ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH CLEAN OCEANS PLASTICS CAMPAIGN
THE ISSUE
We produce 400 million tonnes of plastic annually, and more than 12 million tonnes of this plastic enters the oceans each year. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Plastic suffocates and kills birds, fish, and sea mammals, and it harms key areas of the marine ecosystem.
Secondary plastic pollution occurs when plastic breaks down into microplastics, contaminating our food, water, and air. This process occurs quickly in the ocean due to the erosion caused by wave action and constant exposure to sunlight. Worryingly, the full impact of microplastics on our health is not yet fully understood, but early evidence suggests that microplastics can disrupt various bodily functions, and there is no known way to remove them.
The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and almost half of Commonwealth countries are Small Island Developing States that disproportionately suffer from the impact of plastic pollution. Together, we must take action to prevent plastic from entering our waterways and help fulfil United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14, ‘Life Below Water’.
The Royal Commonwealth Society’s Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign will prevent one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth waterways.
The campaign will support Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action) and 14 (Life Below Water).
It will also align with the Commonwealth’s values, as outlined in the Commonwealth Charter, particularly Article 9 (Sustainable Development), Article 10 (Protecting the Environment) and Article 14 (Recognition of the Needs of Small States).
BY 2050, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THERE WILL BE MORE PLASTIC IN THE OCEAN THAN FISH.
THE CAMPAIGN
The Royal Commonwealth Society launched the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign in Samoa during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024.
The aim of this campaign is to prevent over one million pieces of plastic from entering Commonwealth oceans and waterways by July 2026, and to spark lasting change in how we view plastic pollution.
The campaign will combine education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce plastic pollution across the Commonwealth.
For the action component of the campaign, the Royal Commonwealth Society has partnered with Commonwealth Sport to deliver the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign as a core component of The King’s Baton Relay. This newly envisioned King’s Baton Relay will focus on sustainability and environmentalism and was launched by His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day 2025, beginning a 500-day journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
Journeying through every Commonwealth nation and territory, this partnership will bring together young people, athletes, conservation groups, and the local community for a week of activities including a plastic clean-up.
This global relay of plastic clean-ups will also bring much-needed attention to both ongoing ocean conservation efforts and innovative solutions to plastic waste.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Commonwealth citizens are encouraged to get involved. There are several ways that individuals or groups can support the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, including by:
Support The King’s Baton Relay in your country
The King’s Baton Relay will pass through every Commonwealth country over the next 500 days until the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July 2026.
In each country, there will be a plastic clean-up, targeting plastic pollution and highlighting the issue. If you would like to attend the event and see the Commonwealth Games Baton, contact the RCS team at cwcleanoceans@royalcwsociety.org.
Organise your own clean-up
The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign wants to have an impact beyond the six days the Baton will be in each country, to ensure lasting and systemic change. Whether you are an individual or a group, consider getting involved, to help prevent plastic from entering our waterways.
As part of the campaign, we will be asking all individuals and groups taking part to keep track of how much plastic they manage to clean-up and report this back to us. There will be a running tally for each country, so your contributions will help your country’s total.
A tracker is available to view on our website: https://www.royalcwsociety.org/cwcleanoceanscampaign
Raise awareness of the Campaign
You can also support the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign by raising awareness of it with your friends and local organisations. Sharing more about the campaign with your networks on social media will help to encourage others to get involved in the campaign and highlight the issue of plastic pollution.
Attend an Educational Webinar
The campaign also aims to change behaviours around plastic, targeting waste at every stage in the plastic life cycle. These webinars will feature interesting ideas and solutions to the plastic problem, including alternative materials to plastic, new techniques for collecting plastic from the oceans, and ideas for reusing and recycling plastic.
DONATE TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
As a charity dedicated to tackling plastic pollution, the Royal Commonwealth Society relies on the generosity of individuals and organisations to fund our initiatives. Your donation can help us continue to drive the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, to have a meaningful impact in the fight against plastic pollution. Together, we can ensure cleaner oceans, a healthier planet, and a more sustainable future for all.
Get Involved
If you are a Commonwealth-based individual, group, or organisation interested in getting involved with the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign, either through running a physical pick-up or promoting its work, please sign up via this form so that you can be kept up to date on opportunities to get involved.
Alternatively, if you would like to speak with a member of the team about the campaign please contact: cwcleanoceans@royalcwsociety.org.
With your support we can help rid the oceans of plastic and protect our environment for future generations.