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The End of the World

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:50:50 GMT

And we're off! The end of the world is more extreme than one could imagine. We set out sailing from Puerto Williams this morning and headed out into the Beagle Channel toward the Pacific. The sailing was rough so we didn't go full tilt, the gusts were drastic and the views were spectacular.

Today was a sailing day so there's not much science to report but I did get a chance to have a chat with Anna, our on-board scientist about her goals and thoughts about our mission. Anna works at MTM Research Center at Orebro University in Sweden and is on our boat taking samples to test for persistent organic compounds - or POPs - which are found in many man-made substances and don't break down. I asked Anna if she thought we'd find any in the water here and she said, "yes, they are everywhere."

Even in these pristine waters, seemingly untouched by man, our addiction to plastic seeps into the natural balance. Anna's group is entering a world that is previously uncharted. They are trying to figure out where POPs can be found, in what levels they exist and if they are harmful to the environment and to humans. Our trip through this amazing part of the world will help to further their mission.

For now we're going to sleep in the Seno Pia inlet at the Caleta Beaulieu anchorage. We took a walk just at sunset to the top of the ridge behind the Sea Dragon (you can see the view in this photo) to take in our breathtaking surroundings. We'll be getting up before the sunrise tomorrow, so we had to say goodbye to this magnificent glacier before we went to sleep.

I've Made It to the Boat!

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:50:37 GMT

The adventure continues. I've made it to the boat! I am in Puerto Williams, Chile, at the bottom of the world. We ended up spending an extra day in Punta Arenas until the weather allowed us to fly.

We arrived yesterday at the airport - a tiny airstrip with a tiny white building at the foot of it - after taking the most incredible flight of my life. The plane took off from Punta Arenas and flew up into the clouds. About halfway through the hour-long trip the cloud cover broke and the Andes mountains rose up to meet the sky. They are every bit as fierce as you would imagine them and this far south in Chile they are surrounded in some places by a lot of water.

We flew over the Strait of Magellan to the town of Puerto Williams on the Beagle Channel where the rest of the crew of the Sea Dragon was very glad to see us. The boat is incredible. Every bit of its 72 foot length serves purpose, without an inch of space spared. There are ten of us on board and our beds are stacked atop each other in the stern of the cabin. One bunk is dedicated to the ship's laboratory where our on-board scientist, Anna from Sweden, takes water samples and tests them for plastic-derived chemicals.

We haven't delved into the science yet, but I'm guessing that will come soon. For now we are preparing the boat for the journey (we actually swabbed the deck!) and watching the weather carefully to plan our Beagle Channel escape. We've been delayed a bit by a number of different things - the boat was late to Puerto Williams and needed to be serviced here - but will ship out "at ridiculous o'clock" in the morning tomorrow (which I can only take to mean very, very early) according to our skipper, Clive.

We'll be huffing our way toward the Pacific, navigating through the fjords and unknown waters as we attempt to survey the environmental situation. We hope to make up a bit of time in the first few days and then slow down a bit after we've made up some ground to really jump into things.

I'll be talking to Anna, our on-board scientist, Clive the skipper and Dale the boat manager in the next few days about their previous plastic expeditions - they've all logged a lot of 5 Gyres trips. So stay tuned for some interesting chats with the experts on board.

Hasta luego!

The Adventure Starts Here

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 11:50:21 GMT

Landing in Punta Arenas.

The adventure has already begun and I haven't even made it to the Sea Dragon yet. Apparently getting to the southernmost town in the world is difficult. So far I've logged three cars, three airports, two planes and a lot of walking. The expedition starts in Puerto Williams, Chile - which is technically the southernmost town in the world - the Sea Dragon and the rest of the crew have already arrived there. Three of us are stuck in a town called Punta Arenas, Chile, about 200 miles north of Puerto Williams and we are being held up by some stubborn icy cumulus clouds over the mountains between the two towns. As soon as the clouds disappear a little plane will pick us up and bring us to the boat.

Me and Magellan.

For now we are waiting in the airport, patiently anticipating a call from the crew that says the clouds have dissipated and the plane is safe to fly. So while I've got some time on my hands I'll fill in some blanks on what our mission will be.

The 5 Gyres organization is a non-profit with a mission to study plastic pollution around the world and seeks to find solutions to the problem. The organization sails around the world on different missions studying plastic pollution in the waters and on the beaches of every continent. The 5 Gyres crews use the Sea Dragon which is chartered by Pangea Explorations. Our specific task on this specific mission is to explore the southern coast of Chile.

Plastic on the beach and birds in Punta Arenas.

The southern coast of Chile looks a bit like it got stuck in a lawnmower. The coastline is jagged and varied and is dotted with bays, rivers and fjords that run out to the Pacific Ocean in one direction and up to the mountains on the other. This is where the famous Magellan Strait is - the passage that commercial vessels used to navigate from the Atlantic to the Pacific before the Panama Canal was finished - and was the start of many famous expeditions to Antarctica, including Ernest Shackleton's famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–17 where his boat, the Endurance, and its crew got stuck in the ice in January of 1915 and managed to survive until they were rescued in August of 1916.

Me in front of the house where Ernest Shackleton stayed while planning to rescue his crew in 1915.

It is summer down here, so we've no danger of getting stuck in the ice - thank goodness - which will make our exploration of the coasts enjoyable if somewhat cold, probably around 45 degrees Fahrenheit. There is a giant Gyre full of plastic in the South Pacific - a slightly smaller one than the giant North Pacific Gyre which is twice the size of the United States - that is a resting place for much of the discarded plastic of the world. The ocean's currents cause a kind of a magnet affect that brings plastic from around the world to these Gyres. The winds sweep across the South Pacific and a large amount of plastic ends its journey on the Southern Coast of Chile. We'll be navigating the coastline, trolling for pollution and taking fish samples to study the damage done.

For now, we're still in the Punta Arenas airport. Waiting for a phone call about cumulus clouds.

Ciao from Chile!

Brit Liggett from New York is Electrolux’ New Crew Member

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:29:37 GMT

Brit Liggett, a 26 year old blogger from Brooklyn, New York, wins the Electrolux and 5 Gyres competition, where first prize is becoming a crew member on the coming 5 Gyres research expedition through the Beagle Channel in March.

Electrolux and 5 Gyres want to thank all devotees from around the world that competed with fantastic presentations and applications to become the crew member. Thank you for showing such an interest and dedication.

Within the framework of the Vac from the Sea-project, Electrolux and renowned research organization 5 Gyres have invited one person to join the 5 Gyres research expedition through the Beagle Channel, Chile. The expedition sets off from Puerto Williams on March 3rd and will be at sea for eleven days before reaching final destination Valdivia, Chile, on March 14th.

Brit – The Environmental Journalist and Sailing Enthusiast
In hard competition, the jury, consisting of representatives from Electrolux and 5 Gyres, chose Brit Liggett as the winner. Brit is a blogger, writing about the environment from a green design perspective. She has a history of covering the issue of marine debris and wants to show the direct consequences of not taking better care of the plastic to the public.

Brit is also quite the sailing enthusiast. She has spent a lot of time on the water, on sailing trips and restoring sailing boats as a child. These days she lives in Brooklyn, New York, but still has navigational maps on her walls

Life on Board
The crew stands a 24‐hour watch, normally in teams. On duty Brit will be on deck working the sails, helm and other boat functions. Watch teams also help navigate, communicate with other vessels, and readying the next watch crew.

When research is underway, nets may be in the water, cameras may be filming or the small inflatable boats may be on an away mission. Brit’s watch role will also include important supporting roles like monitoring the boat systems, cleaning and cooking meals for the crew.

You will be able to follow Brit’s journey here on the blog as Brit will continuously report from the expedition as of March 1st.

You’ve Got Three More Days!

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:29:19 GMT

The deadline for applying to become the new crew member on the 5 Gyres expedition in March is coming up.

The expedition will leave Puerto Williams, Chile, on March 3rd and reach Valdivia, Chile, on March 14th.

Do you want to join the research expedition?
The last day to apply is Monday January 31st.

To enter, create a short film in which you explain why we should pick you to become the new crew member. A jury from 5 Gyres and Electrolux will decide upon the winner.

The crew member must…

* Have a genuine interest in environmental issues, particularly in plastic marine pollution

* Be an experienced writer and photographer

* Be a team player, who’s willing to do his or her share of crew duties (helping with shifts, cooking, cleaning and assisting researches when needed)

* Not get seasick easily

* Able to swim 200 m

* Able to lift 1/3 their body weight

* Prepared to work odd hours

* Speak functional English

How to apply
Apply to become a crew member on the expedition by recording a short film in which you motivate:

* Why you are best suited for the mission

* How your presence will contribute to the journey

Please include your name and place of living in the video.
Applicants must be 18 years or older.

Upload your video to YouTube and mail the link to electrolux@vacfromthesea.com

Time schedule of expedition
The crew member is expected to arrive at Beagle Channel on March 1st for training. The expedition leaves Beagle Channel on March 3rd and arrives at Valdivia, Chile, on March 14th. Since there will be no docking any applicant must be able to participate in the expedition during these dates. Electrolux will pay for your return journey to Chile as well as accommodation. No other financial compensation will be included.

Read more on how to apply and about your mission here.

Environmental Award to Vac from the Sea

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:14:36 GMT

Cecilia Nord, Electrolux, (middle) accepting the award from Erik Solheim, Norway's Environment Minister (right). Photo: Linda Bay, LOOP

The "Keep Norway Clean" organization's "Gullklypa" is an annual prize awarded to a company or an organization that has shown outstanding commitment to improving the local environment.

We are proud to announce that this year's prize goes to Electrolux and the Vac from the Sea project. The award was presented today in Oslo and was handed over by the Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim to Cecilia Nord, Head of Floor Care Environmental and Sustainability Affairs at Electrolux.*

Motivation:

"Electrolux has strongly distinguished itself by putting the marine plastic debris on the agenda, increased awareness of the problem, stimulated the physical redevelopment of oceans and coasts. They have also lifted the relationship between marine plastic waste and use of recycled plastics. Awarding Electrolux is a good signal and inspiration – it shows that business can and will participate in this work and that marine plastic waste is a global challenge!"

- I am of course happy about the award, but the real victory is that Vac from the Sea has raised awareness around the scarcity of recycled plastic. Not just in green communities but in the broad masses. So far over 100 million people have been reached by the campaign. This had not been possible without our partners in environmental- and research organizations, volunteers and experts. So Electrolux does not stand alone on the prize pedestal, says Cecilia Nord.

*Other nominated initiatives, apart from Electrolux, were the Norsk fiskeriretur, Hamar Naturskole and Gangstø Transport.

Wanted: Crew Member to Sea Expedition

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:14:24 GMT

The 5 Gyres is a renowned research organization on a mission to conduct research and communicate the global impact of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.

In March, 5 Gyres is leaving on the Sea Dragon expedition for further research on plastic pollution. The expedition will go through Beagle Channel to Valdivia, Chile.

Electrolux will recruit one of the crew members. Maybe you are the one?

Are you the new 5 Gyres crew member?
If you are chosen as a crew member, you will not only embark on an adventure, but you will write blog posts for the Vac from the Sea-blog during the expedition, report on location, provide testimonials of what the plastic patches look like and what kind of plastic is discovered. It is therefore necessary that you are good at writing and have an interest in becoming an ambassador for the issue, sharing your experience back on land.

There are also other requirements for being a crew member, regarding that this is a real expedition, on a small vessel. You must therefore be a good team player, willing to do your share of crew duties on the boat (helping with shifts, cooking, cleaning and assisting the researchers). Relevant skills will of course make you a better team member. We want you to be a full part of the team and to be part of the full duties of the boat. In this, we are all working and learning together.

In return for your dedication, you will be part of an important marine conservation adventure and join an elite team that go to sea on board the Sea Dragon expedition. Your participation will be a tremendous personal experience and will give you a direct role in protecting the world’s oceans by spreading the word together with 5 Gyres and Electrolux. You will build skills, friendships and bring home an earned satisfaction of working on the front lines!

A brief description of life on board
The crew stands a 24‐hour watch, normally in teams. On duty you will be on deck working the sails, helm and other boat functions. Watch teams also help navigate, communicate with other vessels, and readying the next watch crew.

When research is underway, nets may be in the water, cameras may be filming or the small inflatable boats may be on an “away” mission. Your watch role will also include important supporting roles like monitoring the boat systems, cleaning and cooking meals for the crew.

Near shore the routine varies with diving, shore work and even sub‐teams that go on away missions, sometimes for days.

The crew member must…

* Have a genuine interest in environmental issues, particularly in plastic marine pollution

* Be a experienced writer and photographer

* Be a team player who’s willing to do his share of crew duties (helping with shifts, cooking, cleaning and assisting researches when needed)

* Not get seasick easily

* Able to swim 200m

* Able to lift 1/3 their body weight

* Prepared to work odd hours

* Speak functional English

Read more about specific voyage details here.

How to apply
You can apply to become a crew member on the expedition by recording a short film in which you motivate:

* Why you are best suited for the mission
* How your presence will contribute to the journey.

Please include your name and place of living in the video.
Applicants must be 18 years or older.

Uplaod your video to YouTube and mail the link to electrolux@vacfromthesea.com

Time schedule of expedition
The crew member is expected to arrive at Beagle Channel on March 1st for training.

The expedition leaves Beagle Channel on March 3rd and arrives at Valdivia, Chile on March 14th.

Since there will be no docking any applicant must be able to participate in the expedition during these dates.

If you have any questions, please mail us on electrolux@vacfromthesea.com

Application deadline: January 31st.

The winner will be announced on February 8th.

Good luck!

Let’s bring it in, Electrolux is trawling for plastic

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:14:06 GMT

On January 5^th, the 5 Gyres are leaving on an expedition, from Walvis Bay in Namibia to reach Montevideo in Uruguay (February 4^th), crossing the South Atlantic. Electrolux is contributing to the expedition by trawling the water for plastic during the 30 day expedition.

The 5 Gyres mission is to conduct research and communicate about the global impact of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans. It’s their intention to employ strategies that will eliminate the accumulation of plastic pollution in the five subtropical gyres. Their research and education projects aim to create international awareness and effective solutions to stop the flow of plastic pollution into the world’s oceans.

