Becoming OceanPositive
Fourth Element’s OceanPositive journey started from the day they opened their doors in 1999 and has continued to evolve in its meaning ever since. They’ve made some huge adjustments in recent years and have come along way, but know there is still a way to go.
An estimated 8 million tons of plastic waste enters our seas each year. Dumped into our oceans daily, this threatens marine life, pollutes beaches and affects local tourism industries. On top of this, we face a global threat from escalating carbon emissions, resulting in rising sea levels with devastating effects to ALL life on the planet.
With action, there is hope.
Being ‘OceanPositive’ stems from not just what we do in the ocean but also what we do in our everyday lives. From the garments fourth element produces to the packaging they are in and the projects that they support along the way, everything they do leads to ensuring a more sustainable business that is good for the ocean.
On this World Oceans Day, June 2021, fourth element are setting out new intentions for OceanPositive and the environment with some ambitious plans of what they want to achieve in the next decade. They invite you to join them on this journey and with your support, are looking forward to sharing the challenges and celebrating the milestones that are achieved along the way.
- Becoming Plastic Zero
By 2030, we aim for 90% of our products to be made from at least 30% regenerated materials rather than virgin materials; so that more than 50% of the total materials used in our products are recycled or natural.
- Becoming Zero Waste
By 2026 we want to have options in place for re-purposing, repairing or recycling, 100% of our products and will be introducing various schemes over the next 5 years to reduce waste at the end of a products life.
- Becoming Carbon Zero
By 2030 we have the ambition of being carbon neutral by reducing the carbon footprint of our entire operation including transportation, and to offset the remaining by supporting the growth and restoration of major ocean carbon sinks such as sea grass, kelp and mangroves.
- Becoming Zero Impact
We are focussing on supporting more projects that directly protect endangered species and help our oceans’ ecosystems to regenerate, moving closer to reversing the damage of human impact. We will also support projects aimed at creating the leadership and the ocean advocates of the future through education programmes in the UK and further afield.
For more information visit the website by clicking here.
