Imagine diving into the sea or relaxing on a beach and having to avoid plastic bags or bottles which have littered them – a viral campaign has shown how this could be the future if we don’t reduce our plastic waste.
Sarah Murdock, from North Carolina, also known as NorthCountrylittles on Instagram, is just one of the influencers who have highlighted this in powerful pictures – showing how our beaches and oceans could look by 2050.
We are used to seeing perfectly curated images of influencers on holiday or posing on the beach, but the #NoFilterNoFuture by Brita and Social Chain is using photoshop for a good cause.
Photoshopping plastic waste into their pristine beach or ocean pictures the pictures reveal a scary insight into what these beaches could look like if people don’t pledge to reduce their plastic usage.
Sarah, a mother of four, from North Carolina, shares a picture of her family at the beach this year
However Sarah also photoshopped the picture and shared what our beaches could look like in 2050 if we don’t reduce our plastic usage
Sarah shared a before and after picture of her and her children on her local beach, photoshopping in waste, giving an idea to how it may look by 2050.
She said in her post: ‘Just another relaxing day at our pristine beach. Isn’t it amazing to think that our beaches and oceans could really look like this in the future if we do not take a stand and reduce the amount of single use plastic water bottle waste?
‘Did you know the diver who completed the World’s deepest ocean dive found trash? Pretty crazy huh? Even the Mariana Trench can’t escape plastic.
‘I want my children and their children to be able to enjoy our beaches and lakes without the worry of swimming through trash. I pray we can make a lasting impact so that our children and their children won’t have to live in a world forever altered because of our waste.
A surfer posted this picture of her beach in her hometown and how it looks now, the next picture showed a very different story
Anastasia Ashley (pictured) a surfer from California, also posted a photoshopped picture of how her favourite surfing beach could look if it was littered with plastic waste
‘I’m partnering with @britausa to pledge to reduce our families use of plastic bottle waste, and you can too!’
Other influencers have shared pictures of them diving into an ocean full of rubbish or relaxing on beaches, alongside plastic bottles and rubbish.
Anastasia Ashley, a surfer from California, also posted a photoshopped picture of how her favourite surfing beach could look if its was littered with plastic waste.
Influencer Mallory Joy, from Ohio, posted this picture of her swimming in the sea surrounded by waste
Jamie Kidd, a travel blogger and model, posted this picture on her Instagram with shocling amounts of plastic waste on the beach
She posted the picture, along with the pristine beach before and said: ‘You may remember this photo last year from my hometown of San Clemente. I’ve partnered with @britausa to show you what this same beach could look like in the future if we don’t work together to reduce single use plastic bottle waste!
‘I grew up surfing on these beaches of SC, so it means so much to me to keep them clean for generations to come. These beaches have done so much for me it’s my duty to make sure that I can do the same for them.’
Research has shown that up to 12 million tonnes of plastic can end up in our oceans every year – harming sea life.
Rachel Shahvar, from Brita, said: ‘By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. We’re excited to partner with Social Chain and influencers who are passionate about the crucial issue of ocean plastic pollution to make a bold statement that inspires people to reduce single-use plastic waste.’
Juliet from San Francisco shared this powerful image of her on Baker Beach – and what it may look like by 2050
Laura Jung, from New York, says that the reality of the situation is ‘more dire than ever and we have to act now’
Cathal Berragan, creative director of Social Chain, who are also part of the viral campaign, said: ‘With hundreds of sponsored posts going out daily, we wanted to create a campaign that encourages people to stop their social media scrolling and immediately captures their attention.
‘Many influencers have been called out for photoshopping their images to make themselves and their surroundings look more appealing. In this campaign, we aim to use photo editing for good.
‘The littered beauty spots are a stark contrast from the usual polished images we’re used to seeing on our feeds, and they offer a fresh, authentic and striking depiction of what our planet could look like if people don’t curb single-use plastic waste.’