Reef Check Malaysia, an NGO working towards sustainable management of coral reefs in Malaysia, is hosting a virtual International Coastal Cleanup campaign from 23 August to 19 September in an effort to raise awareness on marine debris pollution and provide simple solutions on how the public can prevent more waste from entering our ocean even from home.
#ICCfromHome Campaign
KUALA LUMPUR, 19 AUGUST 2021 – Every year, Reef Check Malaysia coordinates International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day in Malaysia. ICC is a global event that has been running for 35 years, during which volunteers all around the world engage and encourage their communities to take action by removing trash from beaches or oceans, identify the sources of the litter, and inspire change in beating marine debris pollution.
However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and MCO this year, ICC will be held virtually as #ICCfromHome with the focus for 2021 being 'preventing waste escaping into the environment', instead of 'cleaning up the environment'.
The 4-week virtual campaign will focus on encouraging consumer behavioural change through actionable challenges, quizzes, talks, and resources relevant to reducing waste at home. Best of all, participants will stand a chance to win weekly lucky draw prizes, sponsored by DKSH’s own brands, Famous Amos and Morgan. This campaign is also proudly supported by a new organization, MAREA (Malaysia Recycling Alliance) which aims to make a difference in the recycling of consumer packaging waste.
Since the onset of the pandemic, one of the most visible increases of used items is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks. In addition, the increasing convenience of food delivery services has prompted the rise in the use of single-use plastic and food packaging. While plastic is cheap and convenient, the consequences of becoming overly reliant on single-use plastic items comes with a huge toll on our environment. Thus, the #ICCfromHome campaign supports the “Malaysia’s Roadmap Towards Zero Single Use Plastics 2018-2030" by the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment & Climate Change, where the roadmap aims to address single-use plastics in Malaysia with multi-stakeholders as a collective effort.
According to Reef Check Malaysia’s ICC 2020 Report, with the help of 3,500 volunteers from all over the country, more than 11 tonnes of trash were collected from over 200km of coastline. 24,493 plastic bottles were collected throughout the month of September 2020.
Data collected from ICC in Malaysia in 2020
Reef Check Malaysia’s Programme Development Manager, Theresa Ng, shares, “Marine debris isn’t an ocean problem—it’s a people problem. That means people are the solution. Tackling the problem of plastic in the ocean begins on land.” Theresa has been in charge of organizing ICC since 2018 and has seen the overwhelming data on trash collection by all ICC volunteers in Malaysia throughout the years.
“Ocean trash affects the health of wildlife, people and local economies. We do not have to wait until we are able to safely organize beach cleanups in order to reduce marine debris from our coasts or the ocean. It can start today, right now, from the comfort of our homes” added Theresa.
The #ICCfromHome campaign will officially begin from 23 August until 19 September 2021. An easy and educational campaign which you can join for free simply by following Reef Check Malaysia on Facebook or Instagram. Weekly guidelines and updates on the campaign will be posted on their social media pages. For more information, please contact cleanup@reefcheck.org.my.
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About Reef Check Malaysia
Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) is part of the world-wide Reef Check network. Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs. Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and runs resilience-based programmes for island communities. In addition, RCM is actively involved in marine debris awareness, waste management, and plastic recycling programmes and has been leading the annual International Coastal Cleanup event in Malaysia. You can access RCM’s ICC 2020 Report here. Find out more about Reef Check Malaysia’s work at www.reefcheck.org.my or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
About MAREA
MAREA, also known as the Malaysian Recycling Alliance, was established in January 2021 as an industry-led, pioneering initiative towards circular economy. Our goals will primarily revolve around enhancing collection, promoting the use of recycled and renewable materials as well as minimising post-consumer packaging leakage into the environment.
MAREA was founded by 10 like-minded initial FMCG companies that are taking the lead in EPR in Malaysia. The alliance currently comprises: Coca-Cola Malaysia, Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia, Dutch Lady Milk Industries, Etika Group of Companies, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Mondelēz International Malaysia, Nestlé Malaysia, Spritzer, Tetra Pak Malaysia and Unilever Malaysia.
With a clear mandate in hand, MAREA is committed to collaborating with the Malaysian Government and other stakeholders including consumers, waste collectors, recyclers and industry players to drive the singular goal of a greener Malaysia through circular economy solutions.
About DKSH
DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com