SHAPING CHANGE
80% of the marine waste found in our oceans entered the seas via the world’s rivers and coastlines. Of this, a staggering 81% of all ocean plastics originated from rivers specifically in Asia. 36% from the Philipines, 13% from India, and 7% from China. Hong Kong sits at the foot of one of the most important rivers in China and already has the infrastructure in place to create a barrier preventing waste that has fallen into the Pearl River from entering the ocean. So why can’t a net simply be placed below the 55 Km Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to create a barrier for the waste? And if it can be done in Hong Kong, why can’t it be done on all the other polluting river estuaries in Asia like the Huangpu in China, the Pasig in the Philippines, and the Ulhas in India? Every country in the world is guilty to some degree. But, ground-zero is in Asia and so that is where our battle needs to be. It is where we need to educate and it is where we need to help put the infrastructure in place to stop marine waste getting into our oceans once and for all.
PETITIONED
Three years and almost 150,000 signatures to the day, we announced November 28th, 2019 that the Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department of Hong Kong agreed to our petition to include a permanent educational exhibit about the urgent threat of marine waste in their new Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park Visitor Centre. I want to thank Patrick Lai and his team at the AFCD and the almost 150,000 supporters who added their names to our petition. This is just a small first step in our war on waste. Greater battles are now in planning.
CAMPAIGNING
to persuade the Hong Kong government to ban disposable plastics, polystyrene food containers, and polystyrene marine products for good by January 1st, 2025.
Shore clean-ups
of marine waste a the foot of the Pearl River in Hong Kong with a focus on Tap Mun and Sai Kung West and East Country Parks. Check our facebook page for news of the next one or sign-up as a volunteer below.
DEVELOPED
the 1% Initiative -a manufacturing philosophy that focuses on measuring production waste efficiency of each surfboard produced. Although still proving difficult to achieve, the sole objective is limiting waste to 1% of the net weight of the surfboard through the emphasis of efficient material usage and utilisation of recyclable materials. Waste performance is tracked and recorded on every surfboard enabling the rider to understand the unique impact production of their Makara had on the planet. We continue to strive to reach 1%.
