E.P.I.C. | Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™
E.P.I.C. | Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™
LBS OF PLASTIC COLLECTED FROM CLEANUPS
The EPIC Program incorporates a four pillar hands-on approach to end plastic pollution: EDUCATION, POLICY, INFRASTRUCTURE & CLEANUP.
Ending Ocean Plastic Pollution!
As a Canadian-based, international non-profit organization, founded in 2013, we are dedicated to ending ocean plastic pollution around the world. Our mission is to develop and implement international response programs that combat this critical challenge. We combine innovative technologies, education, and skills training to transform plastic pollution into economic value. Additionally, we collaborate closely with local communities, tailoring tools to prevent further plastic pollution and protect their unique environments.
Our vision is a world where oceans thrive, free from the devastating impacts of plastic pollution. We envision a planet working together to support the plastic circular economy where everyone, and everything, benefits. We believe in the power of collective action, empowering communities and individuals to be stewards of their marine environments while supporting and developing a sense of responsibility for leaving future generations a legacy of healthy, thriving ocean ecosystems and a plastic pollution free world.
Here at Ocean Legacy Foundation we are a diverse team, driven by a deep responsibility to protect our oceans for present and future generations. Our integrated approach, called EPIC, focuses on Education & Research, Policy & Advocacy, Infrastructure Development, and Cleanup & Restoration. Through EPIC, we aim to restore critical ecosystems, improve both human and wildlife health, and establish sustainable infrastructure and policies to prevent oceanic plastic pollution at its source.
How many tons of plastics are in the ocean and how did it all get there? Why is ocean plastic a global problem? What are some facts about plastic pollution in our oceans and on our shorelines? Are we eating Microplastics? How should we deal with the recovered plastic from beach cleanups?
Ending ocean plastic pollution! Our EPIC program: Plastic Pollution Emergency Response™ consists of a 4-pillar approach to dealing with ocean plastics: Education, Policy, Infrastructure and Cleanup. Learn more about how you can get involved and help us transform, cleanup and prevent ocean plastic problems in the first place.
Giving Tuesday is today, and we are grateful for the support already received toward Ocean Legacy Foundation’s forklift fundraiser.
A second forklift will significantly strengthen our ability to safely and efficiently manage the large volumes of marine debris arriving at our recycling facility every week. This upgrade increases our processing capacity, minimizes operational bottlenecks, and ensures more ocean plastics are recovered and transformed instead of polluting the environment.
If you or your organization would like to support this essential equipment upgrade, you can contribute using the link below. Thank you for helping us build stronger systems that protect our ocean.
Donate here: donorbox.org/giving-tuesday-oceanlegacy
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Reduce Post-Holiday Waste: The Plastics-Free Christmas Challenge!
This holiday season, Ocean Legacy Foundation and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Richmond invite you to celebrate with intention. Christmas is a time for connection and generosity, but it also brings a surge of plastic waste. This challenge encourages you to rethink familiar traditions and choose practices that keep the season joyful while reducing environmental impact.
Throughout the holidays, take a moment to notice how much plastic has quietly become part of everyday celebrations, from gift wrap to décor, tableware, and stocking stuffers. The Plastics-Free Christmas Challenge offers practical ideas and sustainable alternatives to help you enjoy the season with less waste and more meaning.
Explore simple ways to make a difference: reusable gift wrapping, natural decorations, plastic-free greeting cards, thoughtful gifting, package-free shopping, and low-waste entertaining. Every small choice supports a cleaner environment and contributes to healthier oceans.
Created in collaboration with CFUW Richmond, this guide is a reminder that holiday joy and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Stay tuned throughout December as we share weekly steps and challenges to help you reduce waste and make this holiday season a little lighter on the planet!
#greenholiday #greenchristmas #zerowaste
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Reduce Post-Holiday Waste: The Plastics-Free Christmas Challenge!
This holiday season, Ocean Legacy Foundation and the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Richmond invite you to celebrate with intention. Christmas is a time for connection and generosity, but it also brings a surge of plastic waste. This challenge encourages you to rethink familiar traditions and choose practices that keep the season joyful while reducing environmental impact.
Throughout the holidays, take a moment to notice how much plastic has quietly become part of everyday celebrations, from gift wrap to décor, tableware, and stocking stuffers. The Plastics-Free Christmas Challenge offers practical ideas and sustainable alternatives to help you enjoy the season with less waste and more meaning.
Explore simple ways to make a difference: reusable gift wrapping, natural decorations, plastic-free greeting cards, thoughtful gifting, package-free shopping, and low-waste entertaining. Every small choice supports a cleaner environment and contributes to healthier oceans.
