boxChilli marks 20th year with Eastoke Beach clean, clearing 13.3kg of rubbish
A total of 13.3kg of rubbish has been cleared from Eastoke Beach after staff from digital marketing agency boxChilli joined forces with Hayling Island charity Final Straw Foundation for a community beach clean.
More than 20 members of the boxChilli team swapped their desks for litter pickers on a sunny Wednesday afternoon, scouring the beachfront and surrounding areas for cans, bottles, bits of plastic and other debris that could otherwise end up in the sea. In just two hours they filled multiple sacks, leaving the popular stretch of beach noticeably cleaner for residents and visitors.
The event is one of the many milestones in boxChilli’s “20 Acts for 20 Years” initiative, which is marking the company’s 20th anniversary this September and follows earlier coverage in The News of the agency’s new branding, record headcount and growth across the city. Throughout 2026, the Portsmouth-based firm is committing to 20 charitable and community activities across the wider region, from fundraising campaigns to hands-on volunteering days.
Final Straw Foundation (https://finalstrawfoundation.org/) organised and led the clean, providing equipment, safety briefings and logistical support, as well as sorting and weighing the litter collected. The charity operates along the South Coast to tackle plastic pollution and improve the health of the marine environment through education, community action and research projects. The clean-up was funded by a donation from boxChilli to support the foundation’s wider work.
Volunteers were also joined on the day by Deputy Mayor Cllr Mark Coates, who came along to thank the team and show his backing for the charity’s efforts. He said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet the team from boxChilli, and what a wonderful company initiative. All of the Hayling councillors from every party are very grateful for the additional litter picks that Final Straw are hosting and the companies who take part. Final Straw Foundation are doing such important work across our island and all along the South Coast.”
boxChilli (https://www.boxchilli.com/about/) says it plans to continue working with local charities, including Final Straw Foundation, throughout its anniversary year, with further community activities already being planned in and around Portsmouth, Hayling Island and the wider Solent area.