We know there is way too much plastic in our world. And we produce and use more and more every day. It’s destroying ecosystems in the ocean and on land, our basis for life.

In the Mexican Caribbean Antonio and Alberto play Don Quichotte every Sunday morning at 7am to fight against the windmills of plastic on our planet. They pick up the trash that came with the ocean or with careless visitors. On different beaches along the Riviera Maya south of Cancun or in the waves off the coast. They are part of the initiative @snorkeling4trash.

Their Utopia: To create a culture where more and more people use less and less plastic and take care of the rubbish they produce.

In a German laboratory an on research vessels and boats around the world Mark Lenz from Geomar is doing research on plastic and ocean ecosystems. He says, beach cleanups are nice initiatives to make people aware of the problem. The solution he sees on a more structural level: better recycling systems, more taxes on plastic production.

His Utopia: A world that is more balanced between the interests of humans and aspects of ocean conservation, sustainable use of resources and protecting the climate

First half of this episode: Collecting plastic and talking to Antonio und Alberto in Playa del Carmen
Second half (28:30 min): Interview with Mark Lenz

CONTACTS
@snorkeling4trash
https://www.geomar.de/mlenz
www.radioutopistan.de

SOURCES
Research Programs Geomar:
GAME: https://www.geomar.de/en/research/fb3/fb3-eoe-b/game/game-about-game
HOTMIC: https://www.oceanblogs.org/hotmic/about/
On Coca Cola:
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/resources/apply/global-commitment-progress-report

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/sustainable-business/packaging-sustainability