3 minute read
Global Mission
Focus Areas for 2023 are Sustainability and Innovation
The BITA Global Forum draws together expertise of volunteers of ambassadors and stakeholders across the world, to tackle the big issues. For 2023, we are continuing to focus on sustainability and innovation.
A key area of focus will be to continue to raise the level of awareness around the overuse of plastics across all industries, and specifically the construction sector, using the #beplasticaware campaign as a springboard to rally people. The Global Forum is ideally positioned to be the conduit and originator for driving the message home about the need to reduce plastic use to protect the environment.
In addition, the Global Forum is working to enhance its partnerships with other likeminded organisations to support the #beplasticaware initiative and broaden its reach. Through collaborations with Changing Streams, Eye Sea, and the University of Liverpool, new ways of locating and disposing of plastics in the ocean are being developed, tested, and deployed.
There are some incredible innovations coming out of labs globally, from bacteria that eat plastic, to people like our own Tom Cotter at OceanR who create garments out of recycled ocean plastic.
Another focus area for 2023 is to broaden the number of opportunities for BITA Members to get involved in their communities to support the multiple organisations who are focused on cleaning up the environment.
With relationships now in place with Causeway, Beach Buddies, Changing Stream, Eye Sea, Plastic Busters, and World Clean Up Day, we will be actively promoting their various activities to ensure that BITA Members are aware of what is going on, and are actively working to help keep their local areas tidy and plastic free. Use of a clever app platform devised by IOM Chapter Chair Brendon Kenny will enable us to actively promote the regular clean up initiatives that are happening throughout the year.
All these organisations will be amalgamated under a single Global Forum app so that it can be shared with the BITA Community to educate everyone on what activities are happening and when. After that, it is up to each person to get involved if they wish, but we urge everyone to do what they can to make a difference.
Following the success of World Clean Up Day 2022 where we had an overwhelming turnout of BITA members, friends, and partners in Ireland, the UK, IoM, IoW, USA, Turkey, and Australia to clean up their communities we will be supporting the initiative again this year.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that one person won’t make a difference, but if that were true, nothing would ever get done. Last year, nearly 15 million people acting as individuals, groups and communities participating in World Clean Up Day, collected around 60,000
tonnes of rubbish from their environments. In one single day. We as individuals can make a difference, and we want to do even better this year – so sign up through World Clean Up Day, or the BITA website today.
Finally, the Global Forum is continuing to foster international opportunities for select BITA Members working in the sustainability and innovation space. If you would like to know more, please contact enquiries@bita.ie, or go online to the Global Forum Chapter to get in touch with the board members.
