Today, we are excited to celebrate World Ocean Day and take action to protect the ocean. A United Nations initiative, this day is celebrated by millions of people from around the world to take action against ocean and climate change. This year is estimated to be the most impactful celebration yet - and we couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.

If you’ve followed our journey so far, you know our team is committed to making the planet a better place - and the ocean is something we have been passionate about. Our past collections, By the Sea and Polar Pals were dedicated to our animal friends that depend on the ocean as their home and food source. For the two collections, we partnered with the Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to finding science-based solutions to protect the ocean.

World Ocean Day 

World Ocean Day was first recognized by the United Nations in 2002. Since then, people from over 150 countries have joined - from schools to businesses to local communities. This year, because it is estimated to be the biggest event yet, is a huge call for our world to put the ocean first by protecting and restoring it. 

Quick Facts About the Ocean for Kids

Little ones are so curious and what better way to get them involved on World Ocean Day than by sharing some fun facts. Here are some about the ocean you share with your little ones:

• Our ocean covers over 70 percent of the planet
• Over 40 percent of the ocean has been affected by humans through pollution and overfishing 
• The ocean is home to over 200,000 known species
• The ocean absorbs 30 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide 
• There are currently 7 of 14 whale species that are endanger today
• Over 12 million tonnes of plastic makes its way into the ocean annually
• Marine life is affected by plastic pollution because they ingest it (eat it), suffocate from it, or become entangled in it

Want to make an activity from this? Create a sensory bin with them to explore marine life and do a sea animal rescue! Simply fill a container with some sand, rocks, and some blue jello with marine animals.

How Nest Designs is Tackling Plastic Pollution

At Nest Designs, we strive to reduce our carbon footprint by re-thinking about the way we use plastic. From the fabrics we choose right down to our EcoPure® packaging, we aim to make products that feel good on your baby’s skin and are better for the planet - and the ocean.

As a global community, the packaging sector generates 36% of all plastic produced - 85% of it in landfills - and eventually into our ocean. At Nest Designs, we have looked at other ways to reduce our plastic packaging. Plastic packaging is a necessity in order for us to keep our products safe and hygienic for you and your family. That’s why we chose to use EcoPure®, which makes our packaging biodegradable - even in the landfills. Most plastic packaging which claims to be biodegradable requires a certain temperature to break down. However, EcoPure® has been tested and shown to be able to break down within the landfill environment. 

For customers that visit our in-person showroom shopping or one of our pop-ups, we use paper bags to be more eco-conscious. 

In the fashion industry, microplastics come from the production and processing of synthetic fibres. Sixty percent of all materials used are made from plastic. Our team aims to choose fabrics that are better for the planet. That’s why you’ll find fabrics like bamboo, GOTS certified organic cotton, and TENCEL in our collection. Find out more about the fabrics we use here.

When they get washed, microplastics are released into wastewater and the oceans - affecting marine life. Every year, doing your laundry causes more than 500,000 tonnes of microplastics to be released into the ocean - that’s equal to 3 billion shirts made from polyester. Want to know a quick tip that could help reduce the microplastics released from doing your laundry? Wash your clothes by using cold water. 

Ocean Wise Charity Partnership 

This month, in honour of World Ocean Day, we've partnered with Ocean Wise, a local non profit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring our ocean. They work globally and have programs to address climate change, tackle plastic pollution, protect marine life against overfishing, and ensure our whales’ health and safety. Ocean Wise has hosted over 27,800 shore cleanups - that’s over 44,262 km cleaned!

In June, we will be donating a portion of our sales to Ocean Wise. Because we believe that together, we can make a difference for our planet and the ocean. 

Join Us & Make a Difference

At Nest Designs, we are committed to taking care of our planet beyond World Ocean Day. It’s important to us because we want to create a future where our little ones can thrive.

Will you join us?