packaging on the shelves. Crucially, glass is made from recycled glass, sand, soda ash and limestone, all raw materials which are found in nature. Even if a glass container were to end up in the ocean, it does not leach harmful chemicals or end up as micro particles that may pollute the ocean and harm our marine systems.

Working together to protect our ocean

“With almost 6,300 responses to our Consumer Barometer in the space of just four weeks, it’s clear that this is an issue close to people’s hearts,” commented Adeline Farrelly - Secretary General of FEVE, the European Container Glass Federation - on behalf of the Friends of Glass Community. 

“Whether it’s fond memories of childhood holidays at the beach or summertime strolls along the coastline, we all love the ocean. We’re very proud to be donating to Surfrider Foundation Europe, and thrilled that our partnership can play a part in these efforts to protect our seas.”

“People are realising that our oceans are in a bad state: we simply aren’t giving enough consideration to the packaging we’re buying, and 8 million tonnes of waste ends up in the sea each year. It’s not too late to do something about it,” said Florent Marcoux, Surfrider Foundation’s Executive Director. “We’re looking forward to working with Friends of Glass, and to scaling up our efforts to keep pollution out of the water, ensuring that our oceans will be healthy for many years to come.”

The donation will see an extra 6,000 kilograms of marine litter collected on Europe’s shorelines in the coming months, resulting in the preservation of 300,000 m² of beach. It will also support Surfrider Foundation Europe’s efforts to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution, allowing them to reach an additional 5,000 citizens across Europe.

For more information on the findings from this pan-European survey and Friends of Glass’ partnership with Surfrider Foundation Europe, visit news.friendsofglass.co

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