88% of the sea's surface is polluted by plastic waste. Between 8 to 14 million tons enter our ocean every year. Reducing contamination by plastic in the oceans is crucial to protect marine ecosystems and the overall health of our planet.
The purpose of World Ocean Day is to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilize and unite the world's population on a project for the sustainable management of the world's oceans.
Because we care about the planet, we at ASCENZA have been carrying some key strategies and actions to address this issue:
Improved Waste Management: One of the simplest ways to reduce ocean pollution is to properly dispose of plastics and other recyclable materials so they do not end up in outdoor spaces. Wind, rivers, and other watercourses drive plastic into the sea. ASCENZA has implemented in its facilities effective waste management systems, including proper disposal and recycling facilities and waste collection programs such as the initiative Olga, the Oyster, designed to promote and reinforce the commitment towards a more sustainable management of the waste generated in our various activities at the company.
Plastic Recycling and Circular Economy: We also support programmes in most of the countries where we have operations to foster the safe recollection and disposal or - even better - recycling of empty packaging and containers. Thanks to all the farmers who have made it possible, in 2022 we had an increase in the collection percentages of our packaging at recollection points that ranges from 2% in the countries which already had the highest collection rate to 14% in those with the lowest rates and therefore with much space to grow. The collection percentages in 2022 were as follows: 92% in Brazil, 78% in France, 71% in Spain and 60% in Portugal. 100% of these recovered plastic containers have been recycled.
ASCENZA is committed to further increasing these percentages in the following campaigns.
Clean-up and restoration efforts: Our manufacturing facilities are in the Sado Estuary, a Natura 2000 site and home to Portugal's only resident dolphin population. ASCENZA employees participate in initiatives to remove plastic waste from coastlines to help mitigate the immediate impacts of pollution in collaboration with Ocean Alive and other institutions. The main objective is to remove marine litter from the Sado Estuary, involve society, and end the bad habit of shellfish gatherers in leaving salt containers in the tide. At the last event, held in March 2023, 3 thousand tons of garbage were removed.
Awareness and Education: Raising public awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution in the oceans is vital. Educating individuals about the importance of proper waste management, recycling, and the use of alternatives to single-use plastics can promote responsible behaviour.
Under the initiative Olga, the Oyster, ASCENZA launched during this year a campaign named “How to protect marine life” to educate our employees about the critical role that ocean species play in maintaining the health and balance of marine ecosystems, explaining how these ecosystems contribute to biodiversity, food chains, and overall ecosystem resilience.
We believe it is important to adopt a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach combining different strategies to effectively reduce ocean plastic contamination. Hence, the collaboration between governments, businesses, communities, and individuals is essential to achieve long-term solutions and protect the health of our oceans.