RPC named as first official corporate partner of UOCEAN® 2050

• International law firm joins forces with 'inspirational' global ocean conservation charity to help clean up Britain's waterways
• Marine pollution initiative launched by The Vayyu Foundation's UOCEAN® 2050 project in the UK.

International law firm RPC has become the first company awarded official partnership status with UOCEAN® 2050, an environmental mission led by UK-based conservation charity The Vayyu Foundation.

UOCEAN® 2050 launched two years ago as an initial ambitious, awareness-raising campaign to remove #1BILLIONKILOS of marine pollution by 2030, as part of a wider mission to restore the world's oceans by 2050 through organised clean-ups, restoration, education, legislation and circular economy initiatives.

Chris Desai, the founder of internationally-recognised fashion House ‘Vayyu’ and Global Director of The Vayyu Foundation, came up with the project after learning more about the environmental impact of unsustainable practices in retail from microplastics, water pollution and unsustainable consumer behaviours.

Thanks to UOCEAN® 2050 millions of pieces of plastic pollution in Britain's waterways have been collected and removed, with around 78% of the waste going on to be recycled or repurposed whilst furthering this initiative by constructing plastic catching barriers across the UK’s 155 estuaries. 

In recent months, RPC has funded multiple clean-up days in London and Bristol, with staff, summer scheme students and apprentices so far collecting 35 kilos of plastic waste and soon to expand internationally with their Hong Kong and Singapore offices supporting the mission further.

Ben Mark, a Partner in RPC's Retail & Consumer group, said: "We are delighted and very proud to be named as UOCEAN® 2050 first official partner and to have our people volunteering their time for such a worthy cause – to be a part of the solution to plastic waste pollution.

"At RPC we strive to show our commitment to corporate social responsibility with actions, not just words.

"We applaud The Vayyu Foundation and to UOCEAN® 2050 for their inspirational work on clearing our UK seas of plastic."

Chris Desai, The Director of The Vayyu Foundation, said: "Engaging their management and future younger lawyers together in this environmental cause speaks volumes about RPC's business ethos and sense of corporate social responsibility.

"The act of stopping plastic waste and financially sponsoring initiatives like UOCEAN® 2050 sends a clear message to wider society that the environment and people must come first."