On each expedition, the 5 Gyres team employs a data-collection device called the Manta Trawl. Shaped like a manta ray with aluminum flotation wings, the trawl sieves the ocean’s surface through a fine meshed net, gathering plastic particles and marine organisms. The samples are brought to the Sea Lab in Redondo Beach, CA for analysis. After the expedition and analysis, the plastic is going to be sent to Electrolux to become a part of the Vac from the Sea-exhibition, either as a vacuum cleaner or as display in the exhibition.

You will be able to follow the expedition and trawling here on the blog, where crew members on the expedition will give us updates about their journey and discoveries.

Making of: Vac from the Sea – Baltic Sea Edition

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:13:56 GMT

Collection sites: Sandhamn, Sweden. Gdansk, Poland.

Ragaciems, Klapkalnciems, Latvia.

Method: Coastal cleanups with locals.

Partners: Islanders, Sandhamn, Sweden. The Hel Marine

Station, Słupsk Elementary School, Poland. Pedas, Latvia.

The Baltic Sea Plastic

The plastic litter from three countries covers the vacuum cleaner. Different objects range from plastic bottles filled with non-identifiable liquids to flipflops to numerous bottle caps and beach toys.

The Collection

For the Baltic Sea Edition concept vacuum cleaner, plastic was collected from three different sites in Poland, Sweden and Latvia.

In Sweden, special Vac from the Sea-envelopes were distributed to people in the small harbor of Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago. The envelopes were filled with beach litter and then sent to Electrolux.

In Poland, the collection was organized in cooperation with the Hel Marine Station, a field station part of the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Gdańsk. Beach cleaning is part of its educational program and a group of school children from a Słupsk elementary school helped to collect plastic on the Hel peninsula beaches.

In Latvia, there was an organized beach cleanup at Ragaciems, Klapkalnciems, about 40 kilometers west of Riga.

Making the Vac

The found objects were mounted on a hood made of industrially recycled plastic and then heated up with hot air to follow the sleek contour of the Ultra One.

Making of: Vac from the Sea – North Sea Edition

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:13:39 GMT

Collection site: Skagerrak, Sweden

Method: Coastal cleanup

Partners: Sotenäs Municipality

The North Sea Plastic

About 20 000 tons of garbage is dumped in the North Sea every year. The Bohuslän archipelago, with its thousands of islands and reefs, acts as a filter for the water masses on their way North. Most of the debris sinks to the sea floor, and around 5000 cubic meters of debris floats ashore on the beaches of Bohuslän.

The plastic that was collected on the Bohuslän beaches in Sweden consisted largely of various rinse aid and detergent bottles, cans, plastic buckets, and all kinds of plastic packaging. The plastic has not been bleached in the same way as in the great oceans. It is still loud and strong in color. A lot of the found plastic was also drenched in spill oil.

The Collection

Electrolux cooperated with the beach cleaning team in Sotenäs Municipality operated by Produktionsskolan. The team makes daily trips along the coast to clean the most vulnerable beaches. The debris used for the concept vac was collected in one of the hidden coves of Ramsvik.

Making the Vac

The plastic was washed clean and cut in pieces. The bright colored pieces were then punched into circular tokens. These tokens were then applied onto a fiberglass weave and moulded to follow the shape of the vacuum cleaner.

Making of: Vac from the Sea - Mediterranean Edition

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:41:09 GMT

Collection site: St Cyr-sur-Mer, France
Method: Beach cleanup
Partner: Surfrider Foundation

The Plastic:
Most of the plastic from St Cyr-sur-Mer was composed of plastic objects thrown or washed out to sea from the great beaches. PET-bottles, food containers, beverage cans and beach toys. Tourism provides the Mediterranean Sea with tons of plastic on a daily basis. Plastic litter is a well known problem along the Mediterranean coasts. Sometimes the debris lays visible on the beach. Sometimes it is hidden from the human eye, between the stones or under the sand.

The Collection:
Electrolux employees teamed up with the Surfrider Foundation to collect plastic debris. The collection site was set for the beaches and piers of les Leques at St Cyr-sur-Mer, in the South of France. In just one day, several bags of plastic were retrieved from the rocks and sand beds by the shore.

Making the Vac:
The plastic from the Mediterranean was cut into heart shaped pieces and then attached to a thin shell of industrially recycled plastic. In order to form the plastic close to the vacuum cleaner the designers used hot air.

Making of: Vac from the Sea – Indian Ocean Edition

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:40:46 GMT

Collection site: Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Method: Coral reef diving

Partners: Blue View Divers

The Indian Ocean Plastic:

The majority of rubbish gathered off the beaches and coral reefs consisted of discarded empty beer bottles, broken glass, plastic straws, spoons and uncountable chunks of Styrofoam. The divers had to cut nets and plastic bags loose from the coral reef. The total rubbish collected over the two day cleanup event amounted to 962 kilos.

The Collection:
Blue View Divers in Thailand coordinated a cleanup on Loh Dalum Bay, a two kilometer stretch of beach on Koh Phi Phi Don. There were a total of around 40 volunteers participating in the cleanup. Even tourists got involved and helped out by filling bags with rubbish off the beach. The next day seven members of the Blue View Divers team took part in a dive and beach cleanup around the marine park islands of Koh Phi Phi Ley. At one site, Pileh Wall, the divers found several fish nets that had become entangled in the staghorn corals.

Making the Vac:
The collected plastics intended for the concept vac were split in a shredder into small square pieces. The white and colored plastic squares were then mounted in a pattern that covers the entire top and the hub caps on the vacuum cleaner. Pieces of plastic bottles with brighter colors were used as accents.

Bienvenidos a Vac from the Sea

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:32:41 GMT

Bienvenidos a Vac from the Sea,

Nuestros océanos están llenos de residuos de plástico. Sin embargo, en la tierra hay escasez de plástico reciclado.

El suministro de materias primas sostenibles, como el plástico reciclado, es fundamental para crear aparatos sostenibles y ayudar a los consumidores a crear hogares más verdes.

Por eso espero su colaboración para aumentar la concienciación sobre la amenaza que supone el plástico para los hábitats marinos y sobre la necesidad urgente de utilizar mejor el plástico que ya existe.

Hans Stråberg Presidente y Director Ejecutivo de Electrolux

¡Empiece a recoger!

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:32:37 GMT

“A veces, la belleza puede ser una llamada a la acción. En este caso, se trata de seguir unas sencillas normas de mantenimiento planetario, pero en un sentido más amplio se trata de seguir las extrañas voces de la inspiración y las pasiones, porque el verdadero opuesto a la belleza es la indiferencia.”

Durante 10 años, Judith Selby Lang y Richard Lang han recogido más de dos toneladas de plásticos en una única playa de Point Reyes National Seashore. Al transformar los restos de plástico en obras de arte, los artistas aumentan la concienciación sobre la gran variedad y ubicuidad de los restos de plástico y su impacto en ecosistemas marinos sensibles.

Encontrará más información sobre el trabajo de los Lang en su sitio web Beach Plastic y su blog Plastic Forever.

Las Ocean Initiatives

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:32:37 GMT

Surfrider Foundation Europe es una Organización no gubernamental (ONG, asociación según la Ley de 1901) dedicada a la protección y mejora del entorno costero. Su objetivo es la “defensa, conservación, mejora y gestión sostenible del mar, las playas, las olas y las personas que disfrutan de ellas”.

Gracias a sus coordinadores a sueldo en toda Europa, su red de puestos avanzados voluntarios (casi 50) y más de 1.000 voluntarios, Surfrider ha podido poner en práctica varias iniciativas de protección medioambiental.

