Cornwall has some of the most beautiful coastline in the UK — and some of the most plastic-polluted. Its position in the South West means it catches a disproportionate amount of marine debris carried in by Atlantic currents, including fishing gear, packaging, and microplastics from across the ocean. Tackling it requires boots on the ground, hands in the sand, and a plan for what happens to the plastic once it's collected.
That's why Odyssey Innovation partnered with Beach Guardian — one of Cornwall's most active and respected beach clean organisations — to combine our collection expertise with their community network and local knowledge.
Watch: Tackling Beach Plastic in Cornwall
Why Cornwall?
Cornwall's beaches act as a natural trap for ocean plastic. Coves, rock pools, and remote stretches of coastline accumulate debris that standard clean-up efforts can't always reach. Through our Paddle for Plastic campaign, we use kayaks to access these inaccessible spots — and through our partnership with Beach Guardian, we mobilise volunteers across the county for regular organised cleans.
What Happens to the Plastic?
Unlike many beach clean initiatives where collected plastic ends up in landfill, Odyssey Innovation ensures recovered material is fed directly into our Net Regeneration Scheme and manufacturing pipeline. That plastic becomes the raw material for products like our recycled marine plastic handplane — closing the loop from beach to product and back again.
👉 Want to get involved in a Cornwall beach clean? Get in touch or visit Beach Guardian to find your nearest event.