Why can't we just ban plastics to solve the marine debris issue?

Plastic is an incredibly useful material. The very qualities that make it so valuable in our daily lives—its durability and long lifespan—also make it a major problem when it enters the environment.

Millions of tonnes of ocean plastics.

Each year, an estimated 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic waste flow into global waterways, polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans (United Nations Environment Programme).

While plastic plays an essential role in modern society, particularly in areas like healthcare, it is also used for countless unnecessary and short-lived products. Many of these items are discarded after a single use.

Recycling isn't the whole solution.

Only 9% of the world’s plastic is currently recycled—and unlike aluminium, plastic cannot be recycled indefinitely.

To protect our environment, we need to phase out plastic where it isn’t essential and cut back on single-use items wherever possible.

Tangaroa Blue's Mission

We not only remove marine debris from beaches and waterways, but we also collect vital data that is used as evidence in research, influences policy, and contributes to long-term solutions to the plastic crisis.