Why ODD 14 also concerns businesses, even far from the coast ?

The Ocean: a climate and biodiversity ally often overlooked

A Key Role in Climate Regulation

Each year, the Ocean absorbs approximately 25% of CO2 emissions caused by human activity and over 90% of the excess heat from global warming. It plays a critical role in regulating the climate.

However, its absorption capacity is increasingly threatened by various pressures: plastic pollution, acidification, overfishing, and nutrient flows. In France, only 46% of coastal water bodies are in good ecological condition. Between 2016 and 2021, nitrogen inputs to the sea increased by 21.3%, and phosphorus by 45.1%.

Data from the French Ministry of the Sea and DGAMPA shows that 30.5% of France’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is covered by marine protected areas. However, this coverage still requires effective management and strengthened protections. Notably, France's EEZ extends over more than 11 million km², making it the second largest in the world.

Indirect but Real Impacts from Businesses

Contrary to common belief, businesses located far from the coastline also impact the Ocean. Waste discharge, plastic use, energy consumption, supplier choices, and digital practices all contribute to pressure on aquatic ecosystems.

Integrating ODD 14 means rethinking internal practices—responsible purchasing, digital sobriety, low-carbon logistics—with a systemic perspective on environmental interdependence.

ODD 14: A Strategic Lever Still Underutilized in CSR

A Difficult Concept to Integrate

According to a 2025 survey conducted by Act! with Surfrider, ODD 14 remains poorly incorporated into CSR strategies. Three key barriers emerged:

• A perception that ODD 14 is irrelevant for non-coastal businesses;
• A lack of awareness about the connections between business activities and the Ocean;
• An absence of clear regulations or actionable indicators.

In practice, many businesses touch on ODD 14 through:

• Plastic and waste reduction;
• Supply chain logistics (e.g., maritime transport);
• Chemical pollution and carbon emissions;
• Use of marine resources (e.g., seaweed, fish) or coastal infrastructure.

Only a few companies are exploring more advanced initiatives, such as environmental impact mapping, artificial reef projects, or end-of-life planning for submerged materials.

Opportunities for concrete, scalable action

Some companies already carry out isolated awareness-raising efforts (e.g., World Ocean Day events, climate fresks, waste cleanups, quizzes), but these could be better integrated into comprehensive CSR strategies.

The survey revealed:

• A growing interest in marine biodiversity and plastic pollution;
• A clear need for simple, actionable awareness tools that link the Ocean to business operations;
• Many companies intend to integrate ODD 14 into their CSR plans by 2025–2026 but face resource and time constraints.

To support this, Act! with Surfrider offers tailored solutions:

• Waste collection activities (on foot or by canoe) to understand pollution sources and impacts;
• Environmental quizzes and collaborative workshops (on plastic pollution, the coastline, or climate);
• Environmental training programs that explore the Ocean-climate-business connection

These tools help educate teams, shape internal commitments, and bring ODD 14 to life within corporate settings.

Conclusion

ODD 14 is not reserved for maritime industries. It offers a relevant lens to link climate, biodiversity, pollution, and corporate responsibility. Integrating it into CSR strategies enables businesses to respond meaningfully to environmental challenges.

Discover our ocean-focused activities [here]