One Plastic Free Day: How to shop your way to healthier seas

Up to 14 million tonnes of plastic ends up in our oceans each year and we are more aware than ever that plastic debris is one of the biggest threats facing our oceans but it can be hard to see how you as an individual can help reduce this immense number. One Plastic Free Day, a campaign organised by A Plastic Planet, takes place on June 5, 2018 and encourages people to give up all products packaged in plastic for 24 hours thus raising awareness around our reliance on the single-use plastics that are causing such huge problems for marine life.

And, while it may seem an impossible challenge to give up all plastic beyond one day, there are plenty of brands you can support that are making a conscious effort to reduce the pollution in our seas. From low plastic beauty brands to those using recycled materials or creating limited edition products, these companies are supporting campaigns and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the ocean.

Click through for our pick of the best pieces you can buy to make a difference and discover more about this solvable crisis by registering to attend the Ocean Talks on June 13, 2018.

OceanZen bikini

Inspired by her background in marine biology, Steph Gabriel started OceanZen to “save the ocean one bikini at a time”. The Australian brand makes its colourful swimwear from fabric constructed from recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles that have been removed from the ocean.

Ocean print bikini top, $70, oceanzenbikini.com

Founded on three basic aims of reducing plastic waste, lessening dependency on fossil fuels and educating customers about sustainable alternatives for everyday items, Pela is a brand that truly puts it eco-friendly ethos at the forefront. Its first hero product is a range of smartphone cases created from a plant-based material known as Flaxstic and engineered to fit a range of devices as comfortably as any traditional product. Available in a huge range of colours, choose its limited edition engraved case from which $5 of each sale is donated to Save The Waves to show your commitment to the oceans. And once you're done, simply compost the case in your back garden.

Save The Waves limited edition phone case, $39, Pela

Every year the coveted Creme de la Mer jar becomes a canvas for an artistic homage to our world’s oceans. For over a decade, La Mer have released a limited edition version of its celebrated miracle cream to raise awareness about the declining health of our world’s oceans.

This year, Creme de la Mer has partnered with New York-based Project 0, to bring together some of the world’s most influential artists and designers to create their own ocean-inspired art works. 100 per cent of the net profit from the auction sales of the artwork and the sales of the limited edition cream will go to the Blue Heart Fund and Project 0.

Limited edition Blue Heart Creme de la Mer face cream, £330, cremedelamer.co.uk

Since it first partnered with conservation organisation Parley in 2015, Adidas has been set on transforming marine plastic pollution into high performance sportswear and has collaborated with British fashion designer Stella McCartney to launch three new versions of the UltraBoost trainer made from a special material created using recycled fishing nets and plastic debris collected from the seas.

The Ultraboost x Parley, $200, adidas.com

Only 1 in 5 plastic bottles get recycled after use and every second approximately 1,500 plastic bottles end up in the ocean or in landfills. New Yorker Sarah Kauss started S’well with the intention to reduce these numbers and rid the world of single-use plastic bottles. These reusable water bottles are not just stylish but also practical, the double-walled steel is designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.

Reusable bottles, from $25, swellbottle.com

Designed in California, BottleCloth tablecloths combine modern design with cutting edge fabrics made from plastic bottles. Each tablecloth is made from 55 water bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfill or polluting the oceans.

Mod striped tablecloth, from $59, bottlecloth.com

As an early producer of diver’s watches, Omega’s relationship with the ocean is a long and enduring one. In recent years it has become a partner of the Good Planet Foundation and donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Seamaster Ocean 600m to initiatives that preserve coral reefs.

Omega Seamaster Ocean 600m GoodPlanet, £5,440, omegawatches.com

For the sixth consecutive year Davidoff Cool Water has joined forces with the National Geographic Society to support the Pristine Seas campaign to help create marine reserves across the globe with the goal of protecting 10 per cent of the oceans by 2020. The brand also runs the Love the Ocean campaign which encourages the public to get involved with a number of initiatives, including beach clean ups, going single-use plastic free and signing petitions to prevent further ocean pollution.

Davidoff Cool Water, £32, love-the-ocean.com