Common Seas

🌍 Tackling #plasticpollution to protect Guinea-Bissau's islands, cultures and blue economy Did you know that Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼, one of Africa’s smallest countries, is classified as an island state? 🏝️ Despite being part of the mainland, it has 88 islands in the Bijagós Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning biodiversity and deep cultural ties to the ocean. This earns the country UN Small Island Developing State (SIDS) status. #GuineaBissau also has the world’s highest proportion of mangrove forests, covering 9% of its land. 🌳 These coastal ecosystems are carbon storage powerhouses. Every year they bury 8.27 tonnes of carbon per hectare - mitigating the impacts of #climatechange. Unfortunately, plastic pollution is choking these vital forests, weakening their ability to capture carbon and protect against coastal erosion. With #plastic accounting for 3.4% of global GHG emissions, radically reducing plastic pollution is of utmost urgency. 📉 But plastic pollution isn't just harming Guinea-Bissau's natural environments, it's also disrupting livelihoods, damaging the fisheries that local communities rely on for food security and income. To tackle Guinea-Bissau's mounting crisis, the Ministry of Environment, Biodiversity and Climate Action Guinea-Bissau is partnering with Common Seas to develop a National Action Plan for a radical reduction in plastic pollution. The project is currently in the data gathering phase, conducting interviews with a wide range of local stakeholders to build a holistic view of the impacts of plastic across the value chain. This will then allow us to develop a roadmap of strategies towards a just, healthy, and circular future—one where nature and communities can thrive. 🌊 Follow along as we work towards a healthy, more sustainable Guinea-Bissau! 

🚨 Microplastics in brain tissue increasing dramatically with rise in plastic production 🚨 A recent study has revealed a troubling link between rising plastic production and the increasing concentration of microplastics in human tissue. 📈 The study found significant concentrations of microplastics in brain tissue, with levels in the brain rising sharply from 3,345 micrograms per gram in 2016 to 4,917 in 2024. 🧠 The research, undertaken by scientists at the University of New Mexico, showed that it didn’t matter if the person was young or old when they died — the more recent the death, the more microplastic had accumulated in the brain. We cannot reduce these health risks without drastically reducing plastic production. With plastic production set to triple by 2060 and less than 10% of plastic recycled globally, it’s clear that rapidly phasing down ⬇️ unnecessary and harmful plastics must be a priority. Matthew Campen, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico reflected on the findings: “I certainly don’t feel comfortable with this much plastic in my brain, and I don’t need to wait around 30 more years to find out what happens if the concentrations quadruple.” With these risks growing at an alarming rate, we urgently need more research into the health impacts of microplastics to drive policy change that will safeguard a healthy and just future for all. 🌏 At Common Seas, we are currently collaborating with researchers on a number of projects exploring the effects of microplastic accumulation in organs. 🔬 Follow us to stay up to date on what we find! https://lnkd.in/eeYbXWgC

🌊 The ocean connects us all—both literally and through the interwoven challenges of pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. This is especially evident in the Caribbean, where communities depend on healthy seas for their economies, food security, and resilience to climate impacts. That's why it's fantastic to see the Intergovernmenta Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO) signing an MoU to establish an Ocean Coordination Mechanism for the Wider Caribbean. Prioritizing collaboration across sectors and countries is essential for effective, science-driven ocean management. In a couple of weeks, our team will be on the ground in Saint Lucia to run a workshop investigating the most impactful ways to reduce plastic pollution leaking into the sea, and how to leverage existing national and regional initiatives to do so. Saint Lucia has been ambitious and proactive in tackling this issue, and we’re proud to support their efforts to protect the natural beauty of their environment and the Caribbean Sea. Zinnie Cowing David Lerpiniere Patrick Cumming By recognizing the sea’s role at the heart of our planet’s three interconnected environmental crises, this initiative strengthens the foundation for collective action—one that’s urgently needed. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this mechanism helps advance solutions for a thriving and resilient Caribbean. 🌎💙 https://lnkd.in/gfS2snue Common Seas #Caribbean #Climate #Biodiversity #PlasticPollution #SaintLucia

