Challenge

Common Seas is a social enterprise tackling the plastic pollution crisis by driving new policy, investing in the circular economy, and catalysing a cultural shift in how we make, use, and dispose of plastic.

In an effort to drive awareness of plastic pollution’s pervasive presence, Common Seas commissioned a study, led by scientists at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, to test for plastic particles in the human blood stream. This was the first study of its kind. Its results revealed that the blood of 77% of people tested contained plastic particles. The polymers found are used in a wide range of everyday products such as plastic water bottles and plastic carrier bags.

Following these findings, Common Seas called on the UK Government to form a new £15 million National Plastic Health Impact Research Fund.

Solution

Higginson raised the profile of the Blood Type Plastic study by securing an exclusive in-depth feature in The Guardian, both in print and online. The influence of global press coverage was leveraged to increase public awareness and urge the UK government to form the Research Fund. The Fund will be used to finance urgent research to understand how the particles in human blood and the ever-increasing exposure to plastic in day-to-day life are affecting human health.

Outcome

Higginson secured over 450 pieces of coverage worldwide, with a combined online readership of more than six billion people. Highlights include The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph, USA Today, TF1, and Bloomberg.

Following this coverage, more than 60,000 people signed Common Seas’ online petition to demand more research into the human health impacts of plastic and the harms that it may be causing.