World Cleanup Day 2023

   • What is the Bravo for Oceans Initiative?

   • How does Bravo for Oceans work?

   • How can you contribute to Bravo for Oceans?

   • Goals and commitments of Ogyre

World Cleanup Day 

The global initiative World Cleanup Day was founded in 2018 by the Estonian NGO Let's Do It! World. Since then the initiative has been observed every year during the third weekend of September.

It all started in 2008, in Estonia, thanks to the initiative of entrepreneur Rainer Nõlvak, who managed to bring together 4% of the population with the goal of cleaning up 10,000 tons of waste in just a few hours. Within a short time, the initiative also caught on in Latvia, Lithuania, France, Italy, Portugal, and many other countries. This then led to the official start of the first World Cleanup Day in 2018.

Since 2008 the purpose of the initiative has remained the same: to bring attention to the dangers of abandoned solid waste by organizing clean-ups that bring together millions of volunteers all over the world.

Other Events that Help Protect Our Planet:

World Environment Day

Held annually on June 5th, World Environment Day has been celebrated globally since 1974. Led by the United Nations, the initiative has been used to raise public awareness of the importance of supporting environmental causes and underlining how our actions deeply impact the natural world.

This year, the event will focus particularly on the growing problem of plastic pollution. Every year, in fact, over 400 million tons of plastic are produced, over half of that amount being made up of disposable plastic. It is estimated that roughly 19 to 23 million tons of plastic end up in our rivers, lakes, seas and oceans, causing damage (often irreversible) to our natural marine ecosystems.

Today, it is more important than ever to emphasize the importance of respect for the environment and the necessity to preserve our ecosystems.

World Oceans Day

Not only do ocean waters cover over 70% of the world’s surface, which contain a staggering 80% of all global biodiversity found on Earth, but they are also responsible for producing more than 50% of the oxygen present in our atmosphere. It is clear, therefore, that the health and well-being of our planet, and our very survival, depend on the natural processes of our oceans being protected.

World Oceans Day was first proposed, as a way of raising public awareness of the importance of safeguarding our seas. Held every year on June 8, the event aims to celebrate the beauty and diversity of our ocean waters and bring to the fore the important role that public institutions, companies and individuals play in its protection.

Earth Day

The name Earth Day was first coined in 1969 by prominent peace activist of the day John McConnell. During that year’s UNESCO Conference, McConnell proposed the creation of an International day to honour and safeguard our planet.

Earth Day has been celebrated internationally on April 22, ever since. Its main objective is to underline the importance of balance within the Natural World and the need for environmental sustainability. Earth Day also aims to put the spotlight on the numerous problems that threaten our planet daily, including pollution, the over-exploitation of the Earth’s non-renewable resources and the destruction of vital ecosystems.

What is the Bravo for Oceans Initiative?

Bravo for Oceans is our brand-new initiative, created as part of our ongoing mission to support important Green Projects around the globe. This new initiative comes off the back of our recent collaboration with the non-profit organization Eden Reforestation Projects which aims to plant and preserve trees within the forested areas of underdeveloped countries.

In order to maximize this year’s goal, we have chosen to join forces with Ogyre, a young Italian Start-up which aims to reduce marine litter and empower communities, by collecting plastic from the oceans through a network of Fishermen before transforming them into new products.

Ogyre, which operates in Brazil, Indonesia and Italy, has established a sustainable and transparent chain that aims to safeguard both the oceans themselves by removing marine debris, whilst also providing a new economic income to the local fishermen charged with the task of removing plastic waste from the waters.

How does Bravo for Oceans work?

By working with an international partner who shares our vision, we are committed to achieving our ambitious goal and have pledged to finance, together with Ogyre, the removal of 2,000lbs of marine garbage from the seas of Indonesia, Brazil and Italy. Over the next 12 months, fishermen will recover plastic from the seas in their local areas, their work supported by Ogyre.

To give you a better understanding of what that means, just imagine 2,000lbs of waste as 2,000lbs of plastic. That’s the equivalent of 100,000 plastic bottles that could be polluting our oceans. The work of Ogyre sees the fishermen as the protagonists but with your contribution, you can be, too!

How can you contribute to Bravo for Oceans?

By making a purchase from one of our participating brands! You will be helping us to achieve our goal and support this important initiative towards lasting change.

Not only will you be supporting fishing communities in different areas of the world, but you will also make a real contribution to the cleaning of our oceans.

Goals and commitments of Ogyre

Ogyre is committed to overturning the all too familiar pattern produced by the Earth’s resources being continually consumed and exploited by humans. The name Ogyre originated from Ocean Gyres, the system of circular ocean currents that are essential for the ecosystem but that are sadly also responsible today for creating huge garbage patches in the oceans. Ogyre’s goal is to make those currents virtuous and vital once again. 

Ogyre offers everybody the chance to actively help save the ocean. Their sustainable chain, which involves the recovery of plastic waste from the oceans through networks of local fishing communities and turning it into usable products means that this pattern can be broken. Every item purchased or project funded is a step towards saving our oceans. 

Help us in making the world a little cleaner!