While the ocean covers 71% of our planet's surface, it remains largely underestimated in ecological transition policies. Yet, both in France and around the world, awareness of the need to preserve the ocean is rapidly growing.
Vital to life on Earth, the ocean produces a significant portion of the oxygen we breathe, regulates the climate, and absorbs a large share of human-induced CO₂ emissions.
In 2025, the ocean is back at the forefront of global priorities, thanks to several major milestones. The “Year of the Ocean 2025,” now officially launched, features events across France to engage civil society. On March 30–31, Paris hosted SOS Ocean, an international gathering of scientists, NGOs, and policymakers. From June 9 to 13, the city of Nice will host the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3), co-organized by France and Costa Rica.
During SOS Ocean, the President of the Republic unveiled eight key priorities for France’s Ocean protection strategy. These commitments concern us all—especially businesses, whose impact and capacity for action are crucial in this transformation.
Among the announced measures: protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 (with 12–15% protected by 2025), ending plastic pollution, promoting sustainable fishing, decarbonizing maritime transport, supporting vulnerable coastal areas, financing a sustainable blue economy, ratifying the High Seas Treaty, and investing in science and research to ground action in reliable data.
In this article, we’ll focus on five concrete actions that businesses can start implementing today.
For more information on where mangroves sit, please read our article.
Each year, 460 million tonnes of plastic waste are produced, polluting both land and marine environments, with a significant portion eventually ending up in the ocean. In fact, 15 tonnes of plastic—the equivalent of a truckload—are dumped into the ocean every minute, where plastic debris accounts for 85% of all marine pollutants.
Today, 81% of plastic products worldwide become waste in less than a year. Only 9% are recycled, 20% are incinerated, around 50% end up in landfills, and over 20% are left in nature.
It is therefore urgent for businesses to take action. They can start by replacing single-use plastics with sustainable alternatives, such as biodegradable or compostable materials like recycled paper, plant-based bioplastics, bamboo, or cardboard. These materials break down more easily in the environment and do not contribute to the accumulation of plastic in the ocean.
Companies can also promote reusable products, encouraging the use of refillable water bottles, fabric tote bags, lunch boxes, or stainless steel straws to reduce single-use consumption.
Finally, businesses can contribute by purchasing or generating plastic credits. Similar to carbon credits, plastic credits are a market-based mechanism designed to incentivize and track the reduction and removal of plastic waste from the environment. One credit corresponds to one tonne of plastic either collected or recycled, depending on the credit type. There are two types of certified plastic credits: Waste Collection Credits (WCC), which certify the verified collection of one tonne of plastic waste, and Waste Recycling Credits (WRC), which certify the verified recycling of one tonne of plastic.
According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipping represents nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In line with the goal of decarbonizing the maritime sector, the maritime decarbonization roadmap responds to Article 301 of Law No. 2021-1104 of August 22, 2021, and serves as the guiding framework for stakeholders in the maritime industry to decarbonize their activities. This includes actions such as the development of zero-emission vessels, implementing energy efficiency measures on the existing fleet, producing and distributing decarbonized energy for maritime use, and the decarbonization of ports, transforming them into energy hubs.
A science-based approach to measuring and reducing environmental impact—through the establishment of short- and long-term targets—is essential for companies to implement. This reduction can be achieved by acting directly on their value chain. First, by limiting the exploitation of marine species and the destruction of marine ecosystems through the adoption of vegan or natural alternatives—for example, launching cosmetics lines free from fish oils, as done by Typology, or offering reef-safe sunscreens like those from La Rosée, which avoid harmful substances such as oxybenzone or octinoxate. Second, by prioritizing suppliers committed to sustainable trade and fishing practices, certified by trusted labels such as FSC, Fair Trade, Ecocert, or ISO 14001. Third, by minimizing the logistics footprint, either by opting for lower-emission transport modes such as the WindCoop sailing cargo ship, or by improving route planning and load optimization.
For more on Blue Carbon policy and conservation initiatives, please read our article.
In parallel with these efforts, companies can also act beyond their value chain by supporting carbon projects—specifically, blue carbon initiatives. Carbon contribution serves as an additional lever for action, and backing blue carbon projects can prove particularly effective in preserving the ocean. See a walkthrough of various mangrove projects we have recently visited in Mexico here.
The ocean absorbs nearly 30% of the CO₂ emitted by human activities, making it one of the planet’s most powerful carbon sinks. However, global warming and increasing emissions are heating and acidifying the ocean—by 30% over the past 250 years—making it less capable of absorbing CO₂. This acidification weakens marine ecosystems, with direct consequences for biodiversity and coastal communities. Restoring this natural carbon sink is therefore crucial. That is precisely the goal of mangrove and seagrass meadow restoration projects, which can store up to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests.
Mangroves play a vital role: they trap carbon in their roots and soil, protect coastlines from storms, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for many marine species. Their restoration often depends on the involvement of local communities. ClimateSeed supports the first certified blue carbon project in Mexico, preserving 700 hectares of mangroves and contributing both to biodiversity conservation and the local economy. For more information on the relationship between Blue Carbon and the SDGs, please read our article.
Seagrass meadows, for their part, trap carbon in the sediments they stabilize, while improving water quality and supporting a wide array of species. Their restoration boosts biodiversity, enhances carbon sequestration, and strengthens marine ecosystem health.
In the northern Venetian lagoon, another ClimateSeed project combines traditional aquaculture with the management of brackish water (a mix of fresh and saltwater) to stimulate algal growth, reduce oxygen depletion (anoxia), and enhance CO₂ absorption.
A company can also choose to place biodiversity—specifically marine biodiversity—at the core of its contribution strategy.
While more and more carbon projects are adopting a “beyond carbon” approach, highlighting additional benefits such as biodiversity gains, other mechanisms go even further by making biodiversity the primary focus of their action. This is precisely the aim of biodiversity credits. Designed to preserve, restore, and enhance the diversity of species and ecosystems, these credits finance projects whose main objective is the protection, restoration, or improvement of natural habitats.
Unlike standard carbon credits that may generate biodiversity as a co-benefit, biodiversity credits aim to quantify direct ecological outcomes—such as the number of species protected, area restored, or improved habitat connectivity—providing a clearer view of the project’s true impact on nature. Functioning on a similar model to carbon credits, biodiversity credits are still emerging and not yet widely adopted.
In the context of marine biodiversity, efforts are underway to develop credit models specifically for coral reef restoration. Coral reefs, which host 25% of marine biodiversity, are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. Their protection and restoration require tailored approaches, inspired by carbon project frameworks but adapted to the specificities of marine ecosystems.
Finally, for an environmental commitment made by a company to truly bring about change, it must be integrated at all levels of the organization, especially on the ground.
In addition to strategic transformations, local action and the mobilization of employees play a crucial role. Organizing awareness campaigns on ocean preservation, offering educational workshops, or even supporting waste collection efforts in partnership with committed organizations like Surf Rider Foundation or Clean My Calanques helps to build a shared culture and strengthen the connection between teams and environmental issues.
Integrating ocean preservation into sponsorship or CSR policies not only supports on-the-ground actors already engaged in these efforts but also gives meaning to the company’s commitments, enabling a more systemic approach. This also requires evolving relationships with stakeholders: involving clients, suppliers, and partners in a collective transition strategy. Finally, communicating transparently about these actions highlights the company's commitment while engaging its entire ecosystem in a collective, positive dynamic.
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