Starboard is the world’s first company to activate the Plastic Offset Program (POP) for responsible plastic use within our products and processes in the business. This week, we have some incredible news to share with you as well as some feedback from the teams that are funded through the program.
Plastic Problems
Our Plastic Offset Program team collects trash from beaches every day. They’ve found not only a few bits of trash but tons of it. Many types of waste they have found include; plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic straws, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, tires, ropes, fishing nets, Styrofoam, glasses, lighters, flip-flops, etc. Mostly, all plastic waste on the beach is from the fresh market which has improper waste management.
Trash From Fresh Market At Laem Chabang Beach, 7th July 2019. Starboards Plastic Offset Program
“Wastewater including plastic waste and general waste is released from Laem Chabang Industrial Estate, Laem Chabang Housing, and Villages through the canal and end up in the sea”. Security of Bang La Mung Elderly Center.
Security Guard Who Came To Talk With POP Team About Waste Problem
Plastic Mitigation
The Plastic Offset Program team has around 20 members. Their aim is to collect trash to reach the target of 43,000 kg of plastic waste. On 7th July 2019, they successfully overshot the target, with the total amount now being 43,749 kg. What an amazing team! Our POP team has helped to clean up 1.4 kg ocean trash per board sold. The goal had an immense number, and our team is incredible. The journey for the team has been hard but it has been worth it in terms of attitude change and clean up!
Starboard Plastic Offset Program Snapshot From 12th July
Words From The Team
Rung, one of the POP members stated that…
“When I joined POP, I changed my behaviour of throwing the trash into the sea and reduce the amount of trash in my daily life. I’ve told my wife and friends to help reduce trash too. Although we hit the target, there is still a lot of trash on the beach. We just help clean up a little amount from tons of trash. We should continue to clean up. I think we have to put fishing nets to block trash from canals before releasing trash into the sea and it is easy to collect trash. The municipality has to come and collect trash in order to see the problems and plan for proper waste management in the city. For the best way of reducing waste at sources, we have to stop using plastic and throwing the trash into the sea.”
Starboard POP Team Picking Up Trash At Laem Chabang Beach On 30th June 2019
If you are finding a solution to clean up marine litter, please let us know. We would like to invite you to join us and collect more trash. Contact us on blue@star-board.com to become a part of the Plastic Offset Program!
