DIVING NEWS
Mission 2020 hits halfway mark
Mission 2020, the dive-industry conservation initiative announced last summer, reached the midway point in its intended lifespan on World Oceans Day on 8 June. Now the 150 international organisations that have signed up have only 12 months left to fulfil pledges they have made to reduce their environmental impact.
Described as “the largest collaboration in our community dedicated to doing something good for the ocean”, Mission 2020 is the brainchild of Jim Standing and Paul Strike, co-founders of UK divewear manufacturer Fourth Element.
“Whether you believe the health of the oceans is of existential importance to life on this planet or not, one thing that is for sure is that it’s of existential importance to our sport and our industry,” says Standing. “If we don’t do something to protect the oceans, eventually there will be nothing worth going to see and people won’t want to go diving, except maybe for wrecks and caves.
“It isn’t too late to make a positive change and, as an industry, we can show that we are leading this change.”
12 June 2019
Mission 2020 participants are being encouraged to tell their customers about their initiatives – and to suggest that those customers opt for brands and companies that have the long-term health of the oceans at heart.
Some pledges are more specific than others. Industry big-hitters such as PADI have promised to “further reduce plastic waste across our supply chain and rally our 6600 dive centers and resorts to reduce single-use plastics”. Fourth Element itself says that it will eliminate single-use plastic packaging from its products, while developing new and redeveloping existing products using recycled materials.
Three current DIVER Magazine Award-winners are among the impressive roll-call of companies.
Dive Centre of the Year 2018 Andark Diving & Watersports has pledged to use only paper carrier-bags by the target date, while Tour Operator of the Year blue o two says its fleet vessels will be completely single-use-plastic-free five months before the deadline. It has also pledged to minimise pollution on its boats and in its offices. Product of the Year winner Suunto says it will minimise single-use plastics in packaging and offset carbon emissions from all deliveries.
DIVER Magazine, which has been involved with many significant environmental initiatives over the years, including co-founding the Marine Conservation Society, has shown its support by committing to eliminate all plastics-based wrapping of copies by the next World Oceans Day.
And Mission 2020 participants who achieve their objectives early are being asked to aim even higher: “Find a new goal, set a new standard and keep innovating,” says Standing.
You can check all the pledges here.
