The oceans plastic pollution problem
Just imagine: plastic waste, which accounts for 80% of marine pollution, is growing at an astonishing rate of 12 million tons per year.
The consequences are dire: Marine life suffers, ingests or becomes entangled in plastic debris. Another danger is that plastic breaks down into insidious microplastics and seeps into the entire food chain.
New Hope: Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP)
POP logo on products
Innovative approaches are paving the way in the fight against ocean plastics. One such approach is Prevented Ocean Plastic, or POP for short.
POP is high-quality recycled plastic sourced from high-risk coastal areas. By collecting and recycling plastic bottles left behind in vulnerable coastal regions, such as beaches, the POP program ensures that these plastics do not end up in the ocean.
Why is POP different?
POP is different because, unlike traditional recycling, it focuses on prevention, preventing plastic from entering the water. By the time a plastic bottle ends up in the ocean, it’s too late. Sunlight and salt water quickly degrade the plastic, making it mostly impossible to recycle. This makes removing ocean plastic more of a cleanup effort than a recycling issue.
The goal of POP is therefore to prevent plastic from ever entering the water.
What positive impact does POP have on the environment?
First, POP can significantly prevent ocean plastic pollution, reducing damage to marine life and ecosystems. The POP initiative has prevented more than 1,000 tons of ocean plastic pollution per month in Southeast Asia, South America and the Galapagos Islands, Central America and the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and East Africa. In addition, the program, developed by Bantam Materials, the recycled plastics business responsible for POP, has helped recycle more than 10,000,000,000 bottles.
Secondly, choosing a POP bottle reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The original, “virgin” plastic production involves the extraction and processing of fossil fuels, which is responsible for significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
In contrast, recycled plastic requires less energy and resources, resulting in lower emissions and a smaller carbon footprint.
Third, choosing POP is a way to support the circular economy. Instead of following a linear model where materials are used once and then discarded, the circular economy supports the reuse and recycling of materials.
CYCLE and POP:
At CYCLE, we are passionate about protecting our diverse oceans and saying no to ocean plastic. That’s why we wholeheartedly support the use of Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP) in our packaging. We are excited to introduce our latest product, our Summer Edition General Surface Cleaner Concentrate, available in a refreshing grapefruit and lemongrass scent, in an innovative POP bottle.
By choosing POP, we aim to contribute to preserving our diverse and clean oceans. We are also determined to drive positive change within the industry, promoting a shift towards sustainable packaging solutions.