Entre ellas se encuentran las “Ocean Initiatives”, una campaña mundial para aumentar la concienciación sobre la existencia de macro-vertidos (desechos de origen humano presentes en el medio ambiente) acompañada de una campaña de limpieza de playas y costas que se realiza anualmente. Se anima a la población, a los clubes y a demás asociaciones a llevar a cabo sus propias limpiezas e iniciativas para aumentar la concienciación, con ayuda de los equipos y programas de Surfrider. Con más de 800 operaciones “Ocean Initiatives” simultáneas en 2010, esto significa que se han eliminado centenares de metros cúbicos de macro-residuos de las playas, lo que ha servido para mantener la concienciación sobre el tema entre la sociedad.

Las campañas de concienciación lideradas por Surfrider también se celebran a escala más local, por ejemplo llevando a cabo operaciones de concienciación medioambiental con empleados de empresas, como Electrolux. La pequeña operación de recogida de desechos, en conjunción con el proyecto Vac from the Sea, duró unas dos horas y se eliminó casi un metro cúbico de macro-residuos. El 70% eran plásticos.

Benjamin van Hoorebeke, responsable de educación de Surfrider Foundation Europe, explica el objetivo de este tipo de operaciones:

“Es vital que empleados de una empresa como Electrolux actúen sobre el terreno, así se sensibilizan sobre los problemas de los macro-residuos. De este modo pueden apreciar personalmente el alcance de la contaminación, lo que les anima a mejorar cada día su comportamiento personal y laboral. Esta acción, que es algo más que una mera limpieza, encuentra su auténtica utilidad al enseñar un comportamiento ecológicamente responsable, para reducir la contaminación antes de que se produzca, en lugar de tener que enfrentarse a las consecuencias.”

Posts anteriores:
Un robot usa láser para clasificar plásticos
La majestuosa bolsa de plástico
Vac persona a persona
¡Empiece a recoger!
Desechos eternos
Una palabra
Fecha para limpiar en Tailandia
5 Gyres: Cruzando los remolinos
5 Gyres: Plástico en los océanos del mundo
Plástico azul y blanco en las playas hawaianas
La naturaleza de la acumulación de plásticos
Recogida de restos en el Océano Pacífico
Un canal de noticias sueco trata el problema de los restos de plástico
¿Qué es el plástico?
Plastiki llega a Sydney
Futuros sostenibles - ¿Puede el diseño marcar la diferencia?
Arte procedente de los desechos de plástico
El reto de reciclar plástico
Fecha para la limpieza en Hawai
En el estudio de diseño
Recogida de restos en Skagerrak, Mar del Norte
Costa frágil
Fabricación de las aspiradoras
Recogida de plástico en el sur de Francia
¿Qué es la mancha de basura del Pacífico?
Reciclaje del plástico
Bienvenidos a Vac from the Sea 
 

Ramsvik

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:32:38 GMT

Ramsvik, cerca de Smögen y Kungshamn, es uno de los lugares donde Electrolux ha empezado a recoger restos de plástico para el proyecto Vac from the Sea. La semana pasada nos unimos a la iniciativa de limpieza de la comunidad local y acudimos al archipiélago de las Skagerrak para recoger basura en el océano.

Cada año, a lo largo de la costa de Bohuslän en Suecia se acumulan grandes cantidades de desechos. Las corrientes del Mar del Norte y el Mar Báltico conducen los restos flotantes hasta Skagerrak, donde se recoge y acumula en nuestras costas. La mayor parte del material no es biodegradable y está formado por hasta un 80% de plástico, aunque también se encuentran fueles, desechos químicos y médicos y productos militares. Se acumula en bancos donde se mezcla con algas y hierbas en las grutas y en los huecos de las rocas.

Pronto habrá más imágenes e información.

Reciclaje del plástico

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:32:38 GMT

No hay cifras exactas sobre la cantidad de plástico que se recicla.

Según el informe “The Compelling facts About Plastics 2009", un análisis sobre la producción Europea afirma que alrededor del 20% del plástico de consumo se recicla en Europa, aunque hay enormes diferencias dentro de esta región.

;

Making of: Vac from the Sea – Pacific Edition

Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:39:54 GMT

Collection site: Kahuku and Kamilo beaches, Hawaii, USA

Method: Beach cleanup

Local partner: Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.)

Plastic particles collected by B.E.A.C.H.

The Pacific Plastic:
The plastic from the Pacific Ocean was different in shape and color than the debris from the other collection sites. It was bleached by the sun and corroded by salt water. Many of the found objects found on Hawaii for the Pacific Edition were covered with barnacles and annelid worms. Other objects had traces of bite marks from sharks.

Plastic being sorted by B.E.A.C.H. volunteers.

The Collection:
The organization Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (B.E.A.C.H.) sorted the plastic manually and separated the tiniest pieces from organic debris – bit by bit. The drifting plastic grain that fills our oceans consists of minute particles, some only a few millimeters or less in width. This plastic debris is highly dangerous. One of the reasons to this is because of the chemicals that the plastic was made with in the first place. The chemicals can easily be swallowed by fish and make its way through the entire food chain – to both animals and humans. The plastic for the Pacific Vac was collected on the shoreline using rakes, sand sifters and buckets. Natural debris, such as coral and shells, was returned to the beach.

Plastic has arrived at the Electrolux Design Studio.

Making the Vac:
The plastic gravel was poured onto fiberglass moulds that covers the entire hood of the vac and its hub caps. A plastic rope was turned into a handle. By studying how small these plastic particles are one understands how hard it is to remove the plastic once it got into the oceans. It is a wake-up call and the concept Vac from the Pacific Sea serves as a reminder of one of our most important environmental issues.

Introducing the Vacs from the Sea

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:54:13 GMT

From left to right: North Sea Edition, Indian Ocean Edition, Mediterranean Sea Edition,

Pacific Ocean Edition, Baltic Sea Edition.

After several months of plastic hunting in the world’s major oceans and seas – in coral reefs, coast lines, sandy beaches and rocky crevices – five Vacs from the Sea from five oceans have finally been designed, constructed and are ready to be displayed to the world.

Each of the five unique vacuum cleaners represents the ocean from which the plastic originates. All the models are fully functional and have been built using the same core structure (chassis, engine, and bag compartment) as the new Electrolux Ultra One Green-model. The plastic debris has been collected in partnership with organizations and people that already are engaged in the issue.

The vacuum cleaners embody the plastic paradox: oceans are full of plastic waste, yet on land there is a shortage of recycled plastic for producing sustainable vacuum cleaners. Electrolux makes Green Range vacuum cleaners from 70% recycled plastic, but wants to reach 100%.

A word from Hans Stråberg, CEO and President, Electrolux:

- I would like to thank everyone that has brought attention to the issue and express my deepest gratitude to our partners, for providing us with knowledge and working with us in gathering plastic from the world’s oceans.

A word from Cecilia Nord, Vice President – Floor Care Sustainability and Environmental Affairs, Electrolux:

- Our intention is to bring awareness to the situation and the need for better plastic karma. So far, over 60 million people have been reached and we are continuing the initiative following the great response.

Electrolux is now looking into auctioning out one vacuum cleaner, where the revenue goes to research. A next step is also to get the official tour schedule for the Vacs from the Sea ready, in order to display them in consumer and industry forums.

