CIIMAR- Stop the plastic tide!
ACTION TITLE:
Stop the Plastic Tide
COMPANY SUMMARY
CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research – is a leading research and advanced training institution of the University of Porto, working at the frontier of Ocean Knowledge and Innovation. CIIMAR fosters an integrated approach to Ocean and coastal areas promoting the understanding and knowledge of Biological, Physical and Chemical dynamics of these environments and the impact of natural and human activities, aiming to unravel the links between these processes, grasp Ocean and ecosystems functioning and responses to Global Changes. CIIMAR uses knowledge-based approaches to promote the natural capital and the sustained management of marine resources through monitoring of ecosystems health, optimization of aquaculture, and biotechnological exploitation of the resources for environmental and human health applications. CIIMAR provides innovative solutions and products responding to current economic and societal challenges, including new drugs and marine products for industrial and medicinal needs, water quality, sustainable fisheries, preparedness for and mitigation of oil spills and other emergent contaminants, environmental monitoring & risk assessment, preservation of ecosystems services, ocean & coastal management and Ocean Literacy.
DESCRIPTION:
Among marine litter, plastic waste is the most representative fraction (between 60 and 95%) and the one that causes major environmental problems. According to recent studies, of the 300 million tons of plastic currently produced per year, about 8 million tons go to the oceans carried by the winds, rains, sewers, rivers or launched directly on the beaches or the sea. Because plastic in the Ocean is a global problem, generated in our daily life, CIIMAR lauches a movement to decrease the use of single-use plastics inside the research center. This movement called “Stop the Plastic Tide!” is aligned with the CIIMAR ocean literacy campaign “Ocean Action” and aims to encompass the entire CIIMAR community as well as all those who visit our research center to limit or abolish plastic waste inside the research centre.
ACTION IMPACT:
The path towards a research center with a low impact on plastics, begun in the common areas and is expected to affect all the members and visitors to the Research Centre. – There are no longer plastic water bottles on sale, nor plastic cups in the coffee machine. – A filtration system has also been installed in a specific tap water, which filters out excess chlorine and ensuring that water, which is already of great quality, has no taste. – All guests are served in glass bottles and glass cups, and the use of reusable options for bottled water and coffee mugs with the “Stop the Plastic Tide!” brand is encouraged. – A recycling system has also been installed in the area of the coffee lounge which is best suited to the needs of its users.
NEXT STEPS
We expect to expand the recycling system to other areas such as offices and even laboratories.
Link for additional information:
https://www2.ciimar.up.pt/news.php?id=274
