01 Dec 2022

Isle of Wight, England – Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, participated in a beach clean event at Yaverland Beach on the Isle of Wight. The event complemented Blue Sea Protection’s “Great Nurdle Hunt”, a foreshore survey that is conducted to determine the prevalence of micro-plastics (specifically nurdles) on the beach. 

Along a 100m stretch of the beach, members of Intertek’s UK-based Energy & Water team and WSP UK Ltd surveyed the various types of rubbish that were found and collected, and the resulting information from the 17.8 kg collection was uploaded to the Marine Conservation Society’s database for their Great British Beach Clean annual event.

The day’s social and networking events were also educational in that participants learned how and where to recognize nurdles, plastic pellets which serve as raw material in the manufacturing of plastic products and bio-beads which are used in the wastewater treatment industry. They also learned about Mermaids Purses (aka Shark Egg Cases) and the impacts of nurdles/bio-beads on shark and ray populations around the Isle of Wight.

Yaverland Beach is one of many bathing water areas at which Intertek has conducted intensive bathing water compliance assessments on behalf of water utility customer Southern Water. Event partner WSP UK Ltd is the prime contractor on a wastewater investigations framework contract with Southern Water Services Ltd, and through a back-to-back contract, Intertek Energy & Water provides water quality monitoring, modelling and compliance assessment services under this framework. Intertek and WSP’s expertise and experience help Southern Water and regulator Environment Agency to develop the most appropriate and sustainable solutions that improve water quality and protect public health.

Frank Beiboer, Managing Director of Intertek Energy & Water, said: “Our combined team enjoyed a great day outdoors with marine conservation, education and team building being the key themes. We are always looking for ways to actively participate in community events that support the environment and sustainability. This year’s beach clean event was a great success, and we look forward to participating again next year.”

For Media Information

Please contact:
Paul Taylor, Team Lead
T: +44 1428 727800
E: paul.taylor@intertek.com

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Intertek is a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. Our network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification solutions for our customers' operations and supply chains. Intertek Total Quality Assurance expertise, delivered consistently with precision, pace and passion, enabling our customers to power ahead safely.

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