Consol Breathe World Oceans day swim

The 2022 edition of the Breathe World Oceans Day Swim on 4 June has received a boost with Consol Glass coming on board as the event’s official title sponsor.

Africa’s largest glass packaging producer is joining forces with Breathe Conservation to raise awareness around the need to eliminate single use plastics.

Breathe Conservation’s work has been highlighted by the recent floods that have ravaged the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, with the huge amounts of plastic and waste that have been removed from the beaches demonstrating the importance of this initiative.

“We are very excited to have Consol on board sponsoring our event because they are aligned with what we’re all about,” event organiser Sarah Ferguson said.

“Because of the reusability of glass, it’s the perfect packaging choice as we try and move away from plastics.

“Glass doesn’t lose its value; it is sustainable and far more environmentally friendly. We love what Consol are doing through their 2050 campaign.”

Consol’s ‘#IChanged2050’ campaign, which launched in May 2021, aims to raise awareness around the impact of waste on our oceans and to encourage consumers to change their behaviour by making more responsible packaging choices.

Research shows that unless we change our consumption behaviours, in less than 30 years there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish.

“This is another element to our multi-faceted 2050 campaign,” said Dale Carolin, Consol’s Senior Group Executive, Marketing and Commercial. “What makes it even more exciting is that we can involve members of the community to take raise awareness on this issue.”

The second edition of the World Oceans Day Swim will see all the proceeds from the event funding the initiatives that Breathe Conservation are championing.

“All the money from the event goes towards our programmes, including our new marine guide development programme which we are starting in June,” Ferguson added.

“It will also go towards our monthly reef clean ups as well as our educational work in schools.

“A sea swim where all the money raised goes towards marine conservation is a first-of-its-kind in Durban and that is exciting. Following last year’s Covid-19 restricted event, we are pushing this year’s event and are looking forward to welcoming as many swimmers as possible to participate.”

We will have the following distances available for swimmers:

800m

1.6km

3.2km

5km

More information is available at www.breatheconservation.org