Please select your home edition
Edition
Armstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - TOP

The Ocean Race and sustainable materials pioneer Archwey partner to tackle marine plastic

by The Ocean Race 5 Dec 2022 05:42 PST
Three of the teams that will compete in The Ocean Race 2022-23 © Vincent Curutchet / IMOCA

The Ocean Race, the world's toughest test of a team in sport, and sustainable materials specialist Archwey, are today announcing a new partnership to inspire action to combat plastic pollution in the seas.

The purpose-driven partnership combines The Ocean Race's award-winning sustainability programme, developed with Founding Partner 11th Hour Racing and dedicated to restoring ocean health, with Archwey's mission to rid the world of virgin plastic and raise awareness of the urgent need for a circular economy, in which materials and products are shared, reused, repaired and recycled for as long as possible.

As an Official Partner of the Race and an Official Plastic-free Ocean Partner, Archwey will partake in key elements of The Ocean Race's work to protect the seas, including The Ocean Race Summits. This series of events, held across the world, brings together decision-makers and ocean advocates to drive new and improved policies to tackle the issues affecting the marine world and explore how ocean rights could help to safeguard it.

The announcement comes ahead of the start of The Ocean Race 2022-23, which sets sail from Alicante, Spain, on January 15th. Throughout the round-the-world competition The Ocean Race will use its platform to raise awareness of the issues affecting the ocean and the solutions needed to tackle them within Ocean Live Park, the dedicated event space that will be created in nine cities across the world.

The collaborators will also work together to highlight The Ocean Race's One Blue Voice campaign, which has an ambitious goal of securing a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights by 2030.

Race Chairman of The Ocean Race Richard Brisius said: "Single-use plastic is having a devastating impact on the ocean. Breaking the world's dependency on this material can only happen through innovation and collaboration, which is why we're delighted to partner with Archwey, a company leading the way in creating alternatives to virgin plastic and pushing for a circular economy. Together we can race towards making our shared vision of a healthy ocean a reality, even faster."

Archwey is dedicated to tackling marine plastic by pioneering alternative sustainable materials for products ranging from coathangers to pharmaceutical products.

Archwey CEO Sjoerd Fauser said: "We know how to win. By removing ocean-bound plastic waste from our rivers and coasts, and using waste as the building blocks for a fully recycled and recyclable alternative, BLUEWAVE®, we can both stop the use of virgin plastic and clean up the oceans. This is Archwey's definition of circularity." In the last 18 months, Archwey has cleared and recycled 32,500 tonnes of plastic waste.

"With over 14 million tons of plastic waste dumped in the ocean every year, there's not a minute to lose in the race to save our seas. The Ocean Race shares our commitment to sustainability and restoring the health of the oceans. We are thrilled to be partnering with them."

The collaboration supports The Ocean Race's Racing with Purpose sustainability programme, which was developed with founding partner and Premier Partner of the race 11th Hour Racing and aims to improve ocean health with a diverse range of audiences, including driving action around ocean plastic. This includes pushing decision-makers on plastic policy, cutting single-use plastic in race villages, equipping teams with onboard scientific equipment to measure microplastics in the water as they race and inspiring children to take action through Learning programmes that have reached more than 180,000 students across the world.

Related Articles

The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 7
Meilhat's Biotherm leads the way on the Road to Boka Bay Paul Meilhat's Biotherm (FRA), the overall leader of The Ocean Race Europe, has now taken the lead on the sixth day of the race's fifth leg from Genova, Italy to Boka Bay in Montenegro. Posted today at 2:44 pm
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 6
Seven miles separate the leading pack on the approach to the eastern waypoint Light winds yesterday afternoon to the south of the Italian island of Sicily has re-shuffled the leading pack in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 and given Swiss entry Team Holcim - PRB the opportunity to stage a spectacular comeback from a distant fifth place. Posted on 12 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 5
No time to rest for the frontrunners as the leading pack faces tricky Mediterranean conditions The top four are set to compress as Team Holcim - PRB in fifth looks for comeback opportunity Posted on 11 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 4
Fast speeds and high stakes in thundery conditions as the fleet approaches Sicily After two days of predominantly light wind sailing and slow progress for the fleet, the top four teams - Paprec Arkéa (FRA), Biotherm (FRA), Allagrande Mapei (ITA), and Team Malizia (GER) - were the first to experience a low pressure weather system. Posted on 10 Sep
TORE: Leg 5 Day 3: Tight at mid-point
The four lead boats are covered by a small margin. They are expected to round at 1900hrs At the halfway point of Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe, the four lead boats are covered by a small margin. Provided the light breeze holds, they are expected to round at 1900hrs.. Posted on 10 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 3
Paprec Arkéa leads as new breeze sends IMOCA fleet speeding south Yoann Richomme's Paprec Arkéa team took two points for leading through the Leg 5 Scoring Gate ahead of Allagrande Mapei Racing. Posted on 9 Sep
Adventure Sport is moving much closer to audience
OnboardLive opens up new storytelling avenues for The Ocean Race A new innovative technology solution, OnboardLive©, is making it possible to experience adventure sports, including offshore sailing, live, and in high-definition broadcast quality, even from the most remote corners of the world. Posted on 9 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Day 2
The fleet makes slow progress under a Blood Moon eclipse Painfully light winds along the Italian and French coasts overnight have meant slow sailing for the crews on the way from Genova to Boka Bay. Posted on 8 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Start
Close action but a slow start from Genova The seven international teams competing in The Ocean Race Europe have set off from Genova on the 5th and final leg - a complicated 1,600-nautical mile passage through the Mediterranean and into the Adriatic Sea on the way to Boka Bay, Montenegro. Posted on 7 Sep
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 Preview
Why the final race to Montenegro promises to be spectacular This Sunday, the seven crews in The Ocean Race Europe will line up for the ultimate challenge: a 2,000-mile showdown from Genoa, Italy to Boka Bay, Montenegro. Posted on 6 Sep
North Sails Loft 57 PodcastPredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOMRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER