Our discoveries....

Hollywood Beach looks like a clean beach - BUT we collected 141 pieces of trash over 4 kms of beach. With this action, we discovered:

1. The majority of trash was small pieces of plastic that had already started to decompose (break down). The plastic was clear and it was impossible to tell where the plastic had originally come from. I found this really scary as it tells me that this plastic had already been in the environment for a long time, and would have ended up as microplastic in our oceans.

2. One of our favorite 'Superdooper' icy pole wrappings

3. 4 face masks :(

4. A lot of broken children's beach play equipment - such as buckets, and spades

5. Only one cigarette :)

Businesses and organizations can have a massive role in resolving social or environmental issues.

'Save the Manatee' is a non-for profit organization that is based in Florida.

THEIR MISSION

To protect manatees and their habitats throughout the whole world, and to rebuild their population so that they are no longer consider 'threatened' or 'endangered'.

THEIR BUSINESS MODEL

A not-for-profit organization which means

any financial gain or profit is not given to the owners, but used to achieve the business mission.

In this example, the money is used to:

• • • protect and rebuild healthy ecosystems

    • to raise awareness on how to reduce human impact on manatees and to

    • ensure governments around the world put in place and enforce regulations to protect manatees for future generations.

During our Sharing the Planet inquiry, we explored how innovation can promote sustainability. Innovators are creative and think outside the box. Our PYP program encourages us to do the same.

This organization was originally started by a very passionate former Florida Governor and U.S Senator Jimmy Buffett. The 'Save the Manatee Club' is now a world leading, international manatee conservation organization.

Source: https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/accounting/what-is-a-not-for-profit-organization/

https://www.savethemanatee.org/about/

https://oceansoleonline.com/

'Ocean Sole' is a social enterprise in Kenya, and even though they are a long way away from America, they help endangered animals like manatees.

Social enterprises are businesses that have social principles and function with a sustainable mindset.

They aim to tackle social problems, improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment.

They make their money from selling goods and services, but they reinvest their profits back into the businesses or local community.

And so when they profit, society profits.

We ALL BENEFIT :)

'Ocean Sole' believes “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

They collect old flip-flips that wash up on the beach and make beautiful pieces of art. This isn't the only thing that makes them a social enterprise!

What other social or environmental problems are they trying to resolve?

This business also employs more than 100 low income mothers in the community, and puts 10-15% of their profit into conservation and educational programs.

They even worked with the 'Save the Manatee Club' on Manatee Appreciation Day, 2020 and made manatee art work, where 20% of their sales were donated!

And of course, they remove trash from the oceans directly helping the environment!

Source: https://oceansoleonline.com/