SC Johnson, Ocean Generation partner for ocean awareness

SC Johnson has launched a partnership with UK charity Ocean Generation, an authority on tackling ocean-bound plastic waste, to bring the ocean and its importance to classrooms across the UK.

“With less than 10% of plastic produced being recycled globally, there is a clear need for greater levels of education on the action we need to take to reduce the impact plastic pollution has on the environment,” said Alan VanderMolen, chief communications officer and global head of philanthropy at SC Johnson.

According to a recent survey of 500 UK teachers in March 2022 commissioned by SC Johnson, almost half (49%) of UK primary and secondary school teachers feel the current quality of education around environment and sustainability is not good enough, with only a fifth (21%) finding the current curriculums easy to use in classrooms.

“Education is vital in creating the behavior change needed to achieve our vision for a waste-free world, and we are proud to partner with Ocean Generation in support of Ocean Academy to build this awareness and engagement in classrooms,” said VanderMolen.

As one-third (33%) of teachers believe that the current curriculum fails to inspire sustainability action amongst their pupils, the Ocean Academy program aims to ensure that a better understanding of the ocean turns into action, said the company.

Supportive funding, SC Johnson said, will help the program reach more than 50,000 UK pupils in 2022, in addition to directly engaging 15,000 students through an in-person lesson offering across approximately 75 schools. 

“Young people, aged 24 years and under, account for over 40% of the world population, so their understanding of the ocean is critical,” said Richard Hill, CEO of Ocean Generation.

The partnership represents the next step the company is taking in driving education on the ocean plastic crisis, following The Blue Paradox, an immersive experience SC Johnson hosted on the topic in London last year in partnership with Conservation International.

“We are thrilled to be working with an organization like SC Johnson which shares our ambition for educating on the ocean plastics crisis and we look forward to growing the Ocean Academy program together,” said Hill.

Ocean Generation is an inclusive global movement that exists to restore a healthy relationship between humanity and the ocean. Established in 2009 by film producer Jo Ruxton, their award-winning documentary “A Plastic Ocean,” was named by Sir David Attenborough as, “one of the most important films of our time” and ignited public awareness about the impact of plastic on our ocean, said the firm.

Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, SC Johnson believes that “a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunities isn’t just possible – it’s our responsibility.”