No, glass does not release microplastics. Yes, plastic is everywhere.
No, glass does not release microplastics. Yes, plastic is everywhere.
Ces derniers jours, un titre largement relayé a semé la confusion : « Les boissons dans des bouteilles en verre contiennent plus de microplastiques que dans d’autres contenants ».
🔍 Cette affirmation, issue d’une étude de l’ANSES, Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail, a été sortie de son contexte et déformée. Fort heureusement, cette communication trompeuse a rapidement été dénoncée par de nombreuses associations.
✅ Ce que dit réellement l’étude :
Les microplastiques retrouvés dans certaines bouteilles en verre ne proviennent ni du verre lui-même, ni de la bouteille, mais des capsules, notamment des revêtements en peinture ou des joints d’étanchéité faits de polymères (donc de plastique).
📢 De nombreuses ONG ont justement rappelé :
- Le verre est un matériau inerte : il ne relargue aucun plastique.
- Le plastique est omniprésent dans les emballages, même de manière invisible.
- Les risques sanitaires liés aux plastiques sont désormais bien documentés : inflammation, perturbateurs endocriniens, etc.
⚠️ À l’heure où la désinformation se propage rapidement, induire en erreur les consommateurs sur des sujets aussi sensibles est non seulement irresponsable, mais dangereux pour la santé publique et l’environnement. Communiquer avec rigueur sur des sujets de santé environnementale exige de s’appuyer sur des faits scientifiques solides – sans les déformer ni les isoler de leur contexte.
🤝 Pure Ocean salue la réactivité des associations et appelle à plus de rigueur dans les communications scientifiques, surtout à l’approche des négociations internationales pour un traité mondial contre la pollution plastique, en août à Genève.
Réduisons l’usage du plastique, dans toutes ses formes, et encourageons les solutions vertueuses : le réemploi, le verre, la sobriété.

Fish On The Move – with Luisa Fontoura
Fish On The Move - with Luisa Fontoura
Discover the brilliant minds behind our 2025 winners!
On March 21, we unveiled our 2025 winners. Today, we’re off to Fiji to meet one of them, led by Luisa Fontoura from Macquarie University!
The Fish On The Move project tackles an often overlooked issue: the protection of migration corridors for marine species.
Although marine protected areas are multiplying, they are often static… while fish are not.
Thanks to an innovative approach that combines marine current modeling and local fishermen’s knowledge, this project identifies crucial areas in the life cycle of species – from eggs to adults – to better protect biodiversity and livelihoods.
Its aim: to optimize the connectivity of Australia’s marine protected areas to boost biodiversity!
A Marine Protected Area for coralligenous reefs: a first in Greece, made possible thanks to your support!
A Marine Protected Area for coralligenous reefs: a first in Greece, made possible thanks to your support!
A Historic Step Forward for the Mediterranean and Marine Conservation: The Greek government has just established a 430 km² Marine Protected Area around the Fourni archipelago, banning trawling on coralligenous reefs. These true underwater animal forests, among the richest and most fragile ecosystems in the Mediterranean, are finally being recognized and protected.
It is the first time in Greece that such a measure has been applied to these little-known yet essential habitats for biodiversity.
This decision was made possible thanks to the scientific data from the Aegean Coralligenous project, supported by Pure Ocean in 2021. Led by researcher Tim Grandjean and the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, the project enabled the mapping and monitoring of these deep reefs using innovative technologies adapted to small vessels.
Following these discoveries, the Under The Pole team visited the area to conduct deep dives and study these exceptional reefs more closely.
This initiative sparked an unprecedented wave of citizen mobilization, bringing together researchers, local fishers, NGOs like Archipelagos and Under The Pole, as well as engaged public figures such as Camille Étienne. Thanks to this collective momentum, the project led to a concrete and historic protection measure.
This project is also one of the powerful stories featured in our first Pure Ocean Documentary: Hidden Secret, dedicated to the invisible yet vital ecosystems of the ocean. Watch it here ➡️
Thank you to our community, patrons, and partners—your support makes these exceptional results possible! Together, we are advancing science and the protection of the Ocean.