During the following week, we will post more information about each Vac from the Sea.

Mission: Gather plastic for the Baltic Sea Edition

Tue, 26 Oct 2010 13:04:11 GMT

In connection with the Vac from the Sea-initiative, plastic debris has been gathered in many different ways. For the concept vacuum cleaner called The Baltic Sea Edition, plastic was collected from three different sites in Poland, Sweden and Latvia. In Sweden, the collection site was Sandhamn, a small island in the Stockholm archipelago. Special Vac from the Sea-envelopes were distributed to people in the small harbor. Sandhamn is known for its sailing and on this particular day, there were not only one, but two sailing races taking place. Needless to say, the harbor was packed. And so were the envelopes. More about the event in this blog post.

In Poland, the collection was organized in cooperation with the Hel Marine Station, a field station part of the Institute of Oceanography at the University of Gdańsk. Beach cleaning is part of its educational program, where the aim is to sensitize children regarding Baltic sea issues. A group of school children from Słupsk, elementary school helped to collect plastic on the Hel peninsula beaches.

In Latvia there was a beach cleanup at Ragaciems, Klapkalnciems, about 40 kilometers west of Riga. The NGO Pedas helped to organize the cleanup together with Electrolux employees. Found objects ranged from plastic bottles filled with non-identifyable liquids to flipflops to numerous bottle caps and beach toys.

100% Recycled Plastic

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:26:24 GMT

Plastic waste obtained from electronic devices, toys, drink trays and stadium seats is seldom used in end products due to the complexity of separating the various categories of plastics. The Chilean designer Rodrigo Alonso Schramm and his Happy Ideas Lab has developed a special rotomoulding technique to create furniture out of plastic waste. With this technique the material can be re-crushed and re-rotomoulded to form a new object. His 100 %-recycled concept was designed for Fahneu, an urban equipment company in Santiago de Chile. The innovative technique results in dynamic forms and eye catchy color tones in a set of stackable stools. The moulds were designed to use less energy, materials and eventual costs, coupled with ease of its construction.

”We worked at the time of the designing of the moulds with the concept of building volumes with flat faces only. That is, irregular polygons forming a three dimensional structure. This was made possible by straight cuts made in a sphere with flat surfaces. Result: an irregular polyhedron built with irregular polygons.” says Rodrigo Alonso Schramm.

Rodrigo Alonso Schramm has won numerous prizes worldwide for his innovative green design and his creations have appeared in magazines in all major design and lifestyle magazines.

Check out his other recycling design experiments here.

Companies Must Lead the Way
Robot Uses Lasers to Sort Plastic
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Making a People’s Vac
Start Collecting!
Eternal Debris
One Word
Date Set for Clean Up in Thailand
5 Gyres: Crossing the Gyres
5 Gyres: Plastic in the World's Oceans
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the Nature of Plastic Accumulation
Collecting Debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish News Channel Raises the Plastic Debris Issue
What is Plastic?
Plastiki Just Arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can Design Make a Difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a Challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting Plastic in the South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic Recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Companies Must Lead the Way

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:23:34 GMT

Väderöarna is a previously inhabited archipelago consisting of hundreds of rocky islets in the Skagerrak. Much of the plastic debris from the North Sea floats ashore on the islands' beaches.

With the majority of industries using plastic in products wherever possible, the plastics industry works closely with many different customer groups. In plastics recycling, this cooperation can definitely be intensified in areas such as:

• Development of products to make them simpler and safer to recycle

• Development of better return systems, particularly with regard to recycling plastic in electric and electronic products (there are certain limitations in this area, but opportunities too)

• Communication with end customers and consumers about returning and recycling, including labelling, guidelines on return systems etc.

• Development of products increasingly based on recycled plastic

• Making the recycling market more transparent and clear, so that companies like Electrolux are more easily able to access the plastic they need, preferably according to specific quality criteria

• Development of plastic based on renewable natural resources which are also recyclable

• Joint promotion of the collection and recycling concept by means of tangible products made of recycled plastic: "Look, it works!"

We at EPRO, European Association of Plastics Recycling and Recovery Organisations, have played an active role in the establishment of EPBP, the European PET Bottle Platform. This is a cooperation initiative supported by the plastics industry, recycling organisations and, last but not least, PET bottle users. The initiative is aimed at ensuring new technology and product improvements, i.e. new PET bottles, are always recyclable prior to their market launch. In this way we avoid the sale of ultra-new bottles that are not recyclable and also undermine the recycling process for other bottles.

EPRO organises the Best Recycled Product award, which is presented to the year's best product made of recycled plastic. This enables us to promote a specific product and – particularly important – the concept of collecting and recycling, i.e. an ecocycle society.

In Europe, there is a tendency for organisations to talk to other organisations. It is my belief that it is also possible to intensify direct dialogue between organisations and companies, whatever sector they operate in. This will help generate more creativity and dynamics. It is important to find a balance between what is developed collectively and what may happen individually. Either way, there is a need for companies that are able to lead the way and pay for projects. A typical project could involve opening up the market, i.e. adding transparency to the recycling market, because at the moment people either have to be experts or buy an expensive database in order to keep up. One starting point could be plastics fractions in which Electrolux might be interested!

The plastics industry is made up of many sectors and organisations. There is certainly scope for better team play. On the other hand, it is often the case that different organisations have different roles and diverging interests.

The plastics industry and its sectors have a constant stream of new directives and legislation to comply with. But that is not enough. It can be even more important to listen to initiatives from their customers. New consumer demands have often proved a more effective catalyst for a better environment than new rules and regulations alone. The world needs Electrolux and other global companies that are able to place concrete items on the agenda and demand improvements in order to create a better environment. And dialogue can be an effective working practice on the road to improvement.

Peter Sundt, Secretary General EPRO

The Oceans Initiative
Robot Uses Lasers to Sort Plastic
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Making a People’s Vac
Start Collecting!
Eternal Debris
One Word
Date Set for Clean Up in Thailand
5 Gyres: Crossing the Gyres
5 Gyres: Plastic in the World's Oceans
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the Nature of Plastic Accumulation
Collecting Debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish News Channel Raises the Plastic Debris Issue
What is Plastic?
Plastiki Just Arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can Design Make a Difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a Challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting Plastic in the South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic Recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Robot Uses Lasers to Sort Plastic

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:09:49 GMT

Earlier this year, Osaka University unveiled a recycling robot that uses lasers to sort different types of plastics. Most plastics are recyclable, but only 6 % end up in recycling bins. PET and PS are recycled but their production rates are low – 5 and 7.6% of the total plastic production, respectively. PE and PP have not been recycled as they are not distinguishable by eye, though their production rates are the highest; 23 and 22%, respectively. The recycling robot has laser “eyes” and sensors that can distinguish between six different types of plastics for easier recycling.

It is expected to reduce CO2 emission greatly by paving the way for recycling many kinds of plastics. The recycling robot won’t be in a home soon (it costs $55,000), but Osaka University researchers hope to produce a smaller version that would fit into an ordinary kitchen, close to the recycling and compost bins. The robot is designed by IDEC, the Photonics Advanced Research Center, and Mitsubishi Electric Engineering and the whole project is supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan.

Source: Osaka University, Japan.

