Kian Egan and Colin Murphy join Coca‑Cola Ireland in the Big Beach Clean!
Read up on the Big Beach Clean – our way of helping to ensure Ireland's shorelines stay tidy.
Hundreds of Coca‑Cola Ireland, Centra employees and celebrities, such as Kian Egan, took to Ireland’s beaches for the 2018 Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean.
Coca‑Cola and Centra helped the Clean Coasts programme rally local communities to play their part in 2018's Big Beach Clean.
Record-breaking June
The initiative followed a record-breaking Coca‑Cola Clean Coasts Week in the summer of 2018, which saw more than 23 tonnes of litter collected from Ireland’s beaches.
Coca‑Cola undertook an ambitious volunteering initiative, with hundreds of employees across the country taking part in the Big Beach Clean in September.
Backed by International Ocean Conservancy
The Big Beach Clean initiative is organised and run by An Taisce’s Clean Coast programme and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful both north and south of the border. Now in its tenth year in Ireland, it has the backing of the International Ocean Conservancy, making it a part of the world’s largest coastal clean-up event and marine litter survey.
Coastal champions
More than 300 Coca‑Cola Ireland staff were involved in the Big Beach Clean. The goal? To try and our beaches of litter.
There was also three flagship events for Enniscrone, Co. Sligo, Banna Beach, Co Kerry, and Portavogie, Co. Down. They were led by Big Beach Clean coastal champions musician Kian Egan, comedian Colin Murphy and social influencer Anouska.
‘Thrilled to be involved’
Speaking about the Big Beach Clean, musician, TV presenter and avid surfer Kian Egan said: “Together with Coca‑Cola Ireland, An Taisce and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, I’m thrilled to be continuing the work of the Clean Coasts programme.
“We’re highlighting the importance of communities coming together to protect our beautiful island’s coastlines.
“Volunteers always have and will always play the most important role in protecting our coastline and I’m very proud to have lead the charge, with hundreds of Coca‑Cola employees who took to beaches to inspire us all to think about how we can protect and celebrate our beautiful Irish coastline.”
A World Without Waste
The Coca‑Cola Company believes in a world without waste. Petre Sandru, County Manager Coca‑Cola Ireland, says it best: "Through our involvement in the Big Beach Clean, we want to mobilise the power of our employees by leading the charge in cleaning up our beaches, and inspiring others to do the same.”
Partnering with Centra
Coca‑Cola partnered with Centra stores based in the heart of coastal communities to encourage their shoppers to take part in the Big Beach Clean. In 2018, there was 65 Centra stores across the Republic of Ireland promoting the Big Beach Clean, giving those who registered the option of picking up their beach clean kit from their local store.
Martin Kelleher, Managing Director Centra says that Centra is at the heart of coastal communities across Ireland. “Centra retailers are passionate about building vibrant and sustainable communities. We are delighted to promote such as wonderful initiative which contributes to preserving and protecting our coastline.”
Get involved!
The mass-volunteering effort by Coca‑Cola and Centra aims to inspire and encourage other groups across the country to follow suit and register for their own clean ups over the weekend. So get involved!
Information on key events for the Republic of Ireland can be found at www.cleancoasts.org
Information on key events for Northern Ireland can be found at www.liveherelovehere.org