News

Swimming in Plastic

15.09.23

Confronting the UK’s plastic crisis with performance

On the 22nd July, Surfers Against Sewage and their passionate volunteers created an eye-opening spectacle in Penzance’s Jubilee Pool to mark the launch of their latest brand audit, protesting the shocking  scale of plastic pollution in the UK. The event, aptly named “Swimming in Plastic”, gathered spectators at the Jubilee Pool as it was filled with 75,000 plastic bottles headed for disposal and a team of pink clad synchronised swimmers. The protest innovatively showcased the never-ending waste stream produced by just 12 companies who have been identified as responsible for more than 70% of branded pollution collected in the UK over a 12-month period.

The Surfers Against Sewage “Dirty Dozen” companies were identified using data collected during a citizen science initiative that relied on volunteers collecting, recording and reporting the pollution they have uncovered during their Million Mile Clean litter pick throughout the year. This data is now being used to identify and call out the UK’s biggest plastic polluting brands which were unsurprisingly revealed to be: Coca Cola, McDonald’s, Pepisco, Mondelez International, ABInBev, Tesco, Haribo, Nestle, Mars, Heineken, Carlsbeg and Red Bull.