The partnership with Amcor was established in 2001. The collaboration focuses on marine debris, a global problem about which not enough is known. Amcor saw an opportunity to contribute to increasing the data available to help understand what drives this complex issue. Earthwatch worked with scientists to create a bespoke program for Amcor staff, where they spend two weeks volunteering and contributing to marine debris research in various hotspots around the world.  

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Participants note that the expedition has changed their lives personally and professionally over the last 20 years. Amcor has made bold commitments to improve its packaging’s sustainability and the knowledge that staff bring back to the company from their Earthwatch experience is invaluable. Post expedition employee driven action plans feed into Amcor’s environmental program, strengthening its commitment to be a global leader in the packaging industry.  

“Over 22 years of partnership with Earthwatch has given us valuable insights into the global problem of marine debris. Our collaboration has enabled us to understand firsthand where this debris comes from and what we can do to solve this problem in places across the globe, from Indonesia to Australia, and South Africa to South America. We’re proud to be a partner of Earthwatch and look forward to continuing our partnership to make the environment better off.”

David Clark, Vice President, Sustainability at Amcor. 

“After attending Earthwatch and seeing firsthand the impact plastic waste is having on marine life and the environment, I am proud to work for a plastics company that is willing to address this issue. I came away from the experience feeling that it is part of my job to make sure that we are creating packaging responsibly in our community.”

Brooke Higgenbotham, Quality Lead, Amcor Rigid Plastics, Ames, IA, USA. 

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Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home and personal-care, and other solutions. In January, Amcor announced a further increase in its sustainability efforts by committing to science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment has been recognized by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and builds on the success of Amcor’s EnviroAction program. Since the program started in 2008, Amcor has already reduced GHG emissions intensity by 35% and is on track to deliver a cumulative 60% reduction by 2030.