THE most successful sailor in Olympic history is leading the British challenge to win one of the oldest trophies in the world with INEOS’ help. But that’s not all INEOS and Sir Ben hope to achieve on this journey.
SIR Ben Ainslie believes industrial companies, like INEOS, will be the ones to solve the problem of plastic pollution.
"They understand the problem better than anyone else and they can really make a difference,” he said in a TV interview with the UK’s Good Morning Britain. “And I know they are doing everything they can to tackle this.”
Sir Ben, who recently began campaigning with wife Georgie for better education to save our seas, was responding to a question from TV presenter Susanna Reid about why he had teamed up with INEOS to try to win The America’s Cup.
“It’s a weird situation you are in because your sponsor INEOS is a chemical company and plastics producer,” she said. “And both Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace want INEOS to be banned from The America’s Cup.”
But Sir Ben, who is Britain’s most successful sailor in Olympic history, said that was one of the main reasons for partnering with INEOS.
“What better way to tackle this issue than go straight to the manufacturers,” he said.
“I know INEOS are committed to a ‘circular economy’, where all plastic can be recycled and reused. And I believe that working with INEOS I can make a significant difference.”
He added: “I think I have the best chance to bring The America’s Cup home for the first time in its history, and at the same time I know I can do something to help address plastic in our seas.”
Sir Ben’s wife Georgie told Ms. Reid that innovation and technology would solve this global challenge.
“It is not just people at home not using plastics straws or plastic bags,” she said. “It is going to come down to companies, like INEOS, and those big corporations to think big and really want to tackle the problem, and we know that they do, which is a huge, huge relief.”
Sir Ben goes for gold: Page 14