Previous Posts:
The Majestic Plastic Bag
Making a People’s Vac
Start Collecting!
Eternal Debris
One Word
Date Set for Clean Up in Thailand
5 Gyres: Crossing the Gyres
5 Gyres: Plastic in the World's Oceans
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the Nature of Plastic Accumulation
Collecting Debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish News Channel Raises the Plastic Debris Issue
What is Plastic?
Plastiki Just Arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can Design Make a Difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a Challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting Plastic in the South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic Recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

The Majestic Plastic Bag

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:41:13 GMT

Narrated by Academy Award-winner Jeremy Irons, this "mockumentary" video, stresses the reality of California's plastic bag pollution situation. The video were released by the Heal the Bay organization in Santa Monica, California. as promo in support of California bill AB 1998 to help put an end to plastic pollution. Heal the Bay’s efforts are focused on Santa Monica Bay and surrounding Southern California coastal waters. Their work, however, often impacts water quality for the entire state of California and even the whole U.S.

Previous Posts:
Making a People’s Vac
Start Collecting!
Eternal Debris
One Word
Date Set for Clean Up in Thailand
5 Gyres: Crossing the Gyres
5 Gyres: Plastic in the World's Oceans
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the Nature of Plastic Accumulation
Collecting Debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish News Channel Raises the Plastic Debris Issue
What is Plastic?
Plastiki Just Arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can Design Make a Difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a Challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting Plastic in the South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic Recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Making a People’s Vac

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 17:06:59 GMT

Plastic debris in the ocean concerns us all. Up until now, we have worked together with different kinds of organizations to collect plastic from the Pacific, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the North Sea. For the Baltic Sea – why not involve the man or woman on the street? Or more precisely – the man or woman on the sea.

This weekend, on Saturday August 27^th, we set off for Sandhamn, a small half-island in the Stockholm archipelago. The aim of the trip: encourage people that live close to the water and travel across it to collect pieces of plastic they come across when out at sea, and send the plastic to us. Out of the plastic collected, a Vac from the Baltic Sea, co-created by people, will be produced.

Sandhamn is known for its sailing and on this particular day, there were not only one, but two sailing races taking place. Needless to say, the harbor was packed. A great number of people wanted to help the cause and do the Baltic Sea a favor.

Eternal Debris

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:58:00 GMT

Toothbrush from the Sea. Photo: Thomas Engström

When we go through the bags from the various collection sites, we find many everyday objects. In addition to all plastic packaging, bottles and plastic cutlery, we also find many toothbrushes, combs and toys. Sun-bleached and worn out after decades at sea. Polished by sand, crushed against the rocks. Sure, there is a beauty in these patinated objects, but also something that frightens us. Many of these objects are very old. The plastic is eternal. If nothing is done soon it will survive us all.

Debris on a beach in Hawaii. Photo: Thomas Engström

One Word

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:24:19 GMT

Home: the SSV Corwith Cramer.

I just want to say one word to all of you. Just one word.

Are you listening?

Plastics.

Forty-three years ago this sage advice was given to Benjamin Braddock, played by 29-year-old Dennis Hopper, at a cocktail party in the 1967 film The Graduate. At the time, plastics were a booming industry for a young college graduate to be involved with.

A net tow in action.

No more than five years after The Graduate hit theaters, in 1972, the first studies regarding plastic accumulation in the North Atlantic were published in the journal Science. Edward Carpenter, a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, conducted eleven surface net tows and found that an increased prevalence of plastic in everyday use will “undoubtedly lead to increases in the concentration of these particles.”

Plastic in the open ocean is not a new phenomenon. We’ve known about it for years.

So far we've found over 40 000 pieces of plastic in our nets.

This summer, thirty-three volunteer deckhands and professional crewmen from Sea Education Association (SEA). set sail on the 134 ft. SSV Corwith Cramer to further investigate the problem. We conducted over 128 surface net tows and found over 40 000 pieces of plastic in our nets. From on deck, we saw hiking boots, loofahs, toilet seats, nutrition fact labels, you name it. At one point, we caught a five-gallon bucket in our one-meter long neuston net. It just floated right in (along with thousands of other pieces of plastic and a few coastal-dwelling triggerfish that happened to follow the bucket out to sea.) You can’t make this stuff up.

In the lab.

Although we scooped a good amount of plastic from the surface, our aim was not to clean up the ocean. Instead, we sought to study plastics from a scientific perspective. Where is the plastic coming from? How much plastic is out there? Where can we find the most? Where is it going? Is there any microbial life attached to plastic? Plastic in the open ocean is a modern day sea-monster: no head, no arms, no legs, but an endless body. Cleaning up the problem is near impossible. Learning from our bad habits, asking questions about plastic’s nature – and conversely, our nature – seems a better use of resources.

Setting sails.

Like Dennis Hopper in The Graduate, I’m a recent college graduate. This summer I teach sailing in Newport, Rhode Island. Everyday I sail Narragansett Bay and watch as plastic bags, milk gallon jugs and plastic bottles float by. No one seems to notice. I must admit, I never did either. Only when I was confronted with where this plastic goes, where it drifts off to, did I realize the environmental quandary we have on our hands, in our oceans.

So, regarding plastics. Are you listening? I have just one word for you. One word.

Recycle.

Tyson Bottenus,

Volunteer on the Plastic at SEA Expedition 2010

Date Set for Dive Clean Up in Thailand

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:40:04 GMT

Photo from stock.xchng

On the 20^th and 21^st of August we’re off to the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand. Together with the Blue View Divers we’ll do a dive clean up and gather plastic debris that has gotten stuck in coral reefs.

The Blue View Divers group was formed in 2006, and has since been involved in a number of environmental projects. A long term goal for the group is to educate more locals about preserving and protecting the coral reefs in the waters where they dive.

5 Gyres: Crossing the Gyres

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:15:19 GMT

In January 2010, the 5 Gyres team crossed the North Atlantic Gyre - also called the Sargasso Sea, aboard our partner Pangaea Exploration's 72-foot, steel hulled Sea Dragon. We sailed through mats of Sargassum filled with plastic trash, and found plastic particles in every one of our surface samples. On the Islands – Bermuda and the Azores – we found beaches awash in plastic trash. With few resources to deal with waste recovery and disposal, islands are in great need of innovative solutions.

Shortly after, we were invited to cross the Indian Ocean Gyre, from Perth Australia to Mauritius, off the coast of Madagascar. Again, not a single one of our samples were free of plastic – shredded plastic packaging, bottle caps, ice cream containers, and plastic pellets served to remind us of where this problem begins – in our own backyards.

We’re now planning 8 expeditions to the South Atlantic and Pacific Gyres, completing our global survey. We invite scientists, journalists, filmmakers, and interested citizens on board, to experience this issue directly, and serve as global ambassadors when they return. Our goal is to bring plastic marine pollution to an International audience, and encourage companies, governments, and citizens to get involved in realistic solutions. We applaud Electrolux for helping to raise awareness, and look forward to supporting one another’s efforts. For more information, visit 5gyres.org

Previous Posts:
5 Gyres: plastic in the world's oceans
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the nature of the Plastic Accumulation
Collecting debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

5 Gyres: plastic in the world’s oceans

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:10:39 GMT

Many have by now heard about plastic in the North Pacific Gyre, a massive, slow-rotating oceanic system formed by opposing currents, winds, and the earth’s rotation. Plastic trash from land – the water bottles, bags, toys, cups, packaging, and other disposable objects we use and toss daily – make their way out to sea through rivers, storm drains, and our own carelessness. Swept up into the currents of the gyre, these durable petroleum products can travel thousands of miles, ensnaring untold thousands of marine animals, fouling remote beaches, and breaking into microscopic fragments that enter the marine food web.

