Final Straw Foundation and The Green Blue launch free Accreditation Scheme

The Green Blue and Final Straw Foundation launch accreditation scheme © Final Straw Foundation

In collaboration with the RYA's environmental arm, The Green Blue, Final Straw Foundation launched a free Accreditation Scheme focusing on reducing single-use plastics in the marine industry. Accreditation is open to all sailing clubs, centres and businesses and everyone is encouraged to get involved.

Let's face it, our planet needs us to all step up. It's time to act.

The scheme is run entirely online and is split into Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Each level is split into mandatory swaps or alternatives to single-use and get progressively harder as things move up.

To achieve the Bronze award all these items must be removed:

• Plastic straws
• Plastic free champion/environmental officer
• Plastic single use glasses
• Single use cutlery
• Polystyrene food and drink containers

This is easier to do if your business is office-based and more challenging for a sailing club serving food and drink to hundreds of members, but it can be done.

Bianca Carr of Final Straw Foundation says, "The scheme is something we have wanted to do for a while. Who better to be stewards of our oceans than the people who already work and play on it. We must be the change we want to see and act now. These items are causing a huge amount of waste and pollution in our oceans and on our planet. We need to encourage everyone to make more sustainable choices."

The single-use plastic free accreditation has gotten off to a great start. Currently 63 clubs/centres/businesses have signed up to a pledge to become more sustainable.

18 clubs and businesses have made this pledge a reality and have achieved their Bronze Award, with seven of these businesses and clubs achieving their Silver award.

Can your business get involved?

Can you make a change? See www.finalstrawcertified.org

Get in touch to get involved. Any issues at all, drop us an email to hello@finalstrawfoundation.org - always happy to help!

List of clubs/businesses achieving Silver accreditation:

1. Emsworth Sailing Club
2. Marine Resources
3. Royal Victoria Yacht Club
4. SPR Marine
5. Sail Boat Deliveries
6. Rigging Projects
7. Fatstick

List of clubs/businesses achieving Bronze accreditation:

1. Emsworth Sailing Club
2. Marine Resources
3. Val Wyatt Marine
4. Bosham Sailing Club
5. King George Sailing Club
6. Freedom Boat Club
7. Royal Victoria Yacht Club
8. Emsworth Marina
9. Dell Quay Sailing Club
10. Hayling Island Sailing Club
11. Red2Red Rib charter
12. Langstone Sailing Club
13. Chichester Yacht Club
14. Ballyholme Yacht Club
15. Sail Boat Deliveries
16. Rigging Projects
17. SPR Marine
18. Fatstick

It all started with events as simple as this beach clean at Emsworth SC (with 'Nellie' the fish, a litter-collecting sculpture made from old dinghy launching trollies) - photo © Don Manson