On May 15, the China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) and UNIQLO co-hosted the “Wetland Plastic Reduction Public Welfare Project” at Beihu Ecological Park in Chengdu. Nearly 100 volunteers participated in a meaningful day of environmental education and hands-on clean-up activities.
Mr. Chunlong Liu, Secretary General of CEPF, emphasized that wetland conservation is vital to China’s ecological progress, and reducing plastic pollution remains a top environmental priority. He commended the event for its dual impact—removing waste to support biodiversity while also inspiring public commitment to low-carbon lifestyles. Beach cleanups not only restore natural habitats but also encourage individuals to rethink their daily use of plastic.
The initiative builds on UNIQLO’s 2022 “Marine Environment Public Welfare Project”, in which over 400 volunteers cleaned 4,000 meters of beaches and wetlands across Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. To open the event, Mr. Wang Yujia, a researcher at the National Marine Environmental Monitoring Center, delivered a keynote speech on microplastics and plastic waste. He also led a discussion aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of the threats pose to wetlands and the power of lifestyle changes in mitigating those threats.
Throughout the morning, volunteers combed the park’s waterways and reed beds, collecting plastic bottles, wrappers, and microplastic fragments.
By integrating expert knowledge, though-provoking activities, and hands on environmental stewardship, the project not only beautified Beihu Ecological Park but also fostered a shared sense of environmental responsibility. Participants left with practical knowledge, renewed enthusiasm for sustainability, and a collective vision for building more sustainable communities.
