Wednesday, December 2, 2020

New intergovernmental report calls for 100% sustainable ocean management by 2025, 14 world leaders commit to increase abundance

Today, the High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy (Ocean Panel), composed of 14 serving world leaders, committed to restore and sustainably harvest their wild ocean fish... Read More

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Oceana and Blancpain Announce Exclusive Partnership

Washington, D.C. – Oceana, the largest international organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation, has announced Blancpain as its exclusive watch partner, working together to further Oceana’s campaigns to... Read More

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Jane Fonda honored at Oceana’s star-studded New York Gala

New York,  New York – On Monday night, attendees tuned in for the first ever virtual Oceana New York Gala to honor two-time Academy Award-winning actor, author, and... Read More

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Prime Day 2020: Amazon (AMZN) generates historic flood of unwanted plastic packaging, Oceana says

. Oceana is calling on the company, given its exponentially increasing plastic footprint, to take action to reduce plastic packaging and to offer plastic-free packaging as an option at checkout for its consumers.

“Amazon’s customers are going to be left with a giant post Prime Day plastic packaging hangover of plastic waste that they don’t want, can’t easily recycle and haven’t asked for because the company won’t address its plastic problem,” said Matthew Littlejohn, Senior Vice President of Oceana. “Amazon has shown that it can offer alternatives to plastic packaging, in India and elsewhere, and needs to listen to its customers and take steps to reduce plastic use and pollution particularly given its recent record growth in the midst of a global pandemic.”

According to news reports, Amazon shipped approximately 7 billion packages in 2019, many packed in plastic, and this was prior to the company’s record sales in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2] Only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled; the rest has been landfilled, burned, or gone on to pollute the world’s oceans and natural environment.^[3] Tens of thousands of individual marine organisms have been observed suffering from entanglement or ingestion of plastics permeating the marine environment—from zooplankton and fish, to sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds.

“Amazon’s customers, especially Prime customers, are increasingly concerned about the impact of plastic pollution on the seas,” said Littlejohn. “Polls commissioned by Oceana in the U.S., UK, and Canada – with YouGov and Abacus Data – found in the aggregate that more than 87% of those surveyed who reported being Amazon Prime members said they were concerned about plastic pollution and its impact on the ocean, and 35% of those surveyed in the U.S. who reported being Prime customers noted that they would consider shopping at other online retailers that offer plastic-free shipping.”

Oceana urges Amazon customers and Prime members to join the 630,000 concerned individuals who have signed a petition asking for the company to offer plastic-free packaging and to also directly contact Amazon customer service to ask for a plastic-free packaging choice at checkout for our oceans and our future. “The company listens to its customers,” added Littlejohn, “you can make a difference for the oceans by making sure they hear your concerns and by helping Oceana to get the company to acknowledge and reduce its plastic footprint.”

To access the complete referenced survey results, please visit oceana.org/PlasticFreeAmazon. To find out about Oceana’s campaign to reduce plastics, go to oceana.org/plastics.

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.

Monday, September 28, 2020

Oceana Announces Sam Waterston New Chair of Board of Directors

Washington, DC – Oceana, the world’s largest ocean conservation organization, announced new leadership for its Board of Directors. Actor and long-time Oceana Board Member Sam Waterston was elected... Read More

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Leonardo DiCaprio and Sting headline Oceana’s Virtual SeaChange Summer Party

On Saturday, August 22, supporters tuned in for the first ever virtual SeaChange Summer Party to benefit Oceana, the world’s largest ocean conservation organization. The annual event, in... Read More

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Oceana: Amazon (AMZN) has “a plastic problem,” record growth tied to ocean pollution, customer satisfaction issues

“Amazon has a plastics problem – it is time for the company to address it and take steps needed to reduce its plastic footprint. This is a company that, according to recent news reports, shipped 7 billion packages in 2019, many of them packed in plastic.^[ii] 91% of all plastic produced to date has been landfilled, burned, or ended up in the sea.^[iii] We know, from recent research, that Amazon’s customers – especially Prime customers, are increasingly concerned about the impact of plastic pollution on the seas.”

“Oceana commissioned surveys of Amazon customers by YouGov in the United States and United Kingdom and by Abacus Data in Canada and found that 85% of customers in the U.S. are concerned about plastic pollution, 34% are willing to switch to other retailers that offer plastic-free packaging, and 35% of Amazon Prime customers said that they would shop at online retailers that offer plastic-free shipping. For a company that lists “customer obsession” as its first leadership principle, Amazon needs to listen to them and provide a plastic-free choice. It’s the right thing to do, and it is just good business.”

To access the complete referenced survey results, please visit oceana.org/PlasticFreeAmazon. To find out about Oceana’s campaign to reduce plastics, go to oceana.org/plastics.

Media Contact: Gillian Spolarich (202-251-9564, gspolarich@oceana.org)

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-third of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 225 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal, every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.oceana.org to learn more.