Singer Jack Johnson backs #CleanSeas campaign and joins fight against plastic pollution

Multi-million selling singer/songwriter Jack Johnson has joined forces with Volvo Ocean Race and 11th Hour Racing to fight plastic pollution in the oceans.

The Hawaii-born artist, who became a UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador in 2015, is also backing the organisation’s #CleanSeas pledge. As well as being known for his music, Johnson has a reputation for supporting environmental issues and promoting action for worthy causes.

In March 2018, Johnson took part in the closing panel at the 6^th International Marine Debris Conference in San Diego, California and spoke with industry experts and business leaders about plastic waste in the oceans. In a video recorded during the conference, Johnson explained the value of the ocean to his family: “The ocean has always been a really big thing in our life, we grew up surfing, we grew up sailing with my dad, we grew up always in the ocean.

“And now,” continued Johnson, “When you go to the east shore of Oahu [Hawaii] it’s predominantly plastic. At some point I realised that I couldn’t just keep stepping over it and go enjoy myself in the ocean. As a dad, as somebody who got so much out of the ocean my whole life… you get to a place where you have to do something about it.”

The Volvo Ocean Race Science Programme recently unveiled data proving microplastics present in even the most remote parts of the oceans. It is thought that more than eight million tonnes of plastic are discarded into the oceans each year.

Anne-Cecile Turner, sustainability programme leader at Volvo Ocean Race, commented, “To have Jack Johnson support the Clean Seas campaign to inspire his fans and music lovers around the world to take action against plastic pollution is truly inspiring.

“By taking the #CleanSeas pledge and reducing his own plastic footprint whilst on tour Jack sends a clear message that we all need to take action in our own lives to stop plastic from entering our seas.”

Anyone is able to take the #CleanSeas pledge if they want to join the cause – visit the #CleanSeas website for more information.

To find out more about reducing plastic waste, visit Jack Johnson’s All At Once organisation.