The clean-up was organised in partnership with the Surfrider Foundation’s LA chapter, whose mission blends environmental protection with grassroots activism. The relationship has deep roots: Baywatch spotlighted Surfrider in a 1995 episode on water pollution, and David (who reprises his role as Cody for the reboot), has been an ambassador for the organisation for decades. 

Before volunteers fanned out, Chapter Manager Eugenia Ermacora offered both guidance and perspective.  

“What we’re doing today is picking up debris, but also collecting data that helps influence policy,” she explained. “Plastic breaks down into tiny pieces that enter our food chain. This work helps protect both environmental and human health.”

Globally, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean each year, roughly the equivalent of a waste truck dumping plastic into the sea every minute. Closer to home, Surfrider LA reports that 83 per cent of items collected during its 2024 clean-ups were single-use plastics.

Cast member Jessica Belkin, who plays Charlie in the Baywatch reboot, emphasised the connection to production, having spent hours on that same stretch of sand since filming began.  

“Really happy to be here and get cleaning,” she said. “We’re cleaning up our beaches, especially the places where we are going to be shooting. It’s very important to the environment, to the safety of our cast and crew members, and for all the wildlife that’s in the ocean.” 

The team even got a behind-the-scenes bonus: a look inside the Baywatch lifeguard HQ set, offering a glimpse of the in-progress production. 

After an hour sweeping the shoreline, volunteers regrouped to sort, recycle, and weigh their collection. The final tally: nearly 22 kilograms of trash removed from the beach. 

For Becky Hartung, Fremantle Senior Coordinator for the Commercial & International team and a founding member of the company’s Greenmantle Employee-Led Group (ELG), the impact goes beyond the numbers. 

“We’re big believers that just one small thing can set something bigger in motion,” she said, noting that tackling issues of climate change can be overwhelming. “These kinds of things help remind us that we do actually have a lot of power and agency.” 

That sense of shared purpose carried through the morning as coworkers worked toward a common goal. As Becky put it, “It’s nice to be able to do something that is good for the environment, and good for our mental health, being together, by the water and just giving back.” 

By the end of the day, the beach was cleaner, and the message was clear: Real change doesn’t always start big. Sometimes, it starts with showing up, reaching down, and picking up one piece of trash. And then another.

Congratulations to our colleagues on a fantastic event!