Plastic pollution flyer by Protect Blue
Published on October 20 2017

Starboard launches the Plastic Regulation Matrix

Paddlers, surfers, and lovers of all things water know best that the ocean connects us all. But they also know the sad reality that is the state of our aquatic ecosystems today.  They experience firsthand the trash that collects on our shorelines, strangles our sea life, and pollutes the waters we love. The greatest of these offenders is disposable plastic that is thrown away after a single use. Every year we throw out enough plastic to circle the earth 4 times. The devastating truth is that much of our plastic waste is not recycled or even sent to landfills. A significant amount of the plastic we dispose of makes it way into our nature, corrupting various ecosystems. 46% of the planet’s plastic debris has contaminated our oceans, covering about 40% of the ocean surface. This is disastrous for marine life - killing over one million sea birds and hundred thousand sea mammals annually. By 2050, scientists predict that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Plastic never decomposes; it just degrades into smaller pieces of plastics, which are popularly mistaken for food by sea creatures. Consider this the next time you have fish for dinner - because it might be served with a side of plastic. Particulate plastic also threatens the marine plants, which creates 70% of the oxygen we breathe.

We are drowning in a world of single-use plastic, killing our planet and us with it. It is a pest that is infesting our home, and if we don’t change the way we treat Earth and kick our plastic habits soon - we will pass a point of no return.

The Ocean gave us life – can we stop choking it with plastic in return?

Forty-six percent of our plastic waste makes its way into our oceans, annually killing millions of birds and sea mammals with the long term prospects of ending life in the ocean and on land.

The vast majority of people do not realize the danger of single-use plastic. While our oceans are dying, some of us chooses to believe that it’s close to impossible to change away from single use plastic use, blaming powerful lobbies and preference of convenience. There was however a time when single-use plastic did not exist and we currently do have other, eco-friendlier alternatives.

How can we effectively tax and ban single-use plastic on a global scale - so that more environment friendly products are developed and put into use quicker, while still preserving jobs and revenues?

Starboard has envisioned the creation of a worldwide plastic regulation guideline providing a road map - showcasing how selected single-use plastics should be banned globally by law and within a set deadline. This information will provide producers of single-use plastics with a clear timeline and motivation to change their choices of raw material and production methods. A PLASTIC REGULATION MATRIX has been created, documenting and displaying worldwide efforts to end single-use plastic.

Some countries have already taken the leap towards change and introduced single-use plastic bans. When an UNITED NATIONS PLASTIC REGULATION GUIDELINE is created based on those success stories, that is when companies, countries, lawmakers, communities and individuals have a clear future direction.

Starboard has put on a green suit of armor and delved into the war on plastics. They are thinking local and acting global – first by working to eliminate plastics in our product line and our daily lives, but also by advocating for the discontinuation of single-use plastics worldwide.

You too can help by reaching out for authorities, convincing them to strongly position themselves in favor of plastic-free oceans and by updating the current map. Send your contributions and updates to

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