World Ocean Day 2016

The problem

Plastic, plastic, plastic ….

… It is not a secret that plastic is suffocating our earth and that our oceans are being filled up with daily litter.

Some countries already understood the problem, but in many parts of the world the plastic boom has just started. Plastic is a “Luxury” and when it finds its way into countries a destructive process starts: a mass of plastic overflows the country, without a plan how to dispose it and “suddenly” it becomes a huge problem. The mind set “out of sight, out of mind” is not a sustainable solution, we already know that. So we should trust our common sense and avoid plastic as often as possible.

The personal responsibility

Before we look in another direction, we would remember everyone that it is our responsibility to minimize the size of our ecological food print. We have to take responsibility for that and to act accordingly: to reduce and to protect.

The other view

On this World Ocean Day we would like to pay attention to one of the biggest threats to our oceans: Plastics! But today our focus is going to be a positive one! For that reason we would like to introduce three innovative, creative projects, which are engaged to find solutions to deal with our all plastic problem.

Last but not least we would like to introduce you to two alternatives which will avoid plastic at all.

The projects

The ocean clean up program

Boylan Slat, a young aerospace engineering student developed a in the seafloor anchored technique to remove the plastic that is floating in our oceans.

Watch the videos below for detailed explanations:

Seabin

Two young Australians engineered a filter system which finds its use in marinas and inshores. 80% of litter in the oceans comes from land. For that reason this innovative idea would catch quit a part of it before it ends up in the ocean.

How seabins works? Check it out:

Fishing for litter

The initiative „Fishing for litter“ is particularly addressed to fishermen who find plastics in their nets. Instead of throwing it back into the ocean, they are ask to bring it back to shore. Here they can dispose the litter at no charge in appropriate containers.

This video shows how the project works:

The alternatives

Biodegradable bottles

The design student Ari Jónsson has combined red algae powder with water to create a biodegradable bottle. The bottle keeps its shape as long as it is full, but as soon as it is empty it starts to decompose. As the bottle is made from 100% natural materials, the water stored inside is safe to drink, much safer then water stored in plastic bottles.

This video gives you an idea on how it works:

Edible Six Pack Rings

Saltwater brewery came out with a great idea! The little brewery developed edible six pack rings for their beer, because they believe the ocean should be protected. Instead of the common plastic beer holder, they created ecofriendly six packs rings, which can even be eaten by sea life.

Video for more information:

Reusing and Recycling

Finally we would like to present one creative idea how plastics can be reused.

Raw for the oceans

Pharrell Williams, famous for this song „Happy“, supports the project „Raw for the oceans“. This is an environmentally friendly Jeans-Collection which was created under the fashion label “G-Star”. This Label cooperates with Bionic Yarn. Bionic Yarn processes plastic litter from the ocean to create a yarn. Seven plastic bottles are converted in every Jeans.

Enjoy the videos about this amazing initiative:

The conclusion

These are three good projects to empty the oceans from all the plastic. But this is just the beginning, because 70% of the maritime litter doesn’t float on the surface of the ocean but can be found in the depth of the ocean. A further problem is the degradation through sun, salt and wave friction. Even when not seen, the plastic still exists and micro particles enter the food chain. Reduction and reasonable recycling are essential. One step after the other and we will get there!

The invitation

You are very welcome to visit us in our Info-Center on World Ocean Day. We will provide information to the subject plastics in the ocean. You will have the opportunity to watch interesting videos of the different projects and you are invited to participate on our postcard action.

The idea

We will be providing slogan postcards which you could send to Coca Cola UK with the request to use biodegradable bottles (developed by Ari Jónsson).

Even if you are not on Madeira Island you can join the event. You could for example send the same request to Coca Cola UK and attach this link to the video for further explanations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pqnBIA7VZk

Contact form/Cola Cola UK click HERE

We are looking forward to welcome you!
 
Your Lobosonda Team