Created in collaboration with CFUW Richmond, this guide is a reminder that holiday joy and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand.
Stay tuned throughout December as we share weekly steps and challenges to help you reduce waste and make this holiday season a little lighter on the planet!
#greenholiday #greenchristmas #zerowaste
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Heli Cleanup in Quatsino Territory
Another successful remote cleanup on the rugged North West Coast of Vancouver Island!
With support from a dedicated Quatsino Guardian, two amazing volunteers from West Coast Heli, and a pilot ready for anything, we managed to sling out 8,000 lbs of debris from hard-to-reach shoreline.
Shoutout to the Fox’s Disposal truck drivers who didn’t hesitate to jump in and help load the bins, true community teamwork.
Every pound removed protects coastal ecosystems and keeps these places thriving.
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Wear the Message. Fight the Mess.
"Now that’s an ugly sweater."
This limited-edition sweatshirt uses bold design to raise awareness about ocean plastic pollution. Made for Blue Friday (not Black Friday) it’s a cozy way to take a stand against overconsumption while preparing for the holiday season!
Every purchase supports our mission to clean up marine plastic waste. Shop now and wear your impact.
Get a 15% off in ALL items in our store with the code BLUE25 starting today until Sunday November 30th!
Buy the Ugliest Sweatshirt here: oceanlegacy.shop/products/unisex-sweatshirt
#UglySweater #BlueFriday #OceanLegacy #PlasticPollution #EcoFashion #ConsciousConsumer
oceanlegacy.shop
Make a Statement This Blue Friday Ditch fast fashion and wear your values. This warm, durable sweatshirt blends festive style with a powerful message, perfect for those choosing conscious impact over ...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Another successful cleanup milestone!
Huge shout out to Nevil and his team at Quadra island beach clean dream team!, the support of Gina and Alex, Matt and J Toelle Construction and the local Read and Quadra community for making the removal of over 1,000 lbs of abandoned styrofoam dock floatation possible. The removal took place from Surge Narrows on Read Island, transporting the recovered material to the Cumberland Ocean Legacy recycling facility for proper processing.
Styrofoam pollution from aging marine infrastructure continues to threaten coastal ecosystems, breaking apart into countless micro-fragments that impact wildlife and shorelines. By moving this material into a responsible recycling stream, we’re helping protect local waters and supporting communities working hard to restore their coastlines.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in making this recovery possible and for your commitment to healthier, cleaner marine environments. Together, we’re moving harmful debris out of sensitive habitats and into circular solutions that keep plastic out of the ocean.
If you’d like to support more impact like this, visit our socials or website to learn how you can get involved or contribute to our marine debris recovery programs.
learn more at: oceanlegacy.ca
Photo credit: Gina Bo Bina Gina Hopkins and Nevil Hand
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This Giving Tuesday, we’re opening the doors to one of our biggest operational challenges. At Ocean Legacy, our entire facility depends on a single forklift to move thousands of pounds of material collected from coastal cleanups, ghost gear retrieval, and community-led efforts across British Columbia.
When that one machine is tied up or down for maintenance, our workflow slows, debris piles up, and our ability to support remote communities is delayed. A second forklift isn’t just equipment, it’s essential to keeping our mission moving safely, efficiently, and without interruption.
Your support today helps us meet the growing demand for coastal protection work and ensures our team can continue processing high volumes of marine debris with the urgency this issue requires.
If you’re able, please consider supporting our Giving Tuesday fundraiser. Every contribution brings us one step closer to securing the second forklift our operations urgently need.
Donate now: lnkd.in/gw2bEUZj
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Last week, Ocean Legacy Foundation participated in the OceanLitter Programme Training and Workshop on marine plastic litter from sea-based sources hosted by the International Maritime Organization. We joined global leaders, innovators, and practitioners committed to advancing solutions to marine pollution and ocean stewardship.
Our team showcased the practical impact of our work across British Columbia and Canada, including large-scale shoreline cleanups, material recovery through the Ocean Plastic Depot Network, and the development of Legacy Plastic, our high-quality recycled plastic made from recovered marine debris.
Events like this highlight the importance of collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society. We are proud to represent British Columbia on the global stage, share our experience building circular systems for marine plastics, and learn from partners working toward a cleaner, safer ocean.
Thank you to the organizers and all participating delegates for the meaningful conversations and momentum toward collective action.
