Focusing on activities that will add value to society and the environment, Anadolu Efes’ employee volunteer team carried out a coastal cleanup in Heybeliada in cooperation with the Association for the Protection of Marine Life as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 16. Supporting efforts to protect the marine ecosystem with the Denize +1 Breath project since 2022, Anadolu Efes drew attention to the importance of cleaning the garbage accumulated on the coasts before it reaches the seas on this special day.
Plastic waste accounts for at least 85 percent of total marine waste
Anadolu Efes, which has been contributing to the enrichment and protection of biodiversity in the Marmara Sea with the Sea +1 Breath project carried out in cooperation with the Association for the Protection of Marine Life since 2022, organized a coastal cleanup in Heybeliada with its volunteers on the occasion of September 16 International Coastal Cleanup Day.
Anadolu Efes Group Corporate Communications and Relations Director (CCAO) Selda Susal Saatçi said, “While contributing to the reproduction and protection of corals in the Marmara Sea, which are described as the rainforests of the seas and are in danger of extinction all over the world, we also want to draw attention to the importance of coastal cleaning for the marine ecosystem.
The world is facing a global garbage crisis due to increasing waste generation. This waste is getting into the air, soil and seas all over the planet, threatening the lives of living things. Plastic waste in particular accounts for at least 85 percent of total marine waste. According to a report published by WWF, about 0.57 million tons of plastic goes into the Mediterranean Sea every year. This is equivalent to throwing 33,800 plastic bottles into the sea every minute. Considering that we owe 2 out of every 3 breaths we take to our seas, I believe that it is the responsibility of all of us to leave our beaches clean where we enjoy our time.”
“We hope that the coastal cleanup will raise awareness on this issue”
Volkan Narcı, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Protection of Marine Life, said: “It is estimated that approximately 75 to 199 billion kilograms of plastic waste floats in our oceans. According to the data announced by the United Nations, if urgent measures are not taken, the estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic entering the ocean annually will triple in the next twenty years. This means that by 2040, 23 to 37 million metric tons of plastic will be dispersed into the ocean each year, covering 50 kilograms of plastic for every meter of coastline worldwide. Even a small effort from each of us is a beacon of hope for solving this problem. In this context, we hope that the coastal cleanup with Anadolu Efes Volunteers will raise awareness on this issue.”
