Ocean Plastic: Problem Solver or Greenwashing?

We are facing a tremendous problem with waste on a global scale. The more we produce, the more we consume, the more waste is created. Where waste and recycling systems do not work as they should, the waste lands up in nature, and that is definitely not where it belongs - we all agree on that.

Plastic waste is everywhere: in rivers, oceans, forests, the deep seas and in our food chain.

10 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest of 5(!) gigantic plastic waste dumps in our oceans, is 4x the size of Germany, and it is soaring rapidly.

Slowly but surely, the tables are turning on us - secretly and quietly: each month, we consume microplastics in quantities that are equivalent to the weight of a credit card.

Solutions exist
There are people and organisations that are working to find solutions for the plastic flood on a small scale - solutions that are much needed right now. No matter where these solutions are put into place, or how big or small of a step it is, we need to focus on the issue at hand. At the end of the day, we're all in the same boat.

The plastic waste problem has become an environmental disaster, as well as an economic one. Valuable resources that are in short supply are being wasted. Recycling these resources is our contribution - our attempt at finding a solution.

We have been working tirelessly over a long period of time to develop a product that forms part of the solution against plastic waste. Thus, we support organisations that collect plastic waste from oceans, harbours and beaches. The plastic waste collected is transformed into raw material again - one that will most probably never run out: upcycled ocean plastic, which is used to manufacture our refillable soap dispensers.

The ocean plastic used is proven to result in more than 90% fewer emissions than newly produced plastic and helps to ensure that waste is collected again - that waste is turned into something valuable and practical. In addition, the consumer saves on plastic packaging since our soap dispensers are refillable.

Now for the paradox: even though we are all aware of the tremendous issue of plastic waste in our oceans, the term "ocean plastic" has become very controversial. Accusations are being made that companies are only using the term for marketing purposes, i.e. greenwashing. These accusations may, of course, be justified in certain circumstances. Nevertheless, we believe that we should not discuss whether rubbish collected from the beach has already floated in the sea or landed up in the oceans, and therefore may, or may not be referred to as ocean plastic.

Before claiming that something falls under the term "greenwashing", it would be useful to take a closer look and find solutions, welcoming each and every one of them.

The issue at hand will not be rectified by discussing terminology. Change occurs when we act, even if these steps seem small and insignificant. Let us work together to find significant solutions to transform ocean plastic into a scarce resource.