California Nonprofit Proposes New Eye-Catching Emoji to Combat Plastic Pollution

California Nonprofit Proposes New Emoji to Combat Plastic PollutionPhoto byCourtesy Photo

A new emoji aimed at raising awareness about plastic pollution may soon be coming to smartphones worldwide. Marine Watchdogs, a California-based ocean conservation nonprofit, announced its proposal for the emoji to the Unicode Technical Committee. The emoji, designed to symbolize the urgent need to reduce plastic waste, particularly from single-use plastics like bottles, is expected to promote global awareness and inspire action.

“We’re seeing increasing awareness about the harmful effects of plastic on our health and the environment, but the sheer volume of plastic in our oceans is a crisis,” said Judah Sanders, Marine Watchdogs’ Science Director. “This emoji has the potential to serve as a powerful tool in the fight against plastic pollution.”

The icon, which is available for public download on Marine Watchdogs’ website, is a part of the nonprofit's broader efforts to tackle the growing environmental threat of plastic waste. Marine Watchdogs hopes the symbol will be included in iOS and Android devices by 2025.