Some of the most polluted stretches of our coastline are the ones nobody ever reaches. Hidden coves, rocky inlets, remote estuaries — places where plastic accumulates undisturbed for years because no one can get there on foot. That's exactly why Odyssey Innovation created the Paddle for Plastic campaign.
The Idea: Go Where Others Can't
Standard beach cleans are invaluable — but they're limited to accessible shorelines. Odyssey Innovation recognised early on that some of the worst plastic accumulation happens in places that are simply unreachable without a boat or a kayak. So we put the two together: use kayaks to access inaccessible coves, collect the plastic, and then recycle that plastic into new kayaks.
It's a genuinely circular mission. The kayaks enable the clean-up. The clean-up feeds the manufacturing. The manufacturing produces more kayaks. Round and round — in the best possible way.
What We Collect
On Paddle for Plastic clean-ups, volunteers typically recover:
- Abandoned and lost fishing nets (ghost gear)
- Rope and mooring lines
- Rigid plastic debris — buoys, containers, packaging
- Microplastic-laden seaweed and sand deposits
All recoverable plastic is fed into Odyssey Innovation's Net Regeneration Scheme and processed through our manufacturing pipeline — ultimately becoming products like our recycled marine plastic handplane and the Hönö bodyboard.
Watch the Campaign in Action
Video and Edit: Clare James | Footage: Rob Thompson, Clare James
Get Involved
Paddle for Plastic is open to anyone with a kayak, paddleboard, or canoe — and a passion for cleaner seas. Whether you're an individual, a paddling club, a school, or a corporate team looking for a meaningful CSR activity, we'd love to have you join us.
We provide guidance, collection bags, and ensure all recovered plastic is properly recycled. You provide the paddle power.
👉 Learn more about Paddle for Plastic or get in touch to join the next clean-up session.