But what few people realize is that the problem expands far beyond the North Pacific. There are in fact 5 subtropical gyres where plastic trash may accumulate – The North and South Pacific, North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. The 5 Gyres Project has now been to three of the five, and found “garbage patches” throughout.

Over the past 5 years, we’ve crossed the North Pacific Gyre 3 times with the Algalita Marine Research Foundation, including once on a JUNK raft built from 15,000 plastic bottles.

With Algalita, we saw a rapid increase in the amount of plastic floating on the oceans surface, and new evidence of plastic in the stomachs of fish. This image below of a Rainbow Runner, caught by our JUNK sailors 500 miles off the coast of Hawaii, illustrates the potential human health issue – 17 pieces of plastic in the stomach of a single fish.

This prompted the launch of 5 Gyres, to study plastic pollution at a global level, and begin investigating some of the unanswered questions. Namely - what is the global distribution of plastic waste? And do toxins from plastic accumulate in the tissues of animals, including the fish we eat?

Tomorrow we’ll write more about what we’ve seen on our expeditions and conclusions we’ve made. We’ll also tell you about our future plans.

Previous Posts:
Mainly Blue and White Plastic on Hawaiian Beaches
Understanding the nature of the Plastic Accumulation
Collecting debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Mainly Blue and White plastic on Hawaiian Beaches

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:57:40 GMT

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Suzanne Frazer from B.E.A.C.H. talks about the different pieces of plastic that get washed ashore on Hawaii. To watch the clip, click on the image above.

Previous Posts:
Understanding the nature of the Plastic Accumulation Collecting debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Understanding the nature of the Plastic Accumulation

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 15:07:25 GMT

Since the mid 70's SEA Education Association has been sampling plastics from the North Atlantic, the 10th of June they set sailed again. SEA is an educational institution dedicated to exploration, understanding and stewardship of the oceans, and to the study of humanity's relationship with the oceans.

During the 34 days at sea they traveled over 3800 nautical miles and gathered more than 48 000 pieces of plastic. The plastic samples are now taken back to their lab to be analyzed, and the results will give us further understanding about the plastic patches in the oceans.

To watch SEA's clip from the last day of the expedition click on the play-button above.

Previous Posts:
Collecting debris from the Pacific Ocean
Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Collecting debris from the Pacific Ocean

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:14:26 GMT

Photo by Thomas Engström

This weekend we joined B.E.A.C.H. and local volunteers on Hawaii to collect debris from the Pacific Ocean. These are the first images from the expedition, which was set north of Honolulu and took of about 5:30 in the morning to avoid the strong heat from the mid day sun. More pictures and film to come.

Photo by Thomas Engström

Previous Posts:
Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Swedish news channel raises the plastic debris issue

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:09:14 GMT

Swedish news channel Tv4 Väst showed a three minute long feature on collecting plastic litter in Sotenäs in the Swedish archipelago. Per-Joel Andersson, leader for the team in Sotenäs, pointed out the problem with the small parts of degraded plastic littering the archipelago.

- If you take a closer look on the beach there are small parts that we can’t take care of. What to do with these, I don’t know, Per-Joel said showing a handful of plastic litter.

Collecting the plastic litter for Vac from the Sea, Cecilia Nord, Vice President, Floor Care Environmental and Sustainability Affairs, at Electrolux, talked about the importance of taking the plastic debris issue seriously.

- The usage of plastic is increasing each year, if we can’t create sustainable systems for taking care of and recycle plastic, the debris problem will become unmanageable, said Cecilia Nord.

Se the whole clip here:
Skräp blir dammsugare

Previous Posts:
What is Plastic
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

What is plastic?

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:53:07 GMT

Photo from stock.xchng

PLASTIC(S) from the latin word plasticus, (“plastic”, “malleable”), is a synthetic material made from one or more polymers combined with a variety of additives. Polymers are natural or synthetic substances that are formed of chain molecules. Polymers are what give plastics its special characteristics. All plastic are malleable at some point during the manufacturing process.

There are two main types of plastic – Thermosetting plastics and Thermoplastics. Thermosetting plastics do not melt when heated. Instead they turn to ash and therefore cannot be used to make new objects. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, softens when heated and can be reshaped and therefore used to make new objects. Here are some of the most common plastics, and plastic varieties that have been important in the history of plastics.

Celluoid. The first plastic. Semi synthetic, based on cellulose (the material that cell walls in plants are made of).

Bakelite. Thermosetting plastic. Hard and dark. The first synthetic plastic.

Carbamide plastics. Thermosetting plastic. Slightly grainy surface. The first plastic suitable for household goods.

Melamine plastic. Thermosetting plastic. Smooth surface. Hard and resistant to light and heat.

Polystyrene. Thermoplastic. Hard but fragile. One the first thermoplastics. Later improved – heat resistant and robust.

Polyethylene. Thermoplastic. Waxy surface. Very common in household goods.

PVC. Thermoplastic. PVC means Polyvinyl chloride. Used in, for example, rain coats and toys.

Nylon. Thermoplastic. A synthetic polyamide fiber that can be used for textiles and other items.

Previous Posts:
Plastiki just arrived in Sydney
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Plastiki just arrived in Sydney

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:53:15 GMT

Photo from Plastiki website

After 130 days at sea Plastiki, the catamaran made out of 12 500 plastic bottles, just arrived in Sydney. The voyage started in San Francisco the 22 of march and in total the catamaran have traveled 8393 nautical miles. The aim with the project is to raise awareness of the over usage of plastic bottles and to make people re-think waste as a resource. Everyday you’ve been able to track not only Plastiki itself, but also how many plastic bottles that have been used in USA since the departure.

Previous Posts:
Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Sustainable Futures - Can design make a difference?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:58:03 GMT

Both Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter and environmental site Treehugger writes about the exhibition Sustainable Futures at the Design Museum in London. The exhibition is opened until the 5th September and is set out to answer the question; Can design make a difference?

Sustainability and design is explored around five themes: Cities, Energy and Economics, Food, Materiality and Creative Citizens. Under each theme the exhibition shows different ongoing projects that in somehow are aiming to get the visitor to think about the impact one makes on the world, and how to change it.

One of the projects shown is Plastiki, the catamaran made out of 12 500 recycled plastic bottles that just arrived in Sidney after 126 days at sea. Plastiki is a project aiming to raise awareness about re-thinking waste as a resource, and with smart design decrease our impact on the environment.

Previous Posts:
Creating Art out of Plastic Debris
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Creating Art out of Plastic Debris

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:00:47 GMT

If you look around, there are many creative and artistic ways to approach recycling. One we came across is artist Steve McPherson. For over 15 years Steve has been collecting objects from beaches of the North Kent Coast of the UK, and turning them into pieces of art. It started when he was a teenager running around the beaches with his friends looking for objects to burn. But as he grew older he started collecting pieces turning them in to art and to use in his diaries and journals.

