A new charity partnership is spearheading efforts to reduce and avoid plastic pollution in Europe by launching the first ever pan-European plastic pick-up to mark UN World Ocean Day.
The Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day has been created in partnership by corporate charity Azets 4 Kids and international non-profit organisation Plastic Oceans Europe. It will see more than 7,000 people across Europe help clear their local area of plastic pollution on 8 June 2022.
The first of this new annual event encourages all 7,000 Azets Group employees and their clients, partners, friends, and families, to volunteer time to clean up their local surroundings at work or home.
Azets 4 Kids was launched in 2019 by Azets, Europe’s largest regional accounting firm and specialist business advisor to SMEs.
The Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day is the charity’s first Group-wide project across Azets’ network of more than 165 offices in the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.
Plastic Oceans is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to ending plastic pollution and fostering sustainable communities worldwide.
Through programs in education, activism, advocacy and science, Plastic Oceans works to inspire changes in consumer behaviour, corporate practices, and public policy.
Plastic Oceans Europe is providing Azets 4 Kids with guidance in organising the Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day, as well as valuable insights into plastic pollution and tips on how Azets can become a more sustainable business.
The Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day marks UN World Ocean Day on 8 June 2022, which this year highlights the theme Revitalisation: Collective Action for the Ocean.
Of the 380 million tons of plastic produced each year globally, reports indicate that up to 50% is for single-use purposes.
It’s estimated that more than 10 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year, with severe long-term impacts on marine wildlife and the environment.
Chris Horne, Group CEO at Azets, said: “I’m proud to lead this Group-wide project – the first of many – which brings together all 7,000 of our people, their families, and networks to contribute to raising awareness of plastic pollution. Through our charity, Azets 4 Kids, we are helping to create positive futures for young people across Europe, with a focus on combatting the devastating effects of climate change and environmental degradation.
“Through our partnership with Plastic Oceans and the launch of the Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day, we hope to shine a light on the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable consumption, whilst taking proactive steps to become a more sustainable business.”
Andrea Torres Saa, Regional Director of Plastic Oceans Europe, said: "We are excited to be working in partnership with Azets 4 Kids and launching the first annual Azets Plastic Pick-Up Day. Education is one of our main pillars and we are very happy to share this goal with Azets, as we believe that through education of future generations, we are planting seeds to change the world."