Led by the National Rover Advisory Council (NRAC), SCOUTS South Africa challenges Rovers and youth to refuse Single-Use Plastic, govern their own actions, and lead sustainable change in their communities.

What is the Plastic Tide Turners’ SA Campaign?

The plastic crisis is real.  But, so is our power to change it. Every day, single-use plastic waste is choking our rivers, polluting our streets, and harming our wildlife—and ultimately the health and well-being of people across South Africa. As SCOUTS South Africa, and especially as Rovers, we don’t want to just stand by anymore, we want to lead through personal commitments for change.

That’s why we are proud to launch the Plastic Tide Turners’ SA Manifesto, a call to action for all Rovers to stand together and commit to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable South Africa.

At the heart of the Rover programme lies service and building a better and more sustainable future for all.  Whether it’s through beach or park clean-ups, toy and clothing drives, or advocating for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals through partaking in National Challenges, the actions of our Rovers and youth speak louder than words. SCOUTS SA’s Plastic Tide Turners campaign takes that commitment to the next level.

We’re not just pledging to say NO to single-use plastic—we’re pledging to:

• Lead by example through our everyday actions.
• Educate younger Scouts on sustainable practices.
• Promote refuse, reuse, reduce, and recycle in our communities.
• Try to host SUP-free Rover activities as much as possible (SUP = single-use plastic)
• Create ripple effects through social media advocacy.

How you can get involved?

Your own Plastic Tide Turner’s journey begins with a simple but powerful step: Commit!
Read the FULL MANIFESTO HERE. Ready to commit, sign it HERE.