Because plastic is such a long-lasting material, and because we use such vast quantities in our daily lives, it is becoming a real threat to marine life and to our ocean ecosystems.

What we did

This project was funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme.

We worked with a number of different primary schools across the north-east region for one year to:

• raise awareness of the consequences of coastal litter
• change their attitudes and behaviours in a positive way
• conduct litter surveys
• reduce litter by removing it from coastal areas and changing behaviour
• produce a series of educational packs for primary schools across the north-east
• encourage confidence in literacy and numeracy skills
• promote science learning through outdoor activities and engagement with marine experts