“My and your relationship with our oceans has to improve fundamentally if we are going to preserve life on this planet as we know it”. These were the words of Sabelo Madlala, Environmental Manager at Robben Island Museum (RIM), in observing this year’s International Coastal Clean Up Day (Saturday, 17 September) on the island.
Through an enduring partnership with Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) and the RIM team, more than 150 volunteers and environmental partners cleared a huge amount of waste that had washed up around the island in the past few months. Thanks to these volunteers the campaign exceeded its target of 500 bags been filled.
Robben Island, a World Heritage site – draws more than 300 000 visitors annually and is also home to a large variety of animal and bird life and flora species. Unfortunately, it also attracts large volumes of pollution and waste, through the passing ships, shipping lanes and land-based sources such as careless littering on beaches, as well as rubbish from Cape Town’s stormwater drains and rivers that flow into Table Bay.
This affects many marine animals and sea birds, either becoming entangled in or ingesting harmful objects. The goal of the coastal clean-up day is to promote greater environmental conservation awareness and to enhance and preserve ecosystems around the island. Supporting International Coastal Clean-Up Day is also in line with The Coca-Cola Company’s global commitment of creating a World Without Waste – a campaign committed to collecting and recycling the equivalent of every bottle and can product that is sold, by 2030.
Madlala said that part of their strategic focus in understanding how they can protect the natural environment, is to try and improve the public’s relationship with the ocean and educate them about the devastating impact of their often, thoughtless behaviour.
“Partnerships with companies like CCPB not only help us to protect the wildlife but also build on conservation programmes to educate the public about the devastating outcome of littering,” adds Madlala.
Priscilla Urquhart, head of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability for CCPB said: “This is the third year we are partnering with RIM and local conservation organisations to clean up the coastline around Robben Island. We are always so overwhelmed by the amount of waste that accumulates and will continue supporting the RIM team in protecting the environment.”
Urquhart explains that CCPB’s role in initiatives like this forms part of their commitment to sustainability and being a responsible citizen. “This year we joined forces with The Beach Co-op and Twyg whose mission is to protect, restore and regenerate the integrity of ocean ecosystems. This speaks to our values of protecting the environment we operate in and creating a better world for future generations,” said Urquhart.
The Beach Co-op team will be documenting waste collected on the day and will add it to their research and analysis, including tracking of the Dirty Dozen list of waste culprits.
“We will continue our commitment to protecting our environment and shorelines through community and beach clean-ups throughout the year, working with various partner organisations and taking consumers along the journey of recycling,” added Urquhart.
About Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages
Refreshing Our Communities and Making A Difference - Coca-Cola Peninsula Beverages (CCPB) is the local bottling partner and distributor of The Coca-Cola Company in the Western and Northern Cape. Products and brands include Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Stoney, Appletiser, Powerade, Bonaqua, Valpre, Cappy, PowerPlay and Monster Energy amongst others. CCPB has been operational for more than 80 years, having first opened for business in 1940. Their state-of-the-art bottling facility is based in Parow Industria, with distribution centres and offices located around the CCPB region.
For more information, visit www.peninsulabeverage.co.za and follow @CocaColaPenBev on social media to stay updated on company and brand news.
About Robben Island Museum
Robben Island Museum (RIM) is a public entity responsible for managing, maintaining, presenting, sustainable development and marketing of Robben Island as a National and World Heritage site in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act of 1999 and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, respectively.
RIM was established in 1997 and was declared as a cultural institution per the Cultural Institutions Act, No 119 of 1998 and a public entity by the Public Finance Management Act No 1 of 1999. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.
About The Beach Co-op
The Beach Co-op was born from our desire to do something for the ocean that gives us so much. In 2015, a group of volunteers started gathering at Surfers Corner in Muizenberg to clean waste, much of it plastic, that was accumulating along the rocky shoreline. This impromptu movement has grown into a dedicated non-profit organisation on a mission to build ocean communities that care.
We work collaboratively and creatively within ocean communities and with government and business to urgently protect, restore and regenerate the integrity of ocean ecosystems. Our mission is to effectively connect people, institutions and organisations through evidence-based education and experiential learning to keep South Africa’s beaches clean and healthy and to protect and enhance ocean health.
