Communication - Press • The Chamber
The network of International French Chambers of Commerce and Industry is committed to fighting plastic pollution alongside The SeaCleaners
The network of International French Chambers of Commerce and Industry is committed to fighting plastic pollution alongside The SeaCleaners
Every second, around the world, 285 kilos of plastic are poured into the oceans. More than 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the marine environment every year, causing irreversible damage to aquatic life, fisheries, tourism and marine ecosystems. This scourge, which has only existed since the 1960s, now threatens the health of the planet and affects all of humanity, since the seas produce half of the oxygen we breathe, regulate the climate and absorb more than 30% of our carbon emissions. According to the UN, if nothing is done, by 2050 there will be more plastic products in the oceans than fish.
Because companies and business communities have an important role to play in reversing this trend and resisting the looming global disaster, the network of International French Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie Françaises International – CCI FI) has chosen to support the public interest association The SeaCleaners, which fights to preserve the oceans against plastic pollution.
Created in 2016 by the French-Swiss navigator and explorer Yvan Bourgnon, The SeaCleaners acts against plastic pollution, both at sea and on land, through corrective and preventive missions. In particular, the association has designed a pioneering solution for the collection and recovery of floating plastic macro-waste: the Manta, an innovative vessel equipped with an onboard plant, which will be launched in 2023. This giant of the seas will be the first deep-sea vessel capable of collecting and mass processing floating oceanic waste before it fragments and enters the marine ecosystem in a sustainable manner.
A real technological challenge, the Manta will be powered by a combination of several renewable energy production technologies that will minimize its carbon footprint.
Renaud BENTEGEAT, President of CCI France International said: “Plastic pollution has no borders, its consequences are cataclysmic in ecological, health and economic terms: our commitment to fight on all fronts must be global. And companies must be at the forefront! Who better than the network of CCI FIs to lead the fight, alongside The SeaCleaners? »
“By supporting the international development of The SeaCleaners in the 95 countries where we are present, CCI France International is doing useful work and supporting an emblematic, major and meaningful cause. With the Manta, The SeaCleaners positions itself as a player offering innovative and operational solutions to ‘clean’ the oceans. With its preventive actions, the association also intervenes to cut off the tap of plastic pollution at the source. We will be present in both of these areas. We will encourage our members to reduce their “plastic footprint” through targeted education and awareness-raising activities, encourage our employees to volunteer with The SeaCleaners in the countries where they are located, support the deployment and fundraising operations of the association internationally, and increase opportunities to raise awareness among local communities and decision-makers in the most impacted areas of the world. »
Yvan BOURGNON, President and Founder of The SeaCleaners: “The 126 CCI FIs bring together and animate a business community of 38,400 members, of which about 50% are foreign companies. Corporate Social Responsibility is naturally at the heart of the consulting and assistance missions that the network provides. We are convinced that the fight against plastic pollution will only be won if it involves everyone, individuals, communities, associations and NGOs, political decision-makers and economic players! Everyone at their own level can and must act. With the support of CCI FI, we are going to carry this message everywhere in fashion, increase the association’s influence and engage more partners in the unique adventure of the Manta project. For The SeaCleaners, this partnership is a great accelerator. »
