In an effort to tackle the rising amount of pollution within the world’s oceans, a new not-for-profit initiative has been launched within the luxury yachting industry named the ‘Clear Ocean Pact’.

The goal of the initiative is to reduce the amount of single-use plastic utilised aboard superyachts starting with raising awareness of how much waste is generated: By 2050 there is expected to be more plastic in the world’s oceans than fish.

One of the important ideas behind the initiative is to increase dialogue between different sectors within the yachting industry to share solutions and change the mindset for finding viable alternatives to plastic. Each year, a crew of up to 10,000 consume an estimated 3.2 million plastic water bottles. Through the following ‘5P plan’, this figure can be significantly reduced with a bottom-up approach that can become the catalyst for lasting change within the industry.

Picture – The first stage is designed to raise awareness within all yachting organisations and recognise how they can also be a part of the solution.

Plot – Encourages organisations to work out how much plastic is currently being used to recognise immediate solutions that can be implemented.

Pledge – The middle stage asks these organisations to declare their commitment to reduced single-use plastic targets, beginning with the Clear Ocean Pact.

Plan – Topmost organisations should then create and implement a plan to reach these reduction goals.

Promote – Finally, successful businesses should share their strategies for waste reduction on an open platform to encourage other organisations to take part.

Luxury charter yachts can reduce their impact by replacing all single-use plastic bottles and toiletries with more ecological alternatives as well as placing filters on washing machines to catch all micro-plastics. The initiative is aiming to have 1,000 superyachts pledge their support by 2020. Since its launch on November the 9th 2018, 12 vessels have currently pledged to do their part for the Clear Ocean Pact.