Learn more about this workshop: www.imo.org/en/about/events/pages/oceanlitter-gtf-training-and-workshop.aspx
Learn more about our work at oceanlegacy.ca
Photo Credits: IMO and Nicole Baker 🙂
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Ocean Legacy was featured in the recent article published by IntraFish — “Endless, unlimited amounts of plastic: The people trying to fix seafood’s waste crisis” — which sheds light on the startling scale of discarded fishing gear in our oceans.
At OLF, our mission is to turn this crisis into opportunity. Through our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility, Ocean Plastic Depot Network and Legacy Plastic™ programme, we’re working with coastal communities, governments and industry players to collect, recycle and repurpose ghost gear and other marine plastic waste.
A heartfelt thank-you to our valued partners for standing with us in this work:
• Our community and industry depots across British Columbia and the Maritimes
• Indigenous stewardship groups and local governments on whose territories we operate
• Corporate partners and recyclers enabling the supply chain from “gear in” to “goods out”
• Other non-profit collaborators and education/advocacy networks helping to shift policy and behaviour
Together, we’re raising awareness of this issue — when 500,000 to 1 million tons of fishing gear enter the ocean every year, we must act.
Want to be a part of the solution?
✓ Learn more about how you can help prevent gear loss or support our recycling efforts
✓ Follow along as we turn recovered gear into products that keep plastic out of the ocean
✓ Share this post and help raise the visibility of ghost-gear as a major marine pollution problem
www.intrafish.com/sustainability/endless-unlimited-amounts-of-plastic-the-people-trying-to-fix-se...
Read article here:
#OceanLegacy #LegacyPlastic #MarineDebris #CircularEconomy #GhostGear #PlasticPollution #OceanConservation
'Endless, unlimited amounts of plastic': The people trying to fix seafood’s waste crisis
www.intrafish.com
Between 500,000 and 1 million tons of fishing gear are entering the ocean every year, while further volumes are sent to landfill, incinerated, or left to pile up in coastal communities. Why aren’t w...1 CommentsComment on Facebook
We are set up and ready for the Training and Workshop on marine plastic litter from sea-based sources hosted by the International Maritime Organization, under the OceanLitter Programme. Our Co-Founder & Executive Director Chloé Dubois will be presenting “Gear In, Goods Out: An EPIC Model Linking Fisheries to Plastic Circular Supply Chain Development”. We also have an exhibition to showcase our work!
We hope to make great connections and continue expanding our network to bring our work to many other areas!
Learn more about this event at: www.imo.org/en/about/events/pages/oceanlitter-gtf-training-and-workshop.aspx
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This Blue Friday, help us end ocean plastic pollution.
Join the Ocean Legacy Foundation in protecting our coastlines and marine ecosystems by removing and recycling harmful plastics from the ocean. We’re raising $23,000 to purchase a second forklift for our Steveston, B.C. recycling depot — a vital tool that will double our capacity to move and process marine debris.
Through our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility (PPERF) and Ocean Plastic Depot Network, we work with communities across B.C. to recover, recycle, and transform ocean plastics into Legacy Plastic™, giving waste new life and keeping it out of our waters.
Our Impact
🌊 2.5+ million kilograms of marine debris removed from shorelines to date
♻️ Canada’s largest marine plastic recycling network, with depots in B.C. and the Maritimes
🤝 Collaborating with local governments, Indigenous communities, and corporate partners to protect marine ecosystems
🏗 Turning ocean plastics into sustainable building materials to support Canada’s circular economy
Donate today on this link! donorbox.org/giving-tuesday-oceanlegacy
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A little more of an insight about the cleanup led by Greenways Land Trust, these heroes have removed about four tonnes worth of industrial tires and styrofoam what were leaking harmful contaminants to our beautiful beaches in Campbell River!
Thank you to everyone who supported in this, it inspires us to see community and collaboration in action! Hats up to Greenways and to Coast Island Marine, the At-legay Fisheries Society, Pacific Woodwaste, Menzies Transport, Way Key Excavating, CVRD Waste Management Services, the Campbell River Salmon Foundation, and DFO.
Read more about this cleanup here:
www.mycampbellrivernow.com
Eleven large industrial tires, each weighing about four tonnes, have been removed from a shoreline in Campbell River.0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Do you have plans tonight? Our dear friends from PLAEX Building Systems Inc. have participated in the Dragon's Den and it will be airing tonight!
Don't miss the opportunity to watch another great sustainable solution to plastic pollution!
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Thank you again to the The Peak - voice of the qathet region for featuring another one of our projects in their platform! We keep expanding our collection points to support as many coastal communities as we can and get our beautiful coasts free from plastic pollution and ghost gear!
