Cheltenham Muscat School and Oman Sail joined forces in an official attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Plastic Bottle Sentence. The ambitious endeavor unfolded on November 28th and 29th, 2023, at Cheltenham Muscat School, involving a total of 877 participants, including students, staff, and sailors. The collective effort aimed to surpass the existing record of 11,939 plastic bottles set in Mumbai, India, on October 10th, 2022, with a goal of doubling the current record to over 24,000 bottles.
Oona Carlin, the Executive Principal of Cheltenham Muscat School, expressed her pride in the school, Oman Sail, and the local community for embracing the challenge of collecting their weekly plastic bottle waste. Breaking the Guinness World Record, according to Carlin, would underscore society's tendency to take single-use plastic bottles for granted, emphasizing the need to reuse, recycle, and reduce to protect the planet for future generations. Carlin highlighted the environmental awareness of the school's pupils and their understanding of the significance of sustainable initiatives, hoping that the initiative would inspire others and drive positive change.
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri, CEO of Oman Sail, expressed delight in collaborating with Cheltenham Muscat School on this endeavor, aiming to raise awareness of the global plastic issue. Al Jabri emphasized Oman Sail's commitment to encouraging individuals to take the UN #CleanSeas pledge to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic in their daily lives. Sustainability initiatives, such as beach clean-ups and tree planting, are integrated into every event hosted by Oman Sail. The initiative began in late October during the Mussanah Race Week, where 122 plastic bottles were removed from a public beach during a beach clean.
Cheltenham Muscat School and Oman Sail plan to reuse and recycle the bottles forming the Largest Plastic Bottle Sentence, continuing their advocacy for behavioral change and a more sustainable future for the local community and the Sultanate of Oman. The Guinness World Records Adjudicator is scheduled to officially verify the attempt on December 4th, 2023, coinciding with World Wildlife Conservation Day and the launch of the school's international conservation program, "Project Earthlings."