CIRFOOD Netherlands joins 4Ocean and officially becomes Plastic Neutral Partner
TOGETHER FOR CLEANER OCEANS
CIRFOOD Netherlands is proud to announce its partnership with 4Ocean today, on World Earth Day. 4Ocean is an international organization dedicated to cleaning up plastic from oceans, rivers and coastlines. CIRFOOD and sister company Belgocatering have committed to making a lasting impact on ocean health and the environment through 4Ocean's Plastic Neutral partner program. Although 80% of our plastic is recycled, through the Plastic Neutral partnership with 4Ocean, we will directly fund cleanups to offset the 20% of plastic that cannot be recycled.
Through this partnership, CIRFOOD will ensure that at least 50,000 pounds of plastic waste is removed from the ocean and environment each year. With this, CIRFOOD is officially a Plastic Neutral Partner.
Plastic Neutrality: Taking responsibility
About 40 million metric tons of plastic waste is produced each year, according to the UN Environmental Programme, much of which ends up polluting the environment—particularly through packaging and single-use plastics.
“At all our locations, we already collect plastic bottles in collaboration with Statiegeld Nederland,” explains Stefano Teatini, CEO of CIRFOOD Netherlands and Belgocatering. “But we also know we can’t catch everything just yet. CIRFOOD Netherlands wants to take responsibility for the plastic impact we currently still have. That’s why we’re compensating for the plastic we’re not yet able to collect by funding the removal of an equivalent amount from oceans and rivers.”
Since 2017, 4ocean has removed over 42 million pounds of plastic and other debris from the natural environment. With professional crews of captains, fishers, and local cleanup teams, 4Ocean operates daily cleanup efforts in the Carribbean. "Plastic neutrality is not our end goal—it’s a necessary stepping stone,” adds Teatini. “We want to continue improving while already making a concrete impact. This partnership shows that sustainability goes beyond strategy—it's about taking real action.”
It's about taking real action
4ocean bracelets: Involving Our Guests in the Mission
To support this mission, 4ocean bracelets will soon be available at selected CIRFOOD locations. These bracelets are made from plastic waste recovered directly from the ocean. For every bracelet purchased, 5 pounds of plastic are removed from the water. This initiative allows guests to actively support cleaner oceans and wear a tangible symbol of their contribution to a better planet.
