The nearest ocean to Toronto is the Atlantic, some 1,451 kilometres away. That makes it difficult for Torontonians to get their hands wet cleaning it.

To give people a chance to help clear the ocean of unwanted plastics, Bonterra, the household paper brand, is bringing the ocean to Toronto’s Harbourfront with an interactive mural.

Created in partnership with local artist Jasmin Pannu, the mural shows an underwater scene covered with stickers. It will allow visitors to “recover ocean plastic” by removing these stickers to learn more about Bonterra’s sustainability efforts and win a variety of prizes. Bonterra has also partnered with 4Oceans, an ocean clean-up company, by pledging to remove 100,000 pounds of plastic from the ocean this year, which is the equivalent of 4.5 million plastic water bottles.

The mural is meant to make the connection between purchasing sustainable products and protecting the environment, and it was inspired by the brand’s partnership with 4Oceans.

“We know that Canadians want to do their part for the environment, but they don’t always know where to start,” says Susan Irving, chief marketing officer of Kruger Products, which owns Bonterra, adding that the company’s goal is for the mural to show how simple it can be to help to improve the environment. “We can all start small at home and make a difference together for a better planet.”

Bonterra worked with Publicis Sports and Entertainment (PSE) to create and place the interactive mural, which will be accessible and open to the public at the Toronto Harbourfront Centre on Aug. 17 and 18.

But the interactive mural isn’t Bonterra’s only intersection with art this month. The brand is also unveiling a creative new display this month at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa, complementing its sponsorship of the “Oh Crap! Rethinking Human Waste” exhibition.

Building on exhibition’s theme of human waste, this immersive activation will fill the museum lobby with eight brightly coloured toilets, cleverly reimagined as comfortable seating. Like the stickers on the interactive mural, each toilet will showcase a fact about Bonterra paper products.

“Our Bonterra display serves as an engaging space for museum visitors to relax and learn more about the brand, sharing our commitment to sustainable practices and the work we’re doing with our partners to make a difference,” Irving said. “Through our sponsorship of the “Oh Crap! Rethinking Human Waste” exhibit, we hope visitors leave with a renewed passion for protecting our planet.”

The display will be accessible and open to the public until Jan. 5, 2025.