Message in a Bottle
We’re fascinated by the Plastiki and find ourselves tracking its voyage while drawn to its message that waste is fundamentally a design flaw.
This ‘off-the-grid’ vessel is the definition of sustainable design and cutting edge technologies. The Plastiki is engineered from 12,000 reclaimed plastic bottles, solar panels, wind turbines, bicycle generators, hydroponic vertical gardens, a rain water catchment system, and an evaporator for desalination. The mast and sail are made from reclaimed and recycled materials while organic glue made from cashew nuts and sugar cane reinforces the structure.
Taking inspiration from the 1947 expedition, the Kon-Tiki, the Plastiki is exploring environmental hotspots such as damaged coral reefs, soon to be flooded island nations, and in particular plastic pollution in our oceans.
Carrying a crew of 6, the Plastiki is currently traveling at about 5 knots from San Francisco to Sydney, a voyage estimated to take 3 months.
Waste does not appear in nature. It’s time to re-think waste and look at it as a resource. For us this is the essence of creativity and design — being curious, letting go of assumptions, collaborating, and effecting positive change.
by debra | 05. June 2010 | culture, design, inspiration, sustainability | Comments (3)
3 Responses to “Message in a Bottle”
Leave a Reply
Great article! Thank you for helping us all think differently about our huge need to be proactive around “waste”. “