In his most recent work, Steve combines found objects from his local coast, with a summary text that gives the object a potential identity and history. He sees the fact that the objects are lost and then found, fills them with a story and an interconnectedness. But he likes the fact that he doesn’t know the truth to why they are lost.

- The truth of these objects now becomes a matter for questioning and is itself filled with countless possible beautiful alternatives, Steve says.

The environmental issue is a big one for Steve. He is aware of that the mark he makes on the actual environment, by cleaning the beaches, is small compared to the actual problem. But the art is his way of raising awareness to the problem.

- Plastic pollution is a growing problem not a diminishing one, and we have yet to begin to understand its true impact or the long term cost to the environment and ourselves.

Steve’s art is not only a way to remind us that there’s more than one way to recycle, but he also reminds us that we’re all connected through the sea. He talks about the sea's way of being local and global at the same time.

- When someone throws something overboard on the coast of the USA it may end up in the Azores or Portugal or on the West coast of the UK. Connecting me, the finder, who is local, with the sea that brought it and the person who discarded it, which are or may be global. The world oceans are vast yet finite; they have no borders.

More info about Steve:
Steve McPherson
Steve McPherson - News and Events
MarinePlastic.org

Previous Posts:
Recycling Plastic - a challenge
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Recycling plastics – a challenge

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:53:54 GMT

Computers, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners all have one thing in common. When they are no longer functional it is often less expensive to throw them away rather than repair them. Every year millions of tons of plastics-rich waste are generated. Most of these mixed plastics are difficult to recycle and reuse due to the fact that it is hard to identify and separate the different plastics from each other.

Electrolux is working together with MBA Polymers that has developed a process where it is possible to economically recover distinct types and even grades of plastics from mixed plastics-rich waste. The mixed plastic is first separated from non-plastics and then sorted by type and grade using a fully automated process that converts the material to high value new materials.

Previous Posts:
Date Set for Hawaii
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Date Set for Hawaii

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:58:22 GMT

Things are moving forward! On July 25th we'll team up with organization B.E.A.C.H. on Hawaii and head for Kahuku beach North of Honolulu. Here, plastic debris from the Pacific Ocean continuously gets carried to the beach by the waves. Suzanne Frazer at B.E.A.C.H. describes it as "if the ocean is throwing up to get the debris out of its system". From tiny grains to larger items - the cocktail of plastic debris in the water is complex. More info and documentation to come.

Previous Posts:
At the Design Studio
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

At the Design Studio

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:16:05 GMT

The first collected plastic is starting to arrive at the Electrolux design studio. Soon a first prototype will be made to test how the sea plastic behaves when it is molded into a finished vacuum cleaner.

The challenges are many;

Which parts can be made with plastic from the sea?

How do you solve the problem with casting together different types of plastic?

And what will the final vacs look like with plastic from different oceans?

It is an exciting work.

Previous Posts:
Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Collecting Debris in Skagerrak, the North Sea

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:15:00 GMT

The plastic is hidden in the grass among seaweed and driftwood. Sometimes you have to dig deep in the sand to release fishing nets and long plastic ropes. Sometimes it feels like the sand dunes hide more plastic than we can ever remove.

The rocks are slippery and the terrain is difficult to cross with your hands full. The operation to load the heavy sacks into the boat takes a long time.

A day's work results in a huge pile of plastic, collected from just a few square meters of coastline. It is a good day's work, but cleaning up the whole coast is close to a sisyphean task.

Back in the harbor after a whole day at just one narrow cove of the Bohuslän archipelago. A great amount of plastic debris, nearly 40 sacks, has been loaded from the boat. One of the sacks is now on its way to the Electrolux design studio. The first Vac from the Sea is soon to be created.

Previous Posts:
Fragile Coast
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Fragile coast

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:01:17 GMT

Debris in the Bohuslän archipelago

As we reported before, we have collected plastic on the West Coast of Sweden, outside of Bohuslän. The plastic is now on its way to the Electrolux design studio.

No other coastline in Sweden is so severely impacted by sea debris than that of Bohuslän. This specific coast, due to its geographical location, is exposed to the complex system of currents that runs through the North Sea and Skagerrak. Practically all surface waters in the North Sea sooner or later meet the Bohuslän coast, including the Jutland current.

About 20 000 tonnes of garbage is dumped in the North Sea every year. The Bohuslän archipelago, with its thousands of islands and reefs, acts as a filter for the water masses on their way North. Most of the debris sinks to the sea floor, and around 5000 cubic meters of debris floats ashore on the beaches of Bohuslän.

Most of the debris that reaches the country consists of plastic products such as fish boxes, fishing gear and plastic bottles. Before, man-made products such as fishing gear and ropes which were washed up decomposed after some years on the beaches, but when plastic was introduced to society after World War II, the piles of debris have grown on the beaches and become one of the biggest problems in the marine environment.

Source: ”Strandskräp i Bohuslän en internationell miljöfråga” by Roland Olin, Västkuststiftelsen (West Coast Foundation)

Previous Posts:
Making the Vacs
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Making the Vacs

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 23:52:21 GMT

A sketch by the design team of what the vacs might look like.

Here is a short update for you. We are now starting to get the first batches of plastic and are in the middle of preparations to collect on Hawaii together with B.E.A.C.H. In the coming days we will be posting more documentation.

The people in our modeling studio are ready to face the obvious challenges of making functioning vacs out of the collected debris. Discovery News correctly points out some of the things to consider. The size of the plastic material will vary – from microscopic grains to identifiable items. Separating and classifying the different kind of plastic will be a challenge. We hope to be able to share this as we get further into this endeavor.

But, as they say: if you don’t succeed at first, try, try again.

Previous Posts:
Collecting plastic in South of France
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

Collecting plastic in the South of France

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 23:47:41 GMT

Electrolux employees team up with the Surfrider Foundation to collect plastic debris for the Vac from the Sea-project. Where? The beaches and piers of les Leques at St Cyr-sur-Mer, in the South of France.

Plastic litter is a well known problem along the Mediterranean coasts. Sometimes the debris lays visible on the beach. Sometimes it is hidden from the human eye, between the stones or under the sand.

The plastic is shoveled into garbage bags. Some of it will be used to produce the vacuum cleaner from the sea.

Plastics can be wedged in between rocks and stones for years, because of the slow degradation process.

Some of the found debris has been flushed out from the beaches. Other debris has been dumped directly into the sea from boats.

The wrong thing in the wrong place.

Some debris is difficult to reach.

A full day's work results in many garbage bags.

Mission accomplished. The collected plastic is ready to be sent to the Electrolux design studio to finally become a Vac from the Sea.

Previous Posts:
What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea

What is the Pacific Garbage Patch?

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:34:48 GMT

Image via Wikimedia.

Jaymi Heimbuch of Planet Green works to improve the environmental status of our planet. She was one of the first people to write about Vac from the Sea on Treehugger. Here, she tells us about the Pacific Garbage Patch, and what we can do about it:

What is the Pacific Garbage Patch? Simply put, it's a swirling mass of plastic in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that is big enough to qualify as the planet's largest landfill. That's a huge amount of marine litter, and a huge problem. Learn everything about the Pacific Garbage Patch, from its impact on ocean life, to how that plastic is ending up back on our dinner plates, to what our options are for fixing the problem over on Planet Green.

Jaymi Heimbuch
Follow Jaymi on Twitter.

Previous Posts:
Plastic recycling
Welcome to Vac from the Sea