Marine Life & Conservation
Deborah Meaden calls out washing machine manufacturers for lack of action on plastic pollution
Deborah Meaden is joining forces with the Marine Conservation Society on its Stop Ocean Threads campaign which is calling for all washing machines to have microfibre filters fitted, by law, by 2024. The campaign is now turning its attention to washing machine manufacturers, as they have made little progress in taking steps to reduce microfibre pollution.
Fabrics such as polyester, nylon and acrylic are created using plastic microfibres. For every load of laundry washed, as many as 700,000 microfibres can flow into our water systems and across the UK at least 9.4 trillion fibres could be released into the environment in one week alone. These fibres are heading for our seas, and our plates! 63% of shrimp in the North Sea have been found to contain synthetic fibres. Microfibres have even been found in the remote reaches of the Arctic Ocean, miles from the nearest washing machine. Scientists found an average of 40 microplastic particles per cubic metre of water, 92% of which were microfibres.
Since the campaign launch, the charity has garnered public support for fitting filters into washing machines to reduce microfibre pollution. So far, more than 30,000 people have shown their support for legislation which would require washing machines to be fitted with microfibre filters by 2024.
Hundreds of supporters joined the charity’s call on Twitter for manufacturers to take action late last year, targeting Miele, Beko, Hoover, Bosch, Samsung and Whirlpool. However, there was no response from the manufacturers. There is no need to wait for legislation to be put in place before making sustainable strides, and so the Marine Conservation Society is working alongside Ocean Ambassador and Dragon, Deborah Meaden, to make a business case for fitting filters in washing machines as soon as possible.
Deborah Meaden said: “I was shocked when the Marine Conservation Society told me that washing machine manufacturers still don’t fit microfibre filters to their machines. These filters would stop millions of tiny pieces of plastic from our synthetic clothes escaping into waste water systems and ultimately the ocean. I’m not being dramatic when I say these filters need to be fitted right now. If the next generation of machines don’t have them, the plastic soup in our oceans is just going to get thicker.”
Consumers are clearly willing to pay extra for a washing machine with environmentally-friendly credentials. In a survey conducted by YouGov last year, 56% of adults said they would be willing to pay an additional £5 or more for a washing machine that included a microfibre filter compared to one that didn’t, a quarter (26%) said they would be willing to pay an additional £50.
Plastic pollution in the UK is an issue of concern for many consumers. 58% of respondents said they were very or extremely concerned about the issue in a recent survey. By introducing microfibre filters into all new washing machines as soon as possible, manufacturers will be able to lead the charge in stemming the tide of microfibres entering the ocean every day and advertise their eco-credentials at the same time.
Deborah continues: “Who’s going to be the first manufacturer to stick their head above the parapet and massively improve their eco-credentials? Think of the business kudos and potential increase in sales if your machine is the first to market that will reduce plastic pollution right at source. For me it’s a simple business decision to make and you must make it now.”
For more information about the Marine Conservation Society’s Stop Ocean Threads campaign, please visit the charity’s website here.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
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