Kewkradong and Coca-Cola against sea pollution

Kewkradong Bangladesh, Ocean Conservancy's country coordinator, in partnership with Coca-Cola Bangladesh, has recently concluded a coastal clean-up and marine conservation drive in St Martin's island, as part of their global commitment to create a "World Without Waste" by 2030.

Approximately 550 volunteers of different professions collected more than 1,000 kgs of marine debris in the 9th edition of the drive this year. Through similar initiatives by Coca-Cola Bangladesh and Kewkradong Bangladesh in the last eight years, around 37,000 people have volunteered and collected over 9,500 kgs of marine debris.

With the slogan 'Pick it up, clean it up, sea change,' the two-day activity was organised in sync with 33rd annual International Coastal Cleanup, which also marks the 9th year of collaboration at St. Martin's, Bangladesh's only coral island.

On this occasion, Ajay Bathija, Country Manager of Coca-Cola Bangladesh said, "We hope that together we will be able to reaffirm our global commitment to 'World Without Waste' and a greener, cleaner and sustainable environment."

International Coastal Cleanup is the world's largest volunteer effort – thousands of participants collect millions of pounds of waste from beaches, lakes and waterways. The participants collect non-degradable waste such as cigarette filters, chips packet etc, and sort them and finally dispose it all properly. The information gathered through this initiative is uploaded to Ocean Conservancy's global ocean trash database.

The aim of the programme is to advocate behavioural change in locals, school students and tourists of St. Martin's. Volunteers at St. Martin's are expected to play a key role in spreading the message of how to reduce pollution among peers and other networks upon their return.