The Next Wave: Why the Turtles Still Need Us
When we started Take 3 for the Sea in 2009, we chose the Green Sea Turtle as our emblem. A creature as ancient as the dinosaurs, yet endangered by modern human behaviour. Research was finding plastic in the digestive tracts of over 50% of sea turtles studied, with juveniles especially vulnerable. The thought of young sea turtles mistaking floating fragments of plastic for food was unthinkable to us, so we did something about it.
We seized the moment: Take 3 for the Sea, do it for the turtles.
Almost 17 years later, I find myself asking: do the turtles still need us?
The answer is of course yes, more than ever. And so does Take 3.
We still need your support. Donations from individuals and partnerships with future-thinking companies are what keep Take 3 thriving. If Take 3’s work has ever moved you, please consider donating or exploring a commercial partnership.
A lot has happened since 2009
Public awareness and attitudes to plastic pollution have shifted enormously since 2009. The study of plastic pollution has blossomed – helping us understand the pervasive spread of the material to every corner of the planet – and our bodies.
Progress has been made, but we’re a long way from celebrating success – in fact plastic production has doubled in the past 20 years, and projections show twice as much plastic will enter the environment by 2040 (based on 2025 levels). The current war in the Middle East is solidifying the harsh reality: we live on a planet addicted to fossil fuels – with much of it mined & shipped for petrochemical plastics.
Things are bad, and unless we act – they’re going to get a lot worse. The science on human health has darkened considerably with microplastics now being found in human blood, breast milk, lung tissue, and even our brains. As portrayed in the new Netflix documentary, “The Plastic Detox, chemical exposure from plastic is impacting fertility. We are not just polluting the ocean. We are polluting ourselves, and risking the very future of our species.
We’re the first to admit that collecting a handful of plastic from nature isn’t going to solve this problem, but what if we did our “Take 3 for the Sea” and banded together in a collective stand?
We truly believe that human-sized actions can make planet-scale impact when multiplied and coordinated.
We continue to drown in a sea of plastic.
Just as the “Blue Planet effect” created a surge in community pressure to tackle plastic pollution in 2017 (spearheaded by our newest centurion Sir David Attenborough), a new wave of awareness and action is needed to counter the devastating predictions on the horizon.
It’s not just about the sea turtles anymore. It’s about us. As Sir Attenborough says, “If we save the sea, we save our world.”
Removing a handful of plastic may not seem like much, until everybody does it. Photo: Dean James.
The Next Wave
I returned as Take 3’s CEO in October 2025, after a five-year break. My first project involved mapping the broader ecosystem of organisations tackling the interconnected issues of plastic pollution, consumption, education, and waste — and identifying where Take 3 can make its greatest impact.
That work has produced a new board-approved 3-year strategy, now in execution mode. We’ll share more details in the coming months, alongside a refreshed Take 3 website built to better connect with our global community.
We’re calling this new chapter The Next Wave – fitting for an organisation that’s been riding waves of change for almost 17 years. To share insights from the journey, we’ve created a short film series that we’ll be releasing over the coming months. Fittingly titled, “The Next Wave” it follows me as I reconnect with Take 3 Ambassadors, community leaders and experts to understand current attitudes and help inform our future direction. Watch the teaser here.
I urge those of you who are in a position to support Take 3 to consider donating, exploring our partnership opportunities or working directly with us. It takes a village to create change, and we’d love you to join us.
And to all of you contributing with your “Take 3 for the Sea” daily or weekly – thank you for riding our wave and creating your own ripple effects of change. We have some exciting things in store for you in the coming months.
The turtles still need us. And we still need us. So keep Taking 3 – for the Sea (and for you and for me).
Tim Silverwood
CEO, Take 3 for the Sea
