World Ocean Day Talks: What is Blue Economy?
©Caine Delacy
June 8th marked World Ocean Day (WOD). The ocean covers the majority of the earth, but only a small portion of its waters has been explored. Despite humanity’s utter reliance on it, and compared to the breadth and depth of what it gives us, the ocean receives only a fragment of our attention and resources in return. So in this edition of Greenextionary, let's explore what the blue economy is!
What is the blue economy?
©Nicolas Hahn
Blue economy refers to an economic framework that prioritizes sustainable use and conservation of the world's oceans and coasts. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, as well as improved livelihoods while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
“When we say “blue economy”, we’re talking about managing the ocean in a way that it’s healthy and continues to benefit people.”
The blue economy encompasses a range of industries and sectors, such as fisheries, maritime transportation, renewable energy, tourism, and coastal development, among others. The concept emphasizes the need for responsible management of ocean resources to ensure their longevity and the well-being of communities that depend on them.
Why do we need a blue economy?
©Des Bowden
The ocean covers three-quarters of the Earth’s surface, providing food, energy, transport, and recreation as well as hosting a major portion of the planet’s biodiversity. It allows us to breathe by providing 50% of atmospheric oxygen, nourishing nearly 3 billion people, welcoming 90% of internationally traded goods, constituting one of the most promising sources of clean renewable energy, and employing millions of people–including in marine and nature-based tourism.
©Amitava Chandra
However, the damage to our oceans has become apparent in recent years as plastic garbage patches can now be found across the world’s oceans. As a matter of fact, plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year (National Geographic). And a report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation predicts that by 2050, the amount of plastic in the ocean is projected to outweigh the fish.
Plastic pollution is a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems. The proliferation of plastic waste in the world's oceans is having a detrimental effect on the food system, as well as the oceans' ability to sequester carbon. According to a report by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), the ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, which helps to slow down the rate of global warming.
Additionally, ocean habitats along with their can sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests can. For instance, mangroves, a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone, are some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems on the planet, storing on average 1,000 tonnes of carbon per hectare in their biomass and underlying soils.
©Aulia Erlangga/CIFOR
©Jasmin Pegge
Coral reefs are among the most ecologically and economically valuable ecosystems on our planet. Covering less than 0.1 percent of the world’s ocean, they support over 25 percent of marine biodiversity and serve up to a billion people with coastal protection, fisheries, sources of medicine, recreational benefits, and tourism revenues.
More than 680 million people, nearly 10 percent of the global population, live in low-lying coastal zones. Bearing the brunt of climate change, highly vulnerable communities in low-lying areas, including small islands, are 15 times more likely to be killed by floods and storms, compared to regions with very low vulnerability.
Striving for a Bluer Economy in Fashion
©Nguyen Vu, Cao
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the blue economy contributes about $2.5 trillion annually to the global economy, which is equivalent to the world’s seventh-largest economy by GDP.
Although the fashion industry is not the biggest ocean-based industry, it has a significant impact on the ocean, and there is a growing interest in how it can align with the principles of the blue economy. As the world's second-largest consumer of the world's water supply, the fashion industry is a significant contributor to ocean waste, with microplastics and other synthetic materials used in the production of garments ending up in the ocean. Therefore, it is imperative that the fashion industry adopt sustainable practices and contribute to the blue economy.
One of the approaches is to reduce the use of single-use plastic and synthetic materials in fashion production, which can end up in the ocean and harm marine life. Brands are also exploring innovative materials, such as recycled polyester made from plastic bottles, to reduce their environmental impact. For instance, with NetPlus®, Patagonia is turning old, frayed, and torn fishing nets collected in fishing communities in South America into something you can wear again and again. Besides, Prada's Re-Nylon is entirely crafted from regenerated nylon created through the recycling and purification of plastic collected from oceans, fishing nets, landfills, and textile fiber waste globally.
Besides, it is also fundamental to educate customers on sustainable consumption patterns through effective communication. Since 2018, LA MER has cooperated with China's Tencent for five consecutive years on marine protection. The collaboration led to a wide range of educational and localized campaigns for Chinese consumers, which includes a mini program on WeChat where users can donate daily steps to support coastline protection, a live stream of China's coastline on WeChat Channels, as well as an online concert on marine protection with Tencent Music.
©BASF
Furthermore, as a major source of oceanic microplastic pollution, about 16%-35% globally, comes from synthetic textiles, there are opportunities to develop new products and technologies that are fighting against ocean microplastics. For instance, Zara Home, the homeware brand of Spanish apparel giant Inditex, and chemicals company BASF have developed a new laundry detergent that's said to reduce textile microfibre emissions by up to 80 percent.
Meanwhile, with the support of the H&M Foundation, the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA) has developed a new technology that can separate microplastics from wastewater effectively utilizing sweeping acoustic waves in a specially shaped chamber. Samsung and Patagonia have unveiled the Less Microfiber Cycle and Filter as the latest tech developments for washing machines. The two companies have been working to address the challenge of microplastic shedding during the laundry process and polluting oceans and other bodies of water.
