SUSTAINABILITY

Suzuki’s commitment to a cleaner marine environment

SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT

As the world’s ULTIMATE OUTBOARD MOTOR brand, Suzuki always remains focused on providing the ultimate marine experience, which requires a healthy and clean marine environment. Since 2010, we have been voluntarily conducting “Clean-Up the World Campaign” globally every year to contribute to a better marine environment and more than 17,000 people have participated. In Japan, the campaign has been officially recognized by the Ministry of the Environment in the “Plastic Smart Campaign”.

To continue to make our utmost effort for environmental protection, it is now time for us to review how we have been contributing to the environment and society and newly determine our direction. As well as continuing our worldwide clean-up campaign, we will also commit to take responsible actions against marine plastic waste issues. This is how we came to set out on the new activities and make the logo, “SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT”, to show the world our commitment.

December 31, 2023

Diagram of SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT
Our Commitment 1 Clean-Up the World Campaign 2 Reduce Plastic Packaging 3 Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste Our Commitment 1 Clean-Up the World Campaign 2 Reduce Plastic Packaging 3 Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste

Our Actions

1. Clean-Up the World Campaign

Clean-Up the World Campaign is the root of our awareness to environmental issues and SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT. Since 2010, Suzuki continues to conduct the activities and now, the action expands to the whole world. Why don’t you be a part of our wave to take positive actions for the future of marine environment?

Total Participants 
since 2010

17,002 people

As of December, 2023

Conducted Locations

Latest updated on August 21st, 2023

MORE

2. Reduce Plastic Packaging

In order to be more considerate towards our planet, we are making efforts not only to gather plastic waste but to also reduce the plastic packaging from our products.

We Have Reduced over
52 tons
of Plastic Materials

< As of October, 2023 >

Suzuki Outboard Motors

From September 2021, we started to replace some materials such as plastic packing tape and plastic band to alternative materials for packaging.

Suzuki Marine Genuine Parts

From October 2020, part of the Suzuki marine genuine parts are now packaged with alternative materials instead of plastic. We calluculate more than 5 tons of plastics will avoid to be used every year.

We will continue to make our best efforts to minimize the use of plastics for the packaging of our future products.

Diagram of Reduce Plastic Packaging

3. Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste

We believe that the Micro-Plastic Collecting Device(MPC) that we developed could be one solution to marine plastic waste issues.
This device enables outboard motors to collect micro-plastic without affecting the engine performance nor harming the environment.
The MPC has been attached to DF140BG/115BG and DF140B/115B/100C as standard equipment from July 2022.

Our Awareness

Through our clean up activity, we have seen that the plastic waste that we picked up would easily break into small pieces when touching it. With this experience, we have wondered if there is a way to collect not only plastic waste but also such small plastics (micro-plastic) that have flowed into the sea. Suzuki came to consider the answer for the questions such as, "How can we utilize our outboard motors to tackle the micro-plastic issues?", "Are there any ideas that don’t affect the performance of the engine and the environment?".
As a solution to this challenge, we came up with an idea of "Micro-Plastic Collecting Device".

Features

  • Easy installation of return hose and filter
  • This device will not affect the performance of the engine even if the filter gets clogged since this device utilizes the used cooling water.
Picture of Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste①
Diagram of Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste①
Diagram of Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste②

Collected Materials

We analyzed the sample collected through the monitoring test of MPC.
Micro-plastics was found from all of the samples from all over the globe.
Collected plastic materials are as follows: acrylic, cellophane, epoxy, nylon, PET, polypropylene, polyethylene, urethane, vinyl ester.

Picture of Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste①
Whole Sample
Diagram of Collect Marine Micro-Plastic Waste①
After Separation

Monitoring Test

We conducted the monitoring test of MPC globally at 16 areas.
Click each picture for details.

Period
Aug, 2020

Detected Plastics
acrylic・polypropylene・polyethylene・PVC・urethane

Period
2020/8/10 - 2020/8/31

Detected Plastics
acrylic・cellophane・nylon・polyethylene

Period
Aug, 2020

Detected Plastics
acrylic・cellophane・nylon・polyethylene・urethane

Period
Dec. 28th, 2020

Detected Plastics
polypropylene・polyethylene

Period
from Aug. 24th to 31st, 2020

Detected Plastics
acrylic・epoxy・polyethylene

Period
from May 20th to Jun. 23rd, 2021

Detected Plastics
polypropylene・polyethylene

Amount of Filtered Water
25,855L

Period
from May 21st to Oct. 8th, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Amount of Filtered Water
64,392L

Period
from Jul. 2nd to 28th, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Amount of Filtered Water
43,299L

Picture of Devon, UK

Period
from May 25th to Sep. 1st, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Period
from May 27th to Jul. 23rd, 2021

Detected Plastics
epoxy・acrylic

Amount of Filtered Water
62,462L

Period
from Sep. 22nd, 2020 to Jul. 14th, 2021

Detected Plastics
polypropylene・polyethylene・vinyl ester・urethane

Amount of Filtered Water
62,032L

Period
from Oct. 26th, 2020 to Sep. 30th, 2021

Detected Plastics
polypropylene・polystyrene・polyethylene

Amount of Filtered Water
87,721L

Period
from Oct. 11th to Sep. 8th, 2020

Detected Plastics
acrylic・nylon・PET・polypropylene・polyethylene

Amount of Filtered Water
46,546L

Comment From the Collaborator
We are grateful to Suzuki Philippines, Marine Department for choosing Harbor Patrol Boats on your Micro-Plastic Collecting Device pilot project. I understand that the development of the device will put Suzuki Outboards in the frontline of environmental protection.
Aside from easy installation of device and filter replacement by technician, the device work without any effect on engine performance.

Period
from Sep. 1st to 26th, 2020

Detected Plastics
nylon・PET・polypropylene・polyethylene

Amount of Filtered Water
38,003L

Period
from Mar. 25th to Sep. 30th, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Amount of Filtered Water
76,556L

Period
from Aug. 1st to 20th, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Period
from Aug. 1st to Nov. 30th, 2021

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Period
from Nov. 2021-

Detected Plastics
Under Analysis

Period
from Oct. 2021-

Detected Plastics
Ongoing

Applicable Models

In order to clean the ocean, the Suzuki Marine Team will promote the "SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT" together with partners and boat users all around the world.

Get information for your country or region.

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