Our commitment to ocean conservation is at the heart of everything we do at SARAH & SEBASTIAN and this year we’ve set an ambitious mission for our team: to collect 10,000 pieces of rubbish from Australia’s beaches and waterways by June 2025. Part of our philanthropic Xanthe Project, this initiative reflects our unwavering dedication to safeguarding our oceans and marine life from the devastating impact of excessive waste, particularly plastic.

A PURPOSE-DRIVEN MOVEMENT

Since December 2024, the SARAH & SEBASTIAN team have collected 1,508 pieces of rubbish from gutters, creeks, and remote beaches around Australia. These small human actions have a profound impact by preventing waste from reaching the ocean, which can endanger marine ecosystems.

The challenge is simple: whenever we find ourselves near a waterway, beach, park creek, or even a street gutter (which, sadly, often leads to the ocean), pause and #Take3ForTheSea. This inspiring movement was created by Take 3 for the Sea, one of our Xanthe Project Partners, who have pioneered the idea that small, intentional actions can lead to significant change. Motivated by their mission to reduce plastic pollution, we launched this challenge within SARAH & SEBASTIAN to amplify their efforts.

“The other day, I spent about 30 minutes on my bike ride to work pulling rubbish out of the stormwater drains and gutters. And I am so glad I did. I was only able to collect rubbish on one side of the road and about 1/3 of my route. I believe we can make a lot of impact tackling the street gutters before all the rubbish reaches our beaches.”

A FEW SURPRISING FINDS

Among the hundreds of pieces collected so far, a number have stood out for their unusual nature. Here are just a few of the memorable items discovered:

- A plastic axe handle from Halloween
- A lipstick
- Two fishing bait bags
- An old DVD
- A silver necklace, bracelet, and fork
- A felt-tip pen
- A Scrabble tile
- Swimwear
-Gloves

While these items may seem trivial, their removal prevents further harm to wildlife and ecosystems. Every piece, no matter how small, makes a difference.

“I collected from the Royal National Park over the weekend, it was crazy how much rubbish there was even on such remote beaches. It’s so sad to think all of this was on its way to our oceans.”

JOIN US ON OUR MISSION

We officially kicked off our efforts at the beginning of Australia’s summer season and are building momentum toward our annual cleanup event on 28th February 2025, which coincides with Clean Up Australia Day. This event is a cornerstone of our mission, but the journey doesn’t stop there.

We invite you, our community to join us in making an impact. Simply collect three or more pieces of rubbish each time you visit a beach, waterway, or even urban areas where waste can find its way to the ocean.

“I managed to collect 30 pieces of rubbish at the beach this morning with the help of my little assistant (my 5-year-old, Tate)... It's going to be our mission every time we're by the ocean.”