Award for environmentalist cleaning up Sutherland's beaches
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A Durness based environmentalist who co-founded a groundbreaking ocean plastics recycling enterprise, has won a major UK Government backed award.
Dr Joan D’Arcy of Plastic@ Bay has scooped a Woman In Innovation Award 2021, which carries with it a £50,000 grant and bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support to help her achieve her goals.
She is one of just three recipients in Scotland and 40 overall of the Innovate UK awards which recognise female entrepreneurs across the UK who are making a significant contribution to pressing societal, environmental or economic challenges.
Dr D’Arcy said it was “amazing news” and she was “delighted and honoured”.
The cash injection will allow Plastic@Bay to develop a new recycling initiative that will provide local employment and training opportunities for young people.
The award winners were announced by UK Government Science Minister Amanda Solloway on Monday March, 8 - International Women’s Day - which celebrates the achievements of women across the globe.
Ms Solloway said: “I’m delighted we are supporting 40 of our most trailblazing female entrepreneurs, helping them to turn their innovative ideas and aspirations into a reality, creating the products and services that will help improve all our lives, while powering up the UK’s economic recovery.”
A native of Ireland Joan, who has a Maters degree from Leeds University and a PhD in Geochemistry from Copenhagen University, launched a beach cleaning organisation in north west Sutherland in 2017.
She quickly found that a huge amount of the plastic that was being washed up on the coastline was fishing nets and ropes and, because there was no recycling facility in the UK able to process it, the majority was being sent to landfill.
“We remove between five and ten tonnes of plastic annually from our local beaches and 90 per cent of this is from industrial activities at sea, such as fishing, aquaculture and shipping. This motivated us to research ways to recycle ocean plastic.” she said.
In 2018 she and partner Dr Julien Moreau received funding from SSE Highland Sustainable Development Fund to open a small ocean plastic recycling workshop in Durness to deal with the problem locally.
Further funding has been received from Fisheries Local Action Group: Moray and Highland and the Aviva Community Fund to purchase equipment and find new ways to recycle ocean plastic.
Plastic@Bay recycles the marine plastic into items such as clocks, table mats and coasters which are sold locally and through their online shop.
Plastic'Bay's objectives are threefold - remediation, research and outreach. Removing plastic pollution from beaches, researching innovative ways to recycle it and educating communities about the devastating long-lasting effects of plastic pollution.
She will use the award funding to develop a low-tech facility to recycle end-of-life fishing gear and ocean plastic that can be replicated in harbours and communities adversely affected by ocean plastic pollution,
“Our research and development team will build a low-tech machine capable of making fence posts, planks and decking, while I develop the plant layout, business model and marketing strategy,” she said.
Each facility set up will employ at least three people to use and maintain the recycling machines.
Dr D’Arcy added: “Personally, the Woman in Innovation Award is recognition for the hard work I and my partner have put in over the years. For Plastic@Bay it means we can finally realise our innovation to bring ocean plastic recycling to the heart of the problem.”
Dr D’Arcy added that remaining focused on what you want to achieve was the key to success.
“Have a big ambitious goal. It helps to have a dream to work towards when things get tough,” she said.
North, west and central Sutherland ward councillor Hugh Morrison, who lives in Durness, said: “Congratulations are due to Joan and all at Plastic@bay, who work hard to keep the north west beaches and area in general free from plastic and waste,
“The hundreds of tonnes they collect each year must be deflating at times as it just keeps coming in, but this award will go some way to uplifting their spirits and it’s recognition of the great work they do.”