The Bumbi reusable diapers 🧷 project has gone from strength to strength over the past year, demonstrating the power of #community projects to drive behaviour change towards reuse - and to engage policymakers in the process! Celia Siura and the Bumbi team are leading a powerful #circulareconomy movement... 👩⚕️ Empowering families and health workers 🚮 Avoiding single-use diaper waste entering the Brantas River 🌊 👶🏽 Improving infant health outcomes. Read more about the project at: https://lnkd.in/ebqg327m

🌍 Turning the tide on plastic pollution in Saint Lucia 🇱🇨 With its iconic Pitons, lush forests 🌿, and vibrant marine life 🐠 Saint Lucia is renowned for its verdant nature. But as a small island developing state (SIDS), it faces disproportionate challenges from #plasticpollution -threatening marine ecosystems, tourism, and the livelihoods of many within the fishing industry. 🏝️ That’s why Common Seas is partnering with Saint Lucia to develop recommendations to enhance the country’s policies for tackling #plastics, leading to a dramatic reduction in plastic pollution over the next decade. Over the past few months, we’ve been consulting with stakeholders across government, the economy, and civil society, building a comprehensive baseline of plastic pollution and assessing the impact of existing environmental policies in context. 🔜 Next up: the Common Seas team will soon be heading to Saint Lucia to meet with our local partners and co-host a collaborative workshop alongside the Department of Sustainable Development Saint Lucia on February 25th. During the workshop, we will work together with stakeholders across the plastics value chain to begin scoping key strategies to drive bold, lasting change. 🌊 Follow us for more updates! #PlasticAction #SaintLucia

Last year, report after report was released exposing the presence of microplastics in human organs, from the brain to the testes. We know that ingesting #microplastics is a major health risk... so why are so many of us chewing on #plastic every day? Most consumers have no idea that mainstream gum 🍬 is 40% plastic - a lot of it coming from the same suppliers who produce car tyres! Advancing research into the impacts of plastic exposure to our health and identifying the most harmful plastics is more important than ever. 🔬 But we also need policymakers to regulate consumer products that we know contain plastics that are unnecessary and prolific. 👩⚖️ Thank you Nuud for raising awareness of the Butadiene gum polluting our bodies and our streets!

How can tackling #plasticpollution help protect the world's third largest rainforest? 🌳 Papua New Guinea 🇵🇬 is famous for its diverse natural landscapes, including highlands, volcanoes, rivers, extensive coastline and mangrove forests. But, as a Pacific island state, PNG is also at disproportionate risk from plastic pollution. Island states rely heavily on healthy oceans for their ecosystems, economy and community wellbeing to thrive. However, for Papua New Guinea, healthy rainforests are also vital, and plastic pollution can affect these landscapes in a number of ways: 🏞️ Marine and riverine plastic pollution flows through and into forest ecosystems, often depositing on riverbanks or in mangrove roots. 🐊🦜 Accumulating plastic pollution in forest ecosystems can harm wildlife, which may ingest or become entangled in plastics. 🌱 Microplastics can pollute forest soil, limiting the growth of plants and reducing nutritional value in the food chain. #Plastic contributes to each element of the triple planetary crises of #climatechange, #pollution and #biodiversityloss. Papua New Guinea is a perfect example of why addressing plastic pollution is vital to protect our interconnected ecosystems and the communities that rely upon them. This is why Common Seas is partnering with Papua New Guinea to develop a National Action Plan to rapidly reduce plastic pollution. We are currently in the data gathering stages of the process, and will be collaborating with stakeholders from every sector to develop a holistic understanding of the current plastic pollution in PNG and existing policies in place to address it. This data will then be used to develop key policy recommendations for strategies that will be most impactful in tackling plastic pollution in the country. As a rapidly developing economy 📈 ensuring ecological protection alongside sustainable growth is key for PNG. By developing a roadmap to reduce plastic pollution, PNG will be set on the right course to safeguard the environment from #plastic and to secure a just future for communities. The development of PNG's national action plan is funded by the UK’s Sustainable Blue Economies Programme to support national action on plastic pollution in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 🌏 Stay tuned to follow the journey! Carla Worth

