Press release, [embargo] 28th March 2019
B O AT M A D E F R O M P L A S T I C W A S T E S E T T O T O U R U K T O TA C K L E PLASTIC POLLUTION IN RIVERS AND CANALS 12-seater punt built using funds collected from Starbucks’ 5p drinks charge Environmental charity Hubbub announces today that it is launching a new vessel in the battle to clean up plastic from Britain’s polluted waterways. The 12-seater punt made from 99% recycled plastic will take its maiden voyage next month in Manchester’s Salford Quays, the setting for last year’s disturbing images of swans foraging for food amongst masses of plastic litter. From April to June the boat will go on tour across the UK, taking the public out on ‘plastic fishing’ trips to raise awareness of the growing levels of plastic pollution in UK’s rivers and canals and to encourage more people to recycle their used plastic. The boat has been built from plastic collected on previous plastic fishing trips, with plans to build a litter-busting fleet across the UK - a fantastic example of the circular economy in action. The boat has been built using funds collected from Starbucks’ 5p charge on drinks purchased in a paper cup across its 950 stores nationwide. It’s only the third boat of its kind in the world and the first to launch outside of London. The craftsman tasked with building the boat was expert boat-builder Mark Edwards MBE, who also built the Queen’s barge ‘Gloriana’. The design is based on a traditional punt, but it’s made from the most modern of materials Plaswood, a hardwearing alternative to wood that is made entirely from recycled single-use plastic - and it’s powered by a rechargeable electric motor making it the most sustainable of boats. The plastic fishing tour will see the boat used for a week in each of Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and across central Scotland. In each location Hubbub is partnering with local organisations and volunteers, who nominated their area to take part in the Plastic Fishing Tour as part of a competition in partnership with the Daily Mirror to raise awareness on the issue of plastic pollution across UK waterways. One of the four areas will ultimately be chosen to keep the boat on a permanent basis. Gavin Ellis, Co-founder and Director of Hubbub said: “The pictures we’ve received from all over the country have shown how widespread the problem of plastic pollution is and it’s heartening to hear about the great work being done by volunteers battling to keep their local areas clean and safe for wildlife. We’ve seen the difference that plastic fishing has made in London, where we’ve taken 1,415 people out on trips and collected 162 kg from the London Docklands. We’re now looking forward to cleaning up more waterways across the UK. We hope the Plastic Fishing Tour will also remind people of the importance of recycling the plastic we use in our everyday lives.”
Jaz Rabadia, UK senior manager of energy and sustainability, Starbucks Europe Middle East and Africa, said: “As a business we are continually looking at ways in which we can help to shrink our environmental footprint - whether that’s in the way we operate or by helping our customers to make more sustainable choices. “We know we have a responsibility to help protect the planet and that’s why we’re so pleased to be able to continue to support Hubbub, and initiatives including the Plastic Fishing Tour. We look forward to seeing what happens as the boat travels to each city and helps communities clean up their local waterways.” The Plastic Fishing Tour will visit the following locations: 3rd June – 9th June – Birmingham in partnership with the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust 20 – 29th May – Bristol in partnership with Sustainable Hive, Bristol Waste Company, Sea Cadets, and Bristol Harbour Authority. 25th April – 2nd May – Manchester in partnership with Mersey Rivers Trust 6th – 10th May – Across Scotland in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful For more information visit www.hubbub.org.uk/plastic-fishing-tour. ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS For more information contact the Hubbub team at Barley Communications: Nicola Ennis nicola.ennis@barleycommunications.co.uk 07837 201085 Sam Williams sam.williams@barleycommunications.co.uk 07949 607029
ABOUT HUBBUB Hubbub is a charity which explores innovative ways to interest mainstream consumers in important sustainability issues, through different ‘hubs’ of activity: Food; Fashion; Homes; Neighbourhoods. Hubbub’s previous campaigns have included #SquareMileChallenge, the UK’s first large scale solution to coffee cup recycling, #GiftABundle to get pre-loved baby clothes back into circulation and #PumpkinRescue to encourage more people to eat the carvings from their Halloween Pumpkins. www.hubbub.org.uk Twitter: @hubbubuk
A B O U T S TA R B U C K S C O F F E E C O M PA N Y Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting high-quality arabica coffee. Today, with more than 28,000 stores around the globe, Starbucks is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience; please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com. For news on Starbucks in EMEA, please visit www.news.starbucks/EMEA
ABOUT PLASTIC FISHING Plastic Fishing was inspired by a project in Amsterdam called Plastic Whale, which combines sightseeing with cleaning the city’s canals. Christine Armstrong, an author and circular economy champion, saw the potential to adapt the idea for the waterways near her East London home and linked up with Paul Bew, a fellow parent and Yachtmaster, the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre and local school, Canary Wharf College to set up a pilot. The pilot proved they could clean up the docks, collect valuable plastics and inspire the next generation to take care of the environment too. Keen to take the idea further, the school was delighted when Hubbub heard about the project and offered to help take it to scale. We collaborated to turn their dream of building a punt dedicated to cleaning the docks into a reality, teaming up with Mark Edwards MBE, a Richmond-based boat builder.
A B O U T H E L P I N G H A N D E N V I R O N M E N TA L Helping Hand Environmental has kindly provided litter-pickers and litter-picking gloves for the Plastic Fishing Boat on its tour. It is committed to providing support, for everything litter and lend a helping hand to you when tackling it. As a business we want to assist in making our country more sustainable; creating a cleaner Britain for everybody to enjoy – something we are award-winning for. www.HHEnvironmental.co.uk mond-based boat builder.
ABOUT PLASWOOD Plaswood recycled plastic lumber has been manufactured in Dumfries, Scotland, by BPI Recycled Products since 1995. BPI Recycled Products is the largest recycler of waste plastic films in Europe with an annual plastics recycling capacity in excess of 100,000 tonnes. Plaswood is manufactured 100% from a variety of recovered and recycled waste plastics including bottles, agricultural films plus post use plastics. Plaswood requires no maintenance and unlike wood will not rot, splinter or degrade with age. Plaswood is the environmentally superior alternative to conventional construction materials such as steel, concrete and wood with a much lower carbon footprint and energy consumption. http://www.plaswoodgroup.com