Common Seas is on a mission to reduce the amount of plastic made and stop it polluting our people, economies and planet. The crisis is too big and complex to solve alone so we provide the right people with the right tools to tackle waste at source, and deliver new ways to manage and re-use plastic.

Common Seas Education Programme

Marine plastic pollution is a visible and pervasive environmental issue affecting all oceans. Recent media coverage has raised awareness of the topic, encouraging politicians, businesses and the general public to take much-needed action.

Common Seas believes that education can be an important part of the solution to addressing marine plastic pollution. The recent popularity of the topic of marine plastics has meant that there is a wealth of information and ideas for action scattered across the internet and other media.

Common Seas uniquely provides teachers with a full suite of resources across science, geography, and design and technology across Key Stages 1 to 4, that are designed to fulfil the English National Curriculum teaching requirements. Providing teachers with off the shelf lesson plans, presentations and activities they can choose to deliver in their entirety or use sections as appropriate.

Supporting a more sustainable relationship with the environment is not a quick fix, but a multi-generational endeavour. This is why Common Seas works with a range of partners to move marine plastics education from an important side issue into the mainstream.

Common Seas Education Approach

Commons Seas has adopted two approaches to environmental and sustainability education. The linkages between literacy, action and governance; and UNESCO's use of cognitive, socio-emotional and behavioural learning outcomes as part of education for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Literacy is the starting point for the education programme. A shared understanding of plastics across its entire life cycle including its impact on the marine environment is crucial in developing appropriate responses and informing action on a personal and community level. A plastics literate population will also be able to inform good governance, both as leaders and voters.

However, literacy on its own is not enough and Common Seas will also be developing engagement tools that help to shift literacy into action.