Read this note here:
www.northislandgazette.com/local-news/two-marine-debris-drop-zones-in-quatsino-sound-aim-to-keep-...
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Roughly 12 million tons of plastic enter our oceans every year. Since 2021, The Ocean Legacy Foundation, in B.C., has collected 1,544 tons of plastic from oceans and shorelines.
The company takes the salvaged plastic and recycles it into durable products made from their signature Legacy Plastic. Manufacturers buy and use Legacy Plastic as construction lumber or to create products like planters, deck furniture, and picnic tables.
Read how Ocean Legacy processes its salvaged plastic into Legacy Plastic: buff.ly/e1yhzEk
#VancouverBCCanada
#RecycledPlastics
#OceanPlasticPollution
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New Partnership to Recycle Neoprene Waste!
We are excited to share that Ocean Legacy Foundation is collaborating with Surfrider Foundation Canada through their ReSurf program to collect old wetsuits through our Ocean Plastic Depots!
This pilot project marks a key step in expanding our partnerships to handle more diverse marine materials for items that often end up in landfills.
After collecting the wetsuits in our Ocean Plastic Depots, we will coordinate with ReSurf for their collection so they can be reincorporated to the circular economy!
Learn more about our work at oceanplasticdepots.ca
#OceanLegacy #surfridercanada #LegacyPlastic #marinedebris #circulareconomy #plasticrecycling #ghostgear #oceanprotection #NeopreneRecycling
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We have Reached 535 Signatures!
Thank you to everyone who has signed and shared our petition to the House of Commons, calling for stronger national action on plastic pollution in Canada. With 528 signatures gathered, we have officially met the requirement for presentation in Parliament.
We extend our sincere gratitude to MP Gord Johns for his ongoing leadership and commitment to advancing policies that address marine debris and plastic pollution across Canada.
Although we have reached the minimum requirement, every additional signature strengthens our call for a cleaner, more sustainable future. If you haven’t already, please add your name and help us make an even greater impact before submission:
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6795&fbclid=IwY2xjawNfXOxleHRuA2FlbQIx...
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We are honoured to be featured in News Break for our ongoing work tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution.
Through our cleanup, collection, and recycling programs, we have removed and processed over 1,000 tons of harmful material from the ocean and shorelines across Canada, turning marine debris into valuable resources through our Legacy Plastic™ program. This reflects the power of collaboration, innovation, and community-driven action to restore our oceans.
Link of the article in first comment!
#OceanLegacy #LegacyPlastic #oceancleanup #marinedebris #circulareconomy #sustainability #protectouroceans #plasticpollution
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Last month we had the opportunity to present our EPIC programming to the Penticton Rotary Club. We thank all of the members for their rapt attention and interest in solving the ocean plastic pollution crisis, and for Rotary's ongoing support of polio vaccination programs worldwide.
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Derelict and abandoned vessels pose serious environmental, navigational, and safety risks in our waterways. When left to deteriorate, they can leak fuel, oils, and debris into sensitive marine ecosystems, harming wildlife and local communities.
At Ocean Legacy, we recognize the importance of removing these vessels responsibly. Our skilled team is trained to manage derelict vessel removal projects safely and efficiently, from site assessment to dismantling and material recovery. We also offer private contracts for companies and industry members in need for removal services.
Through carefully designed procurement practices, we ensure that every component retrieved is handled using the best end-of-life processes available, prioritizing affordability, safety, and sustainability every step of the way.
Together, we can restore our coasts and protect our shared marine environment for generations to come.
#derelictvessels #MarineServices #OceanRestoration #circulareconomy #LegacyPlastic #oceanlegacyfoundation
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Every cleanup tells a story of impact!
Through our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility (PPERF) and Ocean Plastic Depot Network, we keep working with communities across British Columbia to recover and recycle marine debris, from ghost gear to styrofoam, tires, and other types of harmful materials.
Each item collected is carefully sorted, and eligible materials are processed, and transformed into Legacy Plastic™, giving new life to materials that once threatened our marine ecosystems.
Thank you to our partners, volunteers, and community depots who make these efforts possible. Together, we continue with our mission to restore coastal environments and advancing a circular economy for plastics in Canada.
Donate today to help us continue with our operations!
#oceanlegacyfoundation #LegacyPlastic #marinedebris #circulareconomy #cleanupbc #plasticrecycling #oceanconservation
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Only 64 more signatures needed!
If you want to support people across Canada working hard to make marine ecosystems a safer place, cleaner place, please sign this petition to keep funding the removal and processing of ghost gear.
