Every year, Earth Day reminds us that even the smallest actions can make a big difference — and that there’s so much we can do together to protect our planet.
Let’s start with the hard truths: Our earth is covered in plastic — in our ocean, our food, in our blood and our brains. It’s in the air we breathe and the water we drink.
The plastic problem: Why it matters
According to the UN’s Environment Programme, every day the equivalent of 2,000 rubbish trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Our oceans are literally swimming in the stuff - whales, turtles and sea birds wash ashore with stomachs full of plastic.
The Good News: Change Is Happening
The challenges are real, but so is the progress — and there’s plenty of good news, too!
A global plastic treaty is in the works, with 175 countries, including some of the world’s biggest polluters, negotiating a legally binding deal to end plastic pollution altogether; from production to disposal. The treaty is due to be signed this year and would mark a major turning point.
At the same time, some countries are already showing what’s possible: Plastic waste alongside Australia’s coastline dropped by almost 40 percent over the past decade, mostly due to local clean-up efforts, policy changes, and public awareness campaigns.
This proves what we believe at Ocean Bottle, that millions of people doing sustainability imperfectly is greater than a few doing it perfectly.
Together we can create lasting change.
How? Here are five everyday actions to reduce plastic pollution
➡ Get involved in your community
Pick up plastic, whether it’s a neighbourhood, river or beach clean: join others to clean up and see firsthand how far plastic pollution reaches. Click here to find your nearest clean up.
➡ Make plastic political
There’s momentum building on the policy front — from the upcoming Global Plastic Treaty to local bans on single-use plastics. Sign the petition to ban single use plastic in cafes, bars and restaurants here.
➡ Create waves on social media
Share facts, snapshots of your clean-ups, and everyday plastic-free swaps. You might inspire others to take action — follow us , and our plastic collection partners.
➡ Single use sucks
Single-use plastics may seem small, but they pile up quickly. Wherever you can, skip them — and switch to reusables like an Ocean Bottle, straws, cutlery and tote bags.
➡ Save the ocean for free
Join over 85,000 people who are helping to stop plastic from entering the ocean. By registering your bottle on the Ocean Bottle App, each refill collects the equivalent of five plastic bottles, contributing to efforts that keep more plastic out of our oceans.
Did you know: When you buy an Ocean Bottle, you’re not only helping remove the equivalent of 1,000 plastic bottles from the ocean — you’re also supporting waste collectors and their communities around the world. These jobs don’t just clean up coastlines; they provide steady incomes that help families access education, healthcare, and even sometimes fun activities like surf lessons!
