Marine Life & Conservation
KUBI embraces change with 100% plastic-free packaging
The award-winning KUBI dryglove system has been at the forefront of dive exploration for over seven years, enabling cutting-edge technical and cave divers across the globe to push the very limits of exploration. Inspired by their pioneering spirit, KUBI has committed itself to an equally bold step forward – to rid its full range of products of all plastic packaging for good.
From 1st July 2018, all KUBI dry-glove systems and accessories will be supplied in 100% recyclable paper packaging.
By far the biggest change can be seen in the KUBI standard dry-glove kit which is now delivered free of all plastic packaging. KUBI has gone a lot further than simply substituting plastic bags for more environmentally-friendly alternatives – it’s gone back to the drawing board with a fundamental rethink of how best to deliver its popular dry-glove product in a way that considerably reduces the impact on the environment.
The outer plastic packaging bag, header card and staples have been removed completely and replaced with an attractive 100% recyclable cardboard swing tag attached directly to the handy zippered KUBI storage bag. Inside, core components are now contained within sealed paper bags.
The KUBI range of dry-glove accessories have undergone a similar rethink with the complete removal of all plastic packaging. All KUBI accessory products will be delivered in sealed paper bags conveniently colour-coded using water-based dyes. Core components including KUBI aluminium rings and sealing o-rings will be delivered in red paper bags whilst latex outer gloves will be delivered in black paper bags.
Completing the trio of KUBI accessory products, thermal glove liners will be packaged in warm-coloured orange paper bags, reflecting the warming nature of the gloves they contain. All paper bags used throughout the accessories range are 100% recyclable.
“Plastic pollution poses a very real threat to the environment and particularly the oceans. Clearly it’s an unsustainable situation and KUBI has taken the bold pro-active decision to make a stand. Working with key suppliers, we challenged ourselves why packaging was there, what purpose it had and what options could be available to deliver a more sustainable product. By removing the plastic traditionally used to package our dry-glove systems and accessories, we will be reducing not only our own but our customers’ impact on the environment. This is simply about doing the right thing. We are not saying it is perfect, but believe we have made a very big step in the right direction,” commented Peter Wilson of KUBI.
The problem of plastic pollution and its long-term impact on the environment has gained considerable media attention in recent months. Divers, in particular, are acutely aware of the issue and are keen to do their bit. Research shows that between 8 and 12 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans every year – once there, it poses a serious threat to countless marine animals, birds and other organisms. As time passes, this same plastic breaks down into tiny particles that absorb toxins released into the water through human activity. These so-called ‘microplastics’ contain high levels of toxins which can enter the food chain, resulting in a toxic timebomb.
Find out more about KUBI products at www.KUBIstore.com.
The Ocean Cleanup, the global non-profit project, has removed a verified all-time total of ten million kilograms (22 million lbs.) of trash from oceans and rivers around the world – approximately the same weight as the Eiffel Tower.
To complete its mission of ridding the oceans of plastic, The Ocean Cleanup uses a dual strategy: cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) to remove the plastic already afloat in the oceans, while stopping the flow of plastic from the world’s most polluting rivers.
Through cleaning operations in the GPGP and in rivers in eight countries, the cumulative total of trash removed has now surpassed ten million kilograms. This milestone demonstrates the acceleration of The Ocean Cleanup’s impact, while underlining the astonishing scale of the plastic pollution problem and the need for continued support and action.
While encouraging for the mission, this milestone is only a staging point: millions more tons of plastic still pollute our oceans and The Ocean Cleanup intends to continue learning, improving and innovating to solve this global catastrophe.
This announcement comes as governments from around the world meet to continue negotiations to develop a new legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution at INC4 in Ottawa, Canada. Representatives of The Ocean Cleanup will be in attendance and the organization will be urging decision-makers to collaborate towards a comprehensive and ambitious global treaty which addresses plastic at all stages of its life cycle and in all marine environments worldwide, including in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
It is encouraging to see that the need for remediation is reflected in the various options for potential treaty provisions. It is essential that the final treaty contains clear targets for the remediation of legacy plastic pollution, and reduction of riverine plastic emissions.
Tackling plastic pollution requires innovative and impactful solutions. The treaty should therefore incentivize the innovation ecosystem by fostering innovations that make maximal use of data, technology and scientific knowledge – such as those designed and deployed by The Ocean Cleanup.
‘After many tough years of trial and error, it’s amazing to see our work is starting to pay off – and I am proud of the team who has brought us to this point.’ said Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. ‘While we still have a long way to go, our recent successes fill us with renewed confidence that the oceans can be cleaned.’
The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013 and captured its first plastic in 2019, with the first confirmed catch in the GPGP coming soon after the deployment of Interceptor 001 in Jakarta, Indonesia. After surpassing one million kilograms of trash removed in early 2022, the non-profit project has since progressed to the third iteration of its GPGP cleaning solution, known as System 03, and a network of Interceptors currently covering rivers in eight countries, with more deployments set for 2024.
About The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: stemming the inflow via rivers and cleaning up the legacy plastic that has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced through DNV’s chain of custody model to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the tide via rivers, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ solutions to halt and extract riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
For more information, visit: theoceancleanup.com and follow @theoceancleanup on social media.
Marine Life & Conservation
Steve Backshall to headline Shark Trust’s flagship event: For the Love of Sharks
Join a host of amazing, shark loving, speakers including Steve Backshall and the Shark Trust team for an evening celebrating shark conservation at the Royal Geographical Society in London this November.
Date: 29th November 2024
Time: 6-10pm
Location: Royal Geographical Society, London
Tickets: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
The event will be a celebration of all things shark. Those lucky enough to get hold of tickets will hear from engaging guest speakers with a passion for sharks.
The line-up includes (*subject to change if unforeseen circumstances arise)
Steve Backshall: One of television’s busiest presenters, BAFTA award-winning wildlife expert Steve has been passionate about the wild world ever since he was young.
Steve’s impressive TV career has taken him all around the world, investigating a wide array of species and environments. Steve has filmed over 100 hours of children’s wildlife programmes with the BAFTA award winning Deadly 60 franchise and recently, with Sky Nature, for his new series ‘Whale with Steve Backshall’. He has been a patron for the Shark Trust for 10 years.
Simon Rogerson: is a photojournalist specialising in natural history, diving and the sea.
He is editor of SCUBA magazine, the official journal of the British Sub-Aqua Club. Simon started his career as a crime reporter but gravitated towards his ‘less depressing’ interest in underwater exploration, joining the staff of DIVE magazine in 1999. In 2005 he was named ‘Editor of the Year’ in the PPA’s Independent Publishing Awards. Simon also works as a freelance writer, contributing frequently to the Sunday Times and Telegraph, in addition to BBC Wildlife, Esquire, and a host of international diving magazines. He is the author of a book, Dive Red Sea, published by Ultimate Sports. Now based in Berkshire, Simon has been a Patron of the Shark Trust for 20 years.
More speakers to be announced soon. Head to the Shark Trust website to learn more.
The evening will also allow guests the final chance to see the Oceanic 31, shark art exhibition. Some of the artwork will be auctioned/raffled at the event, while the rest will be auctioned online to raise money for the Shark Trust Oceanic Programme.
For the Love of Sharks is an evening with something for everyone who is interested and fascinated by sharks. Join the Shark Trust, their Patrons, Trustees and Staff, along with a host of supporters for this celebration of shark conservation.
For more information or to buy a ticket: https://www.sharktrust.org/Event/flos24
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