UmigoMe ー Cleaning the Ocean, Changing Me
Overview (EN) / English Summary
Is Marine Litter Really Unrelated to Our Everyday Lives? Or is it?
No matter how much we pick up, marine litter never seems to decrease.
It is estimated that around 80% of marine litter originates on land, with plastic waste and other trash carried by rivers into the ocean.
"UmigoMe" is a project that visualizes the feelings behind the litter we encounter in our everyday lives, encouraging us to reflect on the social issues that contribute to marine litter.
“By 2050, there could be more plastic waste than fish in the ocean.”
One of the most serious environmental issues facing our oceans today is plastic waste. Because plastic is lightweight, it is easily carried away by the wind, and it takes hundreds of years to break down.
So where does the litter found in our rivers, beaches, and oceans actually come from?
It is estimated that more than 80% of marine litter originates on land. Trash discarded in our towns and cities is washed away by rainwater, flows through rivers, and eventually reaches the sea.
In other words, the problem of marine litter begins with the problem of litter on our streets.
As we investigated litter found in everyday places, we discovered that it often reflects 15 different feelings that unintentionally lead people to litter (see the illustration on the right). We turned these unconscious emotions and behaviors into unique characters called "UmigoMe.”
UmigoME
【 ▶︎click! 】Learn more UmigoMe
Workshop process
Spread to society
【 ▶︎click! 】Everyone's UmigoMe
We are looking for companies, organizations, and individuals to support this project, which encourages people to care about marine litter and take action to prevent it.
We would be delighted to hear from you!
