Help Make Our Seas Trash Free Participate in the International Coastal Cleanup on Sept. 17
For the last 16 years, Coca-Cola associates and their families have pitched in to clean up our beaches and waterways as part of the world's largest single-day volunteer effort for the marine environment.
The 2011 International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is set for Saturday, Sept. 17. Visit www.signuptocleanup.org to join this effort in your local community.
Organized by Ocean Conservancy, the ICC inspires action to remove trash and debris from our waterways and change behaviors that allowed these items to reach the water in the first place. The organization stresses the idea that what falls from human hands can be prevented by human hands – and recorded for the benefit of our planet.
ICC volunteers serve a "citizen scientists" by recording every item collected. Ocean Conservancy then uses the data to produce the world's only annual country-by-country, state-by-state index of the marine debris problem. Since plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers always make the list, it's important for Coca-Cola ambassadors to play an active role in this global effort.
"The International Coastal Cleanup gives us the chance to give back to the communities in which we live and play by showcasing our Live Positively vision through action," said Andrea Ehresman, a Senior Customer Marketing Manager with CCR, who plans to help clean up the Platte River in Denver this year with several of her colleagues.
'Pick it Up, Clean it Up, Sea Change!' Ehresman was one of 26,000 Coca-Cola volunteers in 40 countries who collected more than 200,000 pounds of trash last year as part of our "Pick it Up, Clean it Up, Sea Change!" campaign.
Across the country in New Orleans, Amber Ferchaud, a Public Affairs & Communications Manager with CCR, led a team of 55 Coca-Cola volunteers in collecting trash near Lake Pontchartrain. They plan to expand the cleanup this year to include both the north and south sides of the lake.
"Lake Pontchartrain and its surrounding watersheds are vital to our way of life here," Ferchaud said. "They protect us from storms and aid in drainage of New Orleans and other surrounding cities. Capturing debris before it hits the water plays a major role in keeping our environment – and communities – healthy."
In the Philippines, more than 1,200 Coca-Cola volunteers in eight locations collected nearly 31,000 pounds of trash during last year's cleanup. Local coordinator Victor Manlapaz compares the issue of marine litter to the "broken window" theory, which states that failing to repair broken windows and other signs of urban decay sends a message that we live in an uncaring world and makes the problem worse.
"As a company as visible as Coca-Cola, we must take the lead in the community to demonstrate that trash should not reach our oceans," he said. "We can be catalysts in helping to turn the tide against marine debris and start a sea change."
From Sponsorship to Partnership
The Coca-Cola system's longstanding relationship with Ocean Conservancy has evolved from a sponsorship to a true partnership. In addition to the thousands of hours associates have given to support this global effort, The Coca-Cola Foundation presented a $1.5 million grant to Ocean Conservancy earlier this year to rid the ocean of harmful trash and prevent debris from reaching the water through global cleanup efforts, education, community engagement, research, industry collaborations and thought leadership.
Coca-Cola also provides in-kind support through promotional, marketing and strategic campaigns to build awareness of the event.
"The International Coastal Cleanup is an opportunity to publicly demonstrate our commitment to this unnecessary issue in a way that is 'uniquely Coca-Cola' due to the passion of our associates and reach of our system," said April Crow, Global Director, Sustainable Packaging.
Vikki Spruill, President and CEO, Ocean Conservancy, had this to say: "We are thrilled to continue our work with Coca-Cola. Their efforts to take responsibility for improving our environment set an example for others in industry. They are helping to address one of the biggest threats to our ocean and waterways.
"Ocean trash is preventable, and keeping our ocean free from trash is one of the easiest ways we can make the ocean more resilient. We look forward to working alongside dedicated Coca-Cola volunteers during this year's International Coastal Cleanup on September 17th, and partnering to bring people together to find solutions that will improve the health of our ocean throughout the year." Watch a video message from Spruill.
Crow adds, "The event is not limited to coastal communities. The trash that ends up in our oceans often starts in waterways upstream, so cleanup and education activities in inland areas are just as important as those on beaches around the world."