❗Burning plastic is a major health threat - and it also drives #climatechange. "Modern homes are full of plastic, turning house fires into chemical-laced infernos that burn hotter, faster, and more toxic than their predecessors." This article in The Atlantic demonstrates just how much #plastic contributes to and compounds climate change at every stage, from extraction to use and disposal. By now, many of us know that plastic is made from fossil fuel, and that the plastics industry contributes more GHG emissions than aviation. But, with the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like forest fires, our use of plastic-based products poses an additional threat that is often overlooked. In January alone, we've seen the Los Angeles forest fires engulfing homes across the city, and the Kantamanto market fire in Accra incinerating piles of mostly polyester-based garments as two thirds of Africa's largest second-hand clothing market was destroyed. While both communities were contending with the immediate threat to their homes and livelihoods, the burning plastic hidden in everyday items unleashed toxic chemicals. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from burning plastic causes #health problems, including respiratory issues, allergies, asthma and cancer. As the occurrence of major fires increases with rising temperatures, this is set to be a growing threat to human health around the world. On top of this, the fumes emitted from plastic fires also contribute indirectly to #climatechange. VOC emissions increase the level of tropospheric (ground level) ozone in the atmosphere, which absorbs the sun’s radiation and raises global temperatures. 🌡️📈 It is becoming increasingly clear that plastic is a major intensifier of climate change and environmental risks. This is a challenge that downstream measures like recycling alone cannot solve. We already have the tools to solve this. Policymakers and businesses must act with urgency and resolve to: 🏭 Dramatically reduce plastic production 🛠️ Redesign products to reduce our reliance on plastic and ensure essential plastics are free from chemicals known to harm our health 👩⚖️ Create legislation to protect human health from harmful plastic chemicals Just a month into 2025, the planet is showing us that there is no time to waste. Only by taking action on climate change and plastic together can we secure a healthy planet and a healthy future. 🌎

🚨 Microplastics in organs "markedly correlated" with disease, say scientists. 🔬 Researchers at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, China, have called for urgent attention into the hazards of microplastics to human health, after reviewing hundreds of articles demonstrating strong links between particle build-up and disease. An increasing number studies have demonstrated that tiny plastic particles are accumulating in organs, from the gut to the brain. 🧠 These particles cause tissue damage and obstruction, and release harmful hormone-disrupting chemicals. While the study in question doesn't demonstrate clear causal link between microplastics and disease, the growing body of data makes it clear that microplastic exposure poses a significant risk to our health. 📈 The coming years will be vital in advancing science that clearly demonstrates the ways in which microplastics harm our bodies. With a #PlasticsTreaty on the horizon, the science must be harnessed to drive policy that protects our health from #plastics. Read more on the report at: https://lnkd.in/e2b2_x8S

Our 2024: Driving a shift to sustainable communities 🌱 Last year, Common Seas' community projects made significant strides in building a healthier future for communities, dramatically reducing #plasticpollution through the power of reuse. 🔃 Throughout 2024, Bumbi - a flagship reusable diaper initiative in Indonesia - had a huge impact, tackling both plastic exposure among infants, and plastic pollution in the Brantas River. Highlights from 2024: 👶Achieving a 97-98% adoption rate among families, reaching 1,032 babies 🩹 Over 90% reduction in rashes and 99% fewer urinary infections 🧵 Training local seamstresses to sew reusable diapers 🧷 Distributed 3,000 reusable diapers to families in Cilincing, North Jakarta 👩🏫 Launched eco-education events for community-led change “This November, we took a big step forward with The Pelindo Sehati Program. The journey to a greener, healthier Cilincing starts now!” said Celia Siura, COO of Common Seas Indonesia. What’s an inspiring community plastics project you’ve seen recently? Let us know in the comments! 👇