1% of the ocean’s surface. 10% of its biodiversity. And yet… the Mediterranean is burning.
1% of the ocean's surface. 10% of its biodiversity.
And yet... the Mediterranean is burning.
Beneath the surface, corals are dying. But an unexpected solution may be emerging:
👉 What if the answer came… from the Red Sea?
That’s the bold idea behind SymbioSwap, a project led by Claudia Pogoreutz, researcher at the University of Perpignan.
The Mediterranean is a jewel of biodiversity — but it’s also one of the regions most affected by climate change.
Heatwaves are devastating invertebrates and corals there, which cannot escape to cooler waters to survive.
SymbioSwap explores an innovative path: transplanting symbiotic microalgae between tropical and Mediterranean corals to test their resistance to thermal stress.
The goal? To understand whether these invisible alliances can help strengthen coral resilience in the face of marine heatwaves.
🎥 Meet Claudia and learn more in this video!
400°C – 3000 meters deep – And yet, a small shrimp survives…
400°C - 3000 meters deep - And yet, a small shrimp survives...
Rimicaris exoculata — an extraordinary animal. A true heroine of the deep.
But what if her world vanished… before we even had the chance to understand it? That’s the urgent question at the heart of RimiOmics, the project led by Nelia da Costa Mestre ⤵️
👥 Today, let’s discover the brilliant minds behind our 2025 awardees!
Deep along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge lives Rimicaris exoculata, a unique shrimp that relies on symbiotic bacteria to survive the extreme conditions of hydrothermal vents. This extreme ecosystem is now under threat from a rapidly emerging industry: deep-sea mining.
🔬 RimiOmics, led by Nelia da Costa Mestre at the University of UAIg, studies the toxic effects of deep-sea mining on these one-of-a-kind deep-sea shrimps.
⚠️ While these abyssal communities have remained untouched until now, mining activities could stir up sediments, causing contamination and disturbing these fragile, unexplored ecosystems.
🎥 She explains it all in just 1 minute — don’t miss it!
Welcome to Calixte Benoit, new Pure Ocean ambassador!
#ProudOfOurAmbassadors - Welcome to Calixte Benoit, the newest member of the Pure Ocean Lovers family!
At just 24 years old, Calixte Benoit already boasts 18 years of sailing experience and an impressive track record!
Practically born on a boat, his connection to the ocean runs deep — whether it’s sailing, surfing, or foiling, the sea has always been his playground… and he knows just how vital it is to protect it.
A two-time European senior champion in Match Racing and two-time SB20 World Champion, Calixte is now setting his sights on offshore racing with one ambitious goal: to win the Solitaire du Figaro.
We’re thrilled to have him on board to proudly carry the Pure Ocean colors.
Welcome aboard, Calixte!

Who’s behind Pure Ocean? Meet Gwen !
Who's behind Pure Ocean?
Now it’s Gwen’s turn — our amazing Sponsorship Manager 💙
Immersed since childhood in the Breton sea air and the landscapes of the Glénan Islands, she grew up with her feet in the water and her eyes on the ocean 🐚
With a background in marketing and purpose-driven communication, Gwen joined the Pure Ocean adventure from the very beginning. For the past 7 years, she’s been supporting our sponsors and bringing their commitment to life with passion! 🤩
➡️ Watch her story in this video!
“Choose your cause, but get involved” – A look back at an inspiring evening at ODDO BHF Banque Privée
"Choose your cause, but get involved" - A look back at an inspiring evening at ODDO BHF Banque Privée
On Wednesday, June 18th, our director Thomas de Williencourt had the honor of speaking at an event organized by ODDO BHF Private Bank, an evening marked by commitment, generosity, courage — and above all, humanity.
“Choose your cause, but commit to it” — this was more than a call to action. It was an invitation to listen, connect, and be inspired.
What we experienced that evening deeply resonated: contagious energy, strong convictions, powerful personal stories, and sincere, tangible commitments filled with hope.
It was a privilege to speak alongside these remarkable individuals:
👉 Samantha Davies, sailor and tireless ambassador for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, who turns every race into a rescue mission for children around the world. A commitment that spans oceans — and touches hearts.
👉 Lana Rudzinski, who at just 18 founded Unissons les cœurs, an organization fighting the loneliness of hospitalized teenagers. A moving testimony of early and determined commitment.
👉 Jean-Yves Tolot, president of L’Œuvre d’Orient, whose work supporting education, health, and culture in vulnerable regions commands admiration.
👉 Jean-Louis Etienne, explorer with a free voice and inspiring humor, whose extraordinary journey encourages us all to push further.
👉 Thomas de Williencourt, our director, who presented our mission and three of the projects we support: ALT-Waste, Floating Reef, and Regen Ocean Farms.
🙏 A heartfelt thank you and congratulations to Emmanuel d’Orsay for his dynamic moderation, which gave the evening its rhythm, tone, and spirit.
Thank you to Philippe Oddo for his personal and sincere testimony about the Group’s philanthropic commitments — and those carried by himself and his family.
Thank you to Professor Olivier de Ladoucette, psychiatrist and President of the Alzheimer Research Foundation, who reminded us that altruistic happiness is also a source of health.
👏 And a huge thank you to the ODDO BHF Private Bank team, especially Audrey Blanch, for organizing this memorable evening.
It was a night marked by the strength of commitments, the power of personal stories, and a breath of hope.
Pure Ocean is recruiting its future trainee for work-study and/or internships!
Pure Ocean is recruiting its future trainee for work-study and/or internships!
👉 Understand, unite, support: this triptych lies at the heart of our mission for the ocean. In 2025, we want to go further—give science the place it truly deserves, engage more people, and strengthen our impact. To do this, we are looking for:
➡️ A work-study student or intern – Scientific Coordination Assistant
Alongside Charlie, to help monitor supported projects, conduct scientific watch on marine, climate, and environmental issues, contribute to the dissemination of scientific content, ensure scientific accuracy and rigor in our communications, and collaborate with the communications team to create content that highlights scientific projects.
➡️ A work-study student – Event Project Manager
To design and coordinate our events, manage communication and logistics, animate our ambassador network, and raise public awareness—in collaboration with Sacha.
➡️ A work-study student – Development Officer
Alongside Thomas, to involve more companies in our mission, support fundraising efforts, engage with sponsors, and contribute to Pure Ocean’s financing strategy.
📍 Marseille – Rond-Point du Prado
📅 Start date: As soon as possible for an internship, or in September for a work-study contract.

