JOIN THE ECOATHLETES COLLEGIATE CUP TO PROTECT WHERE WE PLAY!
One of Ocean Conservancy’s three major pillars of work is ending ocean plastics, which aims to remove as much plastic pollution from our ocean and coasts as possible, while pushing to eliminate single-use plastics at the source and prevent them from becoming waste in the first place. And good news: This year, your exercise could contribute to plastic pollution removal. Give it up for the fourth annual EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup, Powered by Protect Where We Play!
ENCORE!
Last year, with the help of students from 29 college and university campuses, 3,373 corals were planted through Coral Gardeners. Protect Where We Play has returned as a proud partner for this year’s challenge, uniting student-athletes across 46 campuses in a national competition to see who can make the biggest impact. Through workouts logged into a dedicated app, exercise evolves into environmental currency. And this year, that currency will go directly to Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup®. Participants have from March 9 to Earth Day (April 22) to log their activities – walks, runs, swims, bike rides, and gym workouts – and whichever school exercises the most wins the Collegiate Cup. More importantly, every ‘Cupper’s’ exercise helps secure a win for our ocean! Another change for this year’s challenge is newcomer, Hydro Flask! As a proud supporter of the Protect Where We Play movement, Hydro Flask will present Protect Where We Play’s spotlights of “EcoAthletes Champion of the Month” from March through October. We’re so excited to get on the Collegiate Cup stage together and support an awesome initiative.
PROTECTING OUR OCEAN FROM PLASTIC
Did you know that half of the plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years alone?
Talk about a foul play. But fortunately, we already know the game-winning strategy: pairing preventative actions like reducing plastic production and improving waste management systems with cleanups.
Plus, the International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC) has one of the largest databases of marine debris in the world, where you can record the number, weights and categories of items removed. This data is input to our trash collection mobile app Clean Swell® and ends up informing national and international policy. An example of this is the Farewell to Foam Act, which was influenced by data collected in 2022, pointing to plastic foam takeout containers being the seventh most common item collected globally by ICC volunteers.
Plastic pollution is a huge problem for our ocean, but even small actions can make a difference. Through initiatives like the ICC, you can make an impact. Join us in logging exercise during the EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup to directly support the fight against plastic pollution!
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Are you ready to take the leading role in helping to protect our coral reefs? Here are a few ways to get involved:
- Sign up for the EcoAthletes Collegiate Cup with friends and then record your exercise on the Climategames app from March 9 to April 22 to Protect Where We Play!
- Urge your lawmakers to say farewell to plastic foam by filling out this quick form
- Every $2 can remove 1 lb of trash from our ocean – donate now
- Keep coming back to this blog to learn more about and support the EcoAthletes Champion of the Month:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
