Glasgow, 21 July 2026
The Commonwealth Clean Oceans
Plastics Campaign has today reached its target of preventing
more than one million pieces of plastic from entering
Commonwealth waterways, with the milestone piece collected
at a clean-up event on the River Clyde, Glasgow.
The
campaign was launched at the Commonwealth Heads of
Government Meeting in Samoa in October 2024. It partnered
with Commonwealth Sport’s King’s Baton Relay, launched by
His Majesty The King on Commonwealth Day 2025. The King’s
Baton Relay has spent 500 days travelling across every
Commonwealth country, uniting communities in clean-up and
conservation events.
The Commonwealth Clean Oceans
Plastics Campaign brought together more than 50 partner
organisations and over 15,000 volunteers, removing over
23,000kg of plastic waste from waterways across the
Commonwealth, a scale of action that matters most in the
places least equipped to withstand plastic pollution’s
effects. The Commonwealth accounts for a third of the
world’s ocean waters, and almost half its member states are
Small Island Developing States that disproportionately
suffer from the impact of plastic pollution.
Janet
Cooper OBE, Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, said:
“One million pieces of plastic removed from Commonwealth
waters is a remarkable milestone, and one I am immensely
proud to mark here in Glasgow. The Commonwealth Clean Oceans
Plastics Campaign has shown the power of collective action,
and what impact can be made when communities work together.
To the thousands of volunteers and the many partner
organisations across the Commonwealth who have dedicated
their time and energy to make this possible, thank
you.”
To mark the milestone, the Royal Commonwealth
Society has opened a digital gallery of the campaign,
showcasing the journey of the clean-ups and the impact
communities have made across the Commonwealth: Photos:
Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign –
https://www.royalcwsociety.org/eventphotos/commonwealth-clean-oceans
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
