The Year Of The Ocean: A Sea Change in 2025

The ocean is Earth's life force, covering over 70% of the planet. It regulates the climate, produces more than half of our oxygen, and supports rich biodiversity vital to the health of all ecosystems. A healthy ocean is essential for a healthy planet.

David Attenborough’s latest documentary, Ocean, released just after he celebrated his 99th birthday, is now screening in cinemas across the UK and has been called his most important work to date. It highlights the crisis facing our oceans in the mainstream with compelling clarity. The film identifies plastic pollution and overfishing as the two biggest threats to our seas, but it’s also a film of hope, highlighting how quickly nature can recover when given the chance. Attenborough explains that in regions where the ocean is protected from destructive practices like bottom trawling (such as around the Channel Islands), the recovery has been more than ever anticipated.

2025 marks a powerful turning point in the fight to save our seas, with even more activists and organisations using their voice to fight for real change.

On the ground and at sea, organisations are matching that hope with action. The United Nations’ Clean Seas campaign continues to be a global force, calling on governments, businesses, and individuals to drastically reduce marine plastic pollution. Since its launch, it has helped influence policy changes, such as the EU-wide ban on certain single-use plastics, and encouraged countries to commit to long-term reduction targets. This is significant progress and certainly a step forward; however, more action is required to ensure healthier oceans for future generations.

We’ve also got two big awareness events coming up that are great opportunities to raise the profile of ocean protection, World Oceans Day on June 8th and Plastic Free July. While we believe it should be Ocean Day every day, these events are a great way to spread the word, start conversations, and help introduce more people to the movement.

So what can you do?

There are lots of simple but powerful ways to be part of the movement to protect our oceans:

Eliminate plastic in your daily life, especially single-use items

Upcycle or reuse where you can, give items a second life to avoid them ending up in landfills

Join a local grassroots group, like Surfers Against Sewage, to take part in beach cleans, campaigns, and community events. Being connected to our local community is often one of the most impactful ways you can inspire change.

Advocate for change by promoting stronger environmental protections, signing petitions, and writing to your local councils and MP to support policy changes that protect our seas and marine life

Say No To Consumerism by being mindful of what you buy. Consider whether an item is truly needed before hitting the add to cart button. Reducing excess consumption helps lessen the strain on our oceans and the planet as a whole.

Make conscious buying choices by supporting ethical brands that are truly committed to sustainability. Make sure to look for a brand's accreditations and dig a little deeper into their values to avoid being greenwashed

Support policies to end bottom trawling by backing organisations such as Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, and the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, who are campaigning to ban harmful fishing practices and establish more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Opt for plant-based alternatives to seafood, which avoid harming marine life but are also delicious, sustainable, and increasingly diverse. There are tons of amazing options that mimic the taste and texture of fish, all without the environmental impact!

At Friendly Soap, this mission has been at the heart of what we do since we began in 2008. That’s why all our soap bars are handmade with natural ingredients and are plastic-free, palm oil-free, vegan, and packaged in biodegradable, recycled card. We believe that small, sustainable choices, when made by many, can create lasting change. Our goal has always been to make it simple for people to choose the sustainable skincare, haircare and homecare products that are good for both you and our oceans.

As David Attenborough says in Ocean, "If we save our seas, we save our world."