As part of Brunel and the Brunel Foundation’s commitment to creating a healthier planet, 140 Brunel staff teamed up with Seven Clean Seas for an unforgettable beach clean-up in Phuket, Thailand.
Brunel’s second collaboration with Seven Clean Seas was even bigger and better than our 2022 Bintan clean-up, drawing together staff from across China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand in an effort to remove plastic and other waste materials from what was once a pristine marine environment. The team removed over 490kg of waste from the Phuket beach – which is roughly equivalent to the weight of a newborn baby whale!
Armed with gloves, huge bags and a united sense of purpose, the Brunel team scoured a stretch of beach bordering Layan Beach removing washed up waste materials in an effort restore the location’s natural beauty. Under the guidance of Seven Clean Seas’ experienced team, Brunel staff combed the shoreline, meticulously collecting and removing everything from plastic bottles, food wrappers and containers to discarded fishing nets and pieces of marine equipment.
Thailand experiences 22.8 million kg of ocean plastic waste pollution every year, making it the world’s 10th most polluted location for plastics. The country’s expansive coastline combined with its exposure to potential waste washing in from neighbouring nations place Thailand in a very difficult position when it comes to tackling plastic ocean waste.
While it may not have been a glamourous task, Brunel’s team took the challenge in their stride, eagerly rolling up their sleeves to get the job done. Seeing the tangible impact that can be achieved when so many hands work toward a common goal was a true inspiration to our team.
What was removed?
As part of the beach clean-up, Brunel and Seven Clean Seas conducted a mini waste audit to, sifting through 10 of the 193 bags of waste collected to examine what kind of waste was contaminating the site.
The Phuket clean-up was a truly inspiring experience for our people, because it demonstrated that together we can achieve things that seem out of reach to us as individuals. But it’s far from a one-off activity; if we are really committed to improving our planet and environment, this needs to be part of a larger plan, which is why we have chosen to collaborate with organisations like Seven Clean Seas to systematically build sustainable behaviours.
Jon Proctor, Brunel Managing Director – Asia
Combined with our clean-up in Bintan, Indonesia last year Brunel’s Asia team have removed 1,356kg of ocean waste. That is a remarkable achievement which not only reflects Brunel's global ESG commitment to safeguard our marine ecosystems but makes this objective tangible to our people. Creating a sustainable future isn’t something we can sit back and wait for others to do; each of us need to reassess our own habits and mindset, and to actively participate if we want to make a change.
The Brunel-Seven Clean Seas beach clean-up efforts in Phuket brought together a diverse group of individuals united by a common purpose: to take responsibility for the well-being of our planet. This accomplishment, combined with previous clean-up initiatives, reinforce Brunel’s commitment to helping create a better planet for our future professionals.
Brunel’s collaboration with Seven Clean Seas
Brunel’s connection with marine clean-up organisation Seven Clean Seas, has flourished over the past 12 months. In addition to the Phuket and Bintan clean-up activities, 7CS has helped educate Brunel and its staff on both the current state of ocean plastics and the role each of us can play in helping to solve this crisis.
In December 2022 the Brunel Foundation donated €14,474 raised through its 10th anniversary charity auction to Seven Clean Seas. This remarkable contribution has played a substantial role in funding Seven Clean Seas’ ongoing clean-up initiatives in Bintan and Batam, Indonesia, and Bangkok, Thailand.