Ocean Summit inspires GAC to sign up to Clean Seas
GAC has agreed to support the UN Environment #CleanSeas campaign through taking direct action to reduce single use plastics in their company.
Ivo Verheyen, Vice President – Europe and all GAC companies in the region have now taken the pledge to reduce plastic pollution. Among them is GAC UK, where a Sustainability Team has been created to put together strategies and set goals that support the #CleanSeas call.
Attending the Ocean Summit in Alicante convinced GAC Communications Manager Lynne Elliott that words alone were not enough to spread the #CleanSeas message. Therefore she decided to encourage all of her colleagues to join her in taking positive action. GAC now aims to have implemented all six company pledges by Cardiff stopover.
During the Lisbon stopover, they connected with a local school and CRID (Centro de Reabilitação e Integração de Deficientes). The result: 40 CRID guests and schoolchildren turned up to learn about Ocean pollution and paint sustainability-themed tiles to adorn GAC Pindar's on-site office. Water-based paints for the artistic endeavours were donated by Akzonobel, Race Sponsor, Sustainability Partner and Supplier of paint for all the boats in the VO65 fleet. Musto, Official Supplier of Sailing Apparel and Footwear, provided Volvo Ocean Race Fast Dry caps for all the guests and helpers.
During the Cardiff stopover, GAC UK announced major progress in its efforts to reduce plastic and other waste. Managing Director Herman Jorgensen unveiled practical steps already taken to reduce the company’s impact on the environment.
Herman Jorgensen, said: "GAC UK’s Sustainability Team already has all six boxes ticked. They’ve taken part in a local river clean event, switched to bottled milk deliveries, provided reusable water bottles for every employee, and coffee cups for colleagues on the road. Our people are also taking up the individual challenge by saying no to straws, and boycotting plastic bags and products containing microbeads.
“We now look at potential suppliers’ environmental and sustainability ethos and hope that when our clients do likewise, they will see GAC UK means business.”
GAC’s marine leisure logistics arm, GAC Pindar, is the Official Logistics Provider for the Volvo Ocean Race for the second consecutive edition.
Sign up to #CleanSeas and make your pledge to reduce plastic pollution.