Former Team Scotland cyclist and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Charline Jones has led more than 50 volunteers in the last plastic pick-up of the King’s Baton Relay Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign, which hit the milestone of removing one million pieces of plastic from waterways across the globe.  

Jones was joined by volunteers on paddle boards and kayaks on Glasgow’s most iconic waterway, the River Clyde, to collect plastic litter two days before the city welcomes the world for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Sport and the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign has now successfully removed one million pieces of plastic from Commonwealth waterways in a year-long initiative, coinciding with the King’s Baton Relay.

The King’s Baton Relay commenced in March 2025 with Sir Chris Hoy as the first Batonbearer and then journeyed across the length and breadth of the Commonwealth, from Saint Lucia to Scotland.

​The Commonwealth accounts for one-third of the world’s ocean waters, and almost half of Commonwealth countries are Small Island Developing States that disproportionately suffer from the impact of plastic pollution. 

Charline Jones, who won silver at Glasgow 2014, said: "The Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics campaign is a fantastic way to bring the Commonwealth together for a common cause and show the power of people working together to achieve this milestone today.

"It gives the King's Baton Relay extra meaning and seeing the enthusiasm of the volunteers today really shows the appetite in and around Glasgow to look after our waterways for future generations."

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful led the final event on the River Clyde as part of a series of clean-ups, carried out in partnership with Official Partners of Team Scotland Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP)

The Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign also supports Commonwealth Sport’s wider ambition to leave a positive environmental legacy for Glasgow, Scotland and future host cities and nations. It combines education and local action to encourage people to reduce their plastic waste, highlight alternatives, and reduce pollution across the Commonwealth. 

Martin Reynolds, Deputy CEO of Commonwealth Sport said: “Seeing the culmination of over a year’s work from our member nations and territories across the Commonwealth today has been incredible. Together, preventing a million pieces of plastic from entering our oceans and waterways is a feat that we can all be proud of.  A love of sport is something we all share; the planet is another - and we aim to continue this work as part of our commitment to a more sustainable Games model.” 

Elizabeth van der Valk, Chief Operating Officer at Royal Commonwealth Society said: It has been an incredible privilege to be here in Glasgow today, celebrating the Commonwealth Clean Oceans Plastics Campaign reaching one million pieces of plastic removed. This achievement belongs to the many partner organisations, the thousands of volunteers, and the communities across 74 nations and territories who gave their time and energy to make it possible. We are immensely proud of what has been achieved, and deeply grateful to everyone who played a part in this remarkable collective effort.

Heather McLaughlin, Campaigns Manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We’re extremely proud to be playing our part to clean up the River Clyde and surrounding areas ahead of Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games.

“We live in a beautiful country and it’s imperative that we show spectators and visitors how much we appreciate and care for our environment. Stopping litter at source is crucial to keep our waterways and oceans free of litter pollution, and being involved in preventing the millionth piece of plastic from entering the water shows what’s possible when we all work together.”