EOC ETERNAL OCEAN CYCLE

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There's Only One Planet

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Polyester (PET)

is the most widely used fiber in the apparel industry, accounting for around 52% of the total volume of fibers produced globally.

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This Is Important

recycling input

The apparel industry accounts for around 32 million tons of the 57 million tons of polyester used each year. Currently, only approximately 14% of this comes from recycled inputs (Textile Exchange Preferred Fiber & Materials Market Report 2020).

sustainability

Recycled polyester has a significantly lower carbon footprint than conventional. Each kg of mechanically recycled polyester represents a reduction in GHG（greenhouse gases）emissions by more than 70% as compared to virgin polyester (Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s Higg Material Sustainability Index – raw materials “Higg MSI”).

climate change

To stay within the 1.5-degree pathway as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we need to bring the share of mechanically recycled (or equivalent) fiber/filament within the polyester market from 14% to 90% by 2030. By 2025 rPET needs to comprise at least 45% of fashion’s polyester market.

Ocean Bound Plastic

Over the last decade we have become increasingly alarmed at the amount of plastic in our oceans.

More than 8 million tons of it ends up in the ocean every year. If we continue to pollute at this rate, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.

Plastic In The Ocean （Statistics 2020-2021）

●　Marine plastic pollution has affected 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of seabirds of those examined.

●　More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from plastic pollution every year.

●　Between 8 to 12 million tonnes plastic enters our ocean every year.

●　More than 480 billion plastic bottles were sold in 2016 across the world, up from around 300 billion a decade ago.

●　Less than half of the bottles bought in 2016 were recycled.

●　A plastic bottle can last for 450 years in the marine environment.

●　705,000 tonnes of discarded fishing nets drown mammals including seals – this is known as ‘ghost fishing’.

Ocean Plastic Pollution Solutions: Things You Can Do Today

Reduce Your Use of Single-Use Plastics

Wherever you live, the easiest and most direct way that you can get started is by reducing your own use of single-use plastics.

Recycle Properly

This should go without saying, but when you use single-use (and other) plastics that can be recycled, always be sure to recycle them. At present, just 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide. Recycling helps keep plastics out of the ocean and reduces the amount of “new” plastic in circulation.

Participate In (or Organize) a Beach or River Cleanup

Help remove plastics from the ocean and prevent them from getting there in the first place by participating in, or organizing a cleanup of your local beach or waterway.

Support Organizations Addressing Plastic Pollution

There are many organizations working to reduce and eliminate ocean plastic pollution in a variety of different ways. These organizations need support from people like you to continue their important work.