Marine plastic and microplastic pollution are harmful to marine biodiversity and human health. Around the world, billions of SUP water bottles are used just once and then thrown away every year. Of these, only 9% are recycled resulting in close to eight million tonnes of plastic leaking into the oceans and aquatic environments annually.
In 2018 Swire Shipping set a goal to reduce SUP water bottles on board owned vessels to zero.
The Company is determined to continue the journey towards zero SUP water bottles within the Swire Shipping fleet. This will be a significant contribution towards protecting oceans and working together to achieve the SDG 14 (Life Below Water) which aims to have sustainably managed marine and coastal ecosystems free from pollution.
In 2022, single-use cutlery was also banned for managed vessels which reduced the overall amount of SUP items purchased.
Reducing Our Plastic Footprint
Ashore, employees are encouraged to reduce their SUP footprint by switching to reusable and more environmentally friendly options. The Company strives to eliminate SUP from company-organised events and this requirement has been incorporated into the “How to run a Sustainable Event” procedure.
2022 Sustainability Report
Our annual Sustainability Reports keep our stakeholders informed of our sustainability progress in an open and transparent manner.