Your voice matters, please join this movement:
www.ourcommons.ca
There is no obligation on the part of the House of Commons or any Member of Parliament to authorize the publication of an e-petition or to present an e-petition or a paper petition to the House of Com...0 CommentsComment on Facebook
This past week, we were proud to support Surfrider Vancouver during their remote cleanup in Howe Sound by providing super sacks and recycling all of the debris collected through our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response Facility.
Collaborations like these help make large-scale marine debris removal possible, ensuring that the materials recovered from our coastlines are responsibly managed and given a second life through recycling.
A huge thank you to the Surfrider Vancouver team and all volunteers who dedicated their time to protecting these incredible coastal ecosystems.
Together, we’re turning cleanup efforts into real circular solutions.
#OceanLegacyFoundation #LegacyPlastic #MarineDebris #HoweSoundCleanup #PlasticPollutionSolutions #CollaborationForTheOcean #CircularEconomy
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We are always happy to to support partners like the Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (@wcmrc) in their ongoing commitment to ocean protection. While their teams regularly respond to oil spills, they also dedicate their downtime to marine debris cleanups to keep their skills sharp and our coastlines clean.
During a recent cleanup in Clayoquot Sound, organized in collaboration with BC Marine Trails, WCMRC used a skiff lent from Ocean Legacy’s facility in Steveston to access remote areas. With the help of their 52’ Munson landing craft and a sling shot to get the messenger line ashore, the team collected 200 kg of debris in just one day.
The recovered materials were brought to the Ocean Legacy Depot at the Tofino Landfill, where they will be sent to our recycling facility on the mainland to be transformed into new resources.
We’re grateful to collaborate with partners like WCMRC who take action to protect our shared waters.\
Video credit: Aram Evans
#OceanLegacy #MarineCleanup #WCMRC #ClayoquotSound #BCMarineTrails #LegacyPlastic #CoastalStewardship #CircularEconomy #PlasticPollution
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We are so happy to announce that our OH&S Manager and Field Specialist Ashley Tapp will be a panelist for "Shifting Recreational Culture: Tourism-Led Stewardship in BC's Marine Area's & Wilderness" during the 2025 Vancouver Island Stewardship Summit tomorrow!
Ashley has been a key person in our operations for the past few yers and has helped with very impactful campaigns such as #LiveTheWildPledge to involve Vancouver Island's community in cleanup through tourism. Other panelists include: Sam Cutcliffe from Marine Trails, and Michelle Brown from the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association (NIMSA).
If you would like to participate, you can still get your tickets for this event here: www.4vigroup.com/stewardship-summit
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It is with deep sorrow that we find the news of the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall. Dr. Goodall’s life was a testament to courage, curiosity, and compassion. She spent decades advocating for our planet and inspiring generations through her message of interconnection, responsibility, and hope.
Today, we want to take a moment to honor her legacy that will forever remain, her relentless drive to protect life, and to believe that one person can make a difference.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, and the many people around the world whose lives she touched. May her legacy continue to live in our actions and inspire future stewards of Earth.
Rest in power, Dr. Goodall. Your work lives on in all of the minds and souls that you have inspired.
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On September 30, we pause to honour the children who never returned home from residential schools, the survivors who carry this truth, and the families and communities forever impacted.
As we reflect on the ongoing impacts of colonization, we recognize that reconciliation is not a single day, but a continuous process that requires learning, listening, and action.
Our work to restore ecosystems and protect the ocean takes place on lands and waters that have been stewarded by Indigenous peoples since time immemorial. We are grateful for this stewardship and recognize the need to uphold Indigenous voices, rights, and leadership in all conversations about protecting the environment.
We encourage our community and allies to take part in local events, listen to survivors, and commit to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. True reconciliation requires more than reflection, it requires ongoing responsibility, solidarity, and change.
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New Podcast Feature! Our Co-Founder, Chloé Dubois, recently joined SEE Change Magazine to talk about the urgent fight against ocean plastic pollution and how Ocean Legacy is working to turn the tide. From global cleanups to recycling marine debris into new products, Chloé shares the vision behind building a circular economy for plastics and why collective action is essential for our oceans.
Tune in to hear how Ocean Legacy is:
Restoring coastlines through cleanup efforts
Transforming recovered plastics into new resources
Driving education, advocacy, and systemic solutions
Be inspired, listen in, and share the conversation with your community. Together, we can create lasting change for our oceans.
Listen now:
Combatting Ocean Plastic Pollution: Chloé Dubois of Ocean Legacy - SEE Change Magazine
www.seechangemagazine.com
How one organization is using innovative methods to create a circular economy for marine plastic waste0 CommentsComment on Facebook
