Over 6,000 M&S customers and employees cleaned over 100 beaches and canals up and down the country this weekend (Friday to Sunday) in the first ever M&S Big Beach Clean-up, organised by the Marine Conservation Society.
Early results* indicate that over 3,200 bin bags full of litter were collected, weighing in at over 11,500 kg. This included 12,800 wrappers and 2,850 tin cans. Surprisingly big beach cleaners also found a set of false teeth and half a sofa in Edinburgh, a cabinet near Liverpool, a ten-pin bowling ball off the coast of Deal, a carpet in Clacton and a pink thong on Shoreham beach.
Steve Rowe, Director of Retail at Marks & Spencer and Clacton beach cleaner said: “It's great to see so many customers and employees getting directly involved in Plan A. MCS surveys show that there are almost two pieces of litter on every metre of UK coastline – thanks to the efforts put in over the weekend, our seas and rivers are now cleaner and our coastline environment is in better shape. We're passionate about protecting our marine life and I'd like to extend a huge thank-you to everyone who rolled their sleeves up and got involved.”
Samantha Fanshawe, MCS Chief Executive, said: “The Marine Conservation Society is really grateful to the thousands of volunteers and M&S staff that supported the Big Beach Clean-ups around the UK. It highlights the public's concern about the unacceptable amounts of litter on our beaches and their support has made a real difference. The litter collected will no longer pose a threat to wildlife, and the information gathered will be used by MCS to identify the most common items and how we can stop litter at source. Working together with M&S has mobilized positive action on a huge scale and focused attention on an issue that everyone can help prevent.”
The M&S Big Beach Clean-up is part of Forever Fish, M&S' campaign to help customers and their children learn more about fish, clean our British beaches and protect UK marine life. It is funded by the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. Since its introduction in 2008, the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 80 per cent and raised over £4 million for charity.
Customers can find out more www.marksandspencer.com/plana and http://www.school-of-fish.co.uk/.
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Notes to editors
* Figures used are early estimates based on results at selected beaches. A full set of results will be published by the Marine Conservation Society in July.
The Marine Conservation Society
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, and protection of marine life. Through education, community involvement and collaboration, MCS raises awareness of the many threats that face our seas and promotes individual, industry and government action to protect the marine environment. MCS produces the annual Good Beach Guide, the Good Fish Guide and Fishonline on sustainable seafood, as well as involving thousands of volunteers in projects and surveys such as MCS Beachwatch and The Big Beach Clean-up. http://www.mcsuk.org/.
Further information
Marks & Spencer: Daniel Himsworth, 0208 718 1618
Marine Conservation Society: Richard Harrington, 01989 561585
2012 Sustainability Charity & Community