Outboard motor with Micro-Plastic Collecting Device (left), and the Device (right)
Suzuki Motor Corporation started production of 5 mid-size outboard motors with the world's first Micro-Plastic Collecting Device as standard equipment. The product will be shipped worldwide, including to South Africa.
A huge amount of marine plastic waste that flow into the ocean has become a significant environmental issue in the recent years, and micro-plastics that are further crushed in the natural environment are concerned to have an impact on ecosystems.
To tackle these issues, in October 2020 Suzuki announced the development of a Micro-Plastic Collecting Device (MPC) which can be equipped to outboard motors. By installing this device to outboard motors, micro-plastics near the water surface can be collected simply by running the boat.
After the announcement, monitoring surveys were conducted in 14 countries, including Japan, the United States and Europe, and improvements were made to the device. In July 2022, DF140BG, DF140B and DF115B have started production with the device as standard equipment.
In South Africa, we expect stock equipped with the MPC to arrive around January 2023. Customers who would like to retrofit the MPC to their existing boats will be able to do this as well and can contact their local Suzuki dealer in January for availability and pricing.
The use and maintenance of MPC is very easy and the filter should be regularly inspected together with the regular inspection of the engine.
The installation of this device on outboard motors is one of the three activities of the SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, which is Suzuki's commitment to address the marine plastics issue.
< Overview of SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT >
- Clean-Up the World Campaign
A volunteer waterside clean-up campaign by Suzuki Group employees and partners, conducted from 2011. Until March 2022, 53 distributors and more than 10,000 people worldwide have participated in total.
- Reduce plastic packaging
Suzuki aims to reduce the plastic packaging for outboard motors and genuine parts, under the keywords:
1) Can we stop using it?
2) Can we reduce the amount?
3) Can we replace it with materials of less environmental impact?
Since its start in October 2020, we have avoided using over 11t in plastic packaging. We aim to further reduce plastics in 2022 by increasing the number of applicable products and genuine parts.
- Collect marine-plastic waste
By means of development of the Micro-Plastic Collecting Device.
- Support Organizations that work in Marine Conservation
Suzuki Marine South Africa endeavours to contribute consistently to the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas in order to prevent the over-exploitation of these valuable resources. Therefore, we offer discounts on the purchase of Suzuki outboards to organizations that work in this field.
Suzuki aims for the further improvement of marine environment and the realization of a sustainable society, by promoting the SUZUKI CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, in the above 4 facets.
