Sky has announced a commitment to eliminate all single-use plastics from its operations, products and supply chain by 2020.
It’s the latest phase in the ongoing Sky Ocean Rescue campaign that spans from business to screen. The campaign was launched in January this year to raise awareness and help address the problem of single-use plastics in the ocean.
A number of reports have been carried on Sky News around the issue and this week Sky launched a pop up channel that will broadcast the EU Our Ocean Conference in Malta on October 5 and 6, staying on the air through until October 9.
Ahead of the conference Sky chief executive Jeremy Darroch said: At Sky, we care about the environment and believe we have a responsibility to act on issues that matter to our customers. Ten years ago, we were the first media company to become carbon neutral and looking to the next 10 years, we want to use our voice and our reach to have a positive effect on ocean health.”
Sky intends that by the end of 2017 all new products themselves will be made without any single-use plastic. In addition, Sky will help its business partners and supply chain transform their operations.
In addition, Sky will use its experience in innovation, entrepreneurship and harnessing capital to help solve the wider problem of plastic use, identifying businesses and start-ups that are developing technology to eradicate single-use plastics from supply chains and stop plastic from ending up in the ocean.
Its committed £25 million over the next five years to an Ocean Rescue Innovation Fund to invest in the ideas.
Sky will also partner with WWF to safeguard Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around the coastlines of its major European territories – the UK and Ireland, Germany and Italy.
Commenting on the move, WWF-UK Chief Executive, Tanya Steele, said: “Our oceans are critical for all life on Earth. Yet these precious places are more threatened now than ever before because of pollution, overfishing and climate change. Businesses, governments and individuals all have a role in reversing the shocking decline in the health of our oceans – for our own wellbeing, as well as for future generations.”
So far this year Sky Ocean Rescue has already engaged with over 6 million people and seen ‘Plasticus’ – a 10 metre whale made from the same amount of plastic that enters the ocean every second –tour the UK.
