Posted a day ago
Proposed by SC Johnson
The Ocean Academy program will reach over 50,000 UK students this year, with a focus on ocean plastic pollution
New research suggests less than a fifth of teachers in the UK find environmental education in schools easy to teach
LONDON, May 3, 2022 /CSRwire/ — SC Johnson, the maker of consumer brands like Mr Muscle®Cover® and duck®, today launched a new partnership with UK Charity Ocean Generation, an authority on tackling ocean plastic litter, to raise awareness of the ocean and its importance in classrooms across the UK. The partnership represents the company’s next step in driving education on the ocean plastic crisis, following The Blue Paradox, an immersive experience SC Johnson hosted on the subject in London last year in partnership with Conservation International. The partnership sees content from The Blue Paradox exhibit integrated into Ocean Generation’s Ocean Academy program, an open-source digital learning center with a toolkit of educational materials for teachers and parents.
According to a recent survey* commissioned by SC Johnson, almost half (49%) of UK primary and secondary teachers believe that the current quality of education around the environment and sustainability is not good enough , with only a fifth (21%) finding current programs easy to use in the classroom. This comes as there is increased interest and investment in environmental education for young people following a COP26 announcement by the UK Department for Education to implement more education for change climate in schools.
“With less than 10% of the plastic produced worldwide being recycled, it is clear that there is a need to increase levels of education on the steps we need to take to reduce the impact of plastic pollution on the environment. “said Alan VanderMolen, Director of Communications and Global Head of Philanthropy at SC Johnson. “Education is key to creating the behavioral change necessary to achieve our vision of a waste-free world, and we are proud to partner with Ocean Generation to support Ocean Academy to build that awareness and commitment. in the classrooms.”
“Young people, aged 24 and under, make up more than 40% of the world’s population, so their understanding of the ocean is essential,” said Richard Hill, CEO of Ocean Generation. “This next generation are our future leaders, and to protect one of the planet’s most precious ecosystems, they must first understand its importance and its fragility. We are thrilled to work with an organization like SC Johnson that shares our ambition to educate about the ocean plastics crisis and we look forward to growing the Ocean Academy program together.
While a third (33%) of teachers believe the current curriculum is failing to inspire sustainability action among their students, the Ocean Academy program aims to ensure that a better understanding of the ocean is turned into action . It is a comprehensive program consisting of accredited lesson plans available for online and classroom use, with content including:
- An introduction to the ocean as the single interconnected source of water supporting all life on the planet
- The multifaceted role of the ocean, including highlighting its role in the oxygen we breathe, controlling our climate, and regulating carbon levels
- Our impact on the ocean, the challenges it faces and how we can make informed decisions to better protect it
- The future of the ocean and inspiring young people to advocate for change, at home and at school
Supporting funding from SC Johnson will help the program reach more than 50,000 UK pupils in 2022, in addition to directly engaging 15,000 pupils through in-person tuition offerings at around 75 schools. By addressing the dearth of quality environmental education available, Ocean Academy aims to educate young people, promote tangible behavior change, and inspire collective action to tackle ocean plastic pollution.
For more information about Ocean Academy, visit myoceanacademy.org. Information about SC Johnson’s sustainability efforts is available at www.scjohnson.com/en/a-more-sustainable-world.
*Research conducted in March 2022, with 500 UK teachers on their attitudes towards environmental education in schools. Both paying and non-paying primary and secondary teachers were involved in the study.
About Generation Ocean
Ocean Generation is an inclusive global movement that exists to restore a healthy relationship between humanity and the ocean.
Founded in 2009 by film producer Jo Ruxton, Ocean Generation has galvanized a growing wave of change by exposing the threat of plastic pollution to our health and that of our ocean. Their award-winning documentary ‘A Plastic Ocean’, was named by Sir David Attenborough as ‘one of the most important films of our time’ and raised awareness about the impact of plastic on our ocean. Today, they address the full range of human actions threatening the ocean with a particular focus on youth engagement.
No ordinary NGO, Ocean Generation combines the disruptive energy of a collective of young people with a decade of on-the-ground experience promoting ocean action through science, storytelling and film.
About SC Johnson
Founded in 1886 and based in Racine, Wisconsin USA, SC Johnson believes that a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunity isn’t just possible – it’s our responsibility.
A legacy of innovation and bold, transparent decisions is why our high-quality products and iconic brands – including OFF!® Raid®, Glade®, Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc®, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day®, method®, Autan®, Baygon®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Lysoform® and many more are found in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country in the world.
As a purpose-driven global company, we are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations. This means relentlessly contributing our expertise in science, innovation and partnerships to solve some of the world’s most pressing environmental and health issues, such as reducing plastic waste and eradicating malaria. Around the world, we use our resources to unlock greater economic and educational opportunities for people and communities where access may be limited, but curiosity and potential are limitless.
Learn how SC Johnson is a family business at work for a better world by visiting scjohnson.com or joining us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.
Please visit our dedicated UK LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sc-johnson-professional/
SC Johnson
SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family-owned company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace, and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the United States, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air treatment and insect control.
It markets well-known brands such as GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the United States and beyond, with brands marketed outside of the States States, including AUTAN®, BAYGON ®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR® and MR. MUSCULAR®. The 125-year-old company, with over $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people worldwide and sells products in virtually every country in the world. www.scjohnson.com
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