In an exciting step forwards in the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)’s new focus on tackling plastic pollution, the association is asking exhibitors at this summer’s OutDoor by ISPO trade show to sign up to a pledge to reduce, if not eliminate, the amount of single use plastic at the show.
Following the launch in January of the association’s Plastic Free: Mountain to Sea campaign, EOCA is working with its members and the European outdoor industry to clean up plastic waste already causing harm in habitats from the summits of mountains to the shores of the seas, whilst also reducing their use of everyday single-use plastics. This will be in conjunction with educating and inspiring outdoor enthusiasts to get involved to combat the issues.
With this in mind, EOCA has today launched its Plastic Pledge to reduce single use plastic waste at trade shows – specifically OutDoor at ISPO at the end of June. EOCA is encouraging as many of its members to sign up to the Pledge as a first step to making trade shows more sustainable. Non members of EOCA are invited to get on board with the Pledge as well, for the price of a donation to EOCA’s public fundraiser project – for which every €10 donated will clean an area of habitat the size of two Olympic swimming pools.
Joint General Manager of EOCA, Tanya Bascombe commented “We are really excited to be getting the outdoor industry thinking and committing to reducing their single use plastic at trade shows in this way. The Pledge commits people to providing sources of drinking water, not to use or provide single use plastic on their stands and to provide reusables for drinks and food, under the banner Bring it. Use it. Repeat! The more companies we can get signing up to this Pledge the better – even non members of EOCA – because at the end of the day every plastic cup, bottle and straw saved from ending up in landfill or the ocean is a step forwards for our wildlife, climate and the wild spaces we enjoy”.
