The coronavirus has done much to alter the way the community live their lives and do business. Not only have many business owners faced mandated shutdowns resulting in a loss of income, but they have also incurred a significant increase in operational costs while dealing with disruptions in the global supply chain of products, including items such as food and eco-friendly supplies. The legislation created around COVID-19 requires more packaging and more disposable gloves, thus posing further challenges. The financial devastation has been felt across the board, but small businesses have been especially impacted.
Over 240 North Carolina businesses are committed to being a certified Ocean Friendly Establishment (OFE), striving to reduce their single-use waste and engage in environmentally sound practices, which has been more difficult during the pandemic. This is why the OFE Committee, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, and Plastic Ocean Project teamed up to create the Ocean Friendly Establishments Give Back Grant to aid certified OFEs, impacted by COVID-19, in their efforts to stay sustainable.