The ocean, for so many of us, provides a place of freedom, of solace and of adventure. It amazes us, feeds us and looks after us. Unfortunately, us humans are not looking after the ocean in return. Now more than ever, the fate of the ocean and its wonders are in our hands. If we would like our future generations to experience the beauty of the ocean as we have, we need to act now and make changes big and small wherever we are. Here are 6 simple ways that you can help protect our oceans:
1. Use fewer plastic products
Plastic often ends up as ocean debris which entangles and kills tens-of-thousands of marine animals each year and contributes to habitat destruction. Make an effort to use reusable items such as straws, water bottles, shopping bags, bread and produce bags, toothbrushes, containers and female hygiene products, to name a few! You can find reusable versions of pretty much anything if you look into it!
2. Help take care of the beach
When you go to the beach or into the oceans, always be sure to clean up after yourself. Explore the wildlife and reefs but be sure not to touch coral or remove shells/rocks. Take this a step further by attending local beach cleanup events, or make an effort to throw away at least 3 items of rubbish on the beach each time you visit – as the Take3 Initiative suggests. #take3forthesea
3. Clean up your act
Many household cleaning products are full of chemicals which eventually end up in our oceans. You can help keep the ocean and waterways clean by choosing non-toxic cleaning products instead. You can either make some natural products at home or purchase them from your local health/eco store.
4. Reduce your energy use
This one is really easy if you’re not using it – turn it off and unplug it if you can. Switch off unnecessary lights, turn off and unplug kitchen and home appliances. You can also try and switch to energy-saving light-bulbs (save yourself money while you’re at it!) and slowly switch to using solar or renewable energy as you are able to.
5. Be a picky eater
Meat and animal products (dairy, eggs, etc.) consume a great number of resources to produce and while animal agriculture is the leading cause of ocean dead zones. By reducing your animal product intake, you will make a great positive impact on our oceans and environment. How about trying Meatless Monday?
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When purchasing seafood, be sure that it has been sustainably sourced. You can find out more about which seafood is sustainably sourced here.
5. Shop Responsibly
When shopping, do your best to purchase from brands that make an effort to use sustainable fabrics/materials and support positive environmental initiatives. Make an effort to purchase items that you know are quality and will last a good duration before being worn out to avoid contributing to the fast fashion industries pollution.
Purchase a bikini from Beach & Beyond to support the Healthy Seas Foundation. Healthy Seas removes waste and in particular fishing nets from the oceans with the intention of creating healthier seas and recycling marine litter into textile products. The recovered fishing nets will be transformed and regenerated into ECONYL yarn, a high-quality raw material used to create new products such as socks, swimwear or carpets.
Vita by Carvico: Our sustainable techno-fabric, made out of ECONYL regenerated nylon that turns waste problems into fashion solutions. Vita is versatile, hyper-resistant, thin, elegant, stretch, soft and breathable with a unique mix of compression and comfort. Thanks to its innovative construction, it is twice as resistant to chlorine, suntan creams and oils than competitor’s products.
Look for the “Healthy Seas” tag in Beach & Beyond stores to support the Healthy Seas Foundation!
If everyone did their small part to protect our environment and ocean, we would see wonderful results for our planet! Keep researching how you can be a better world-citizen and be sure to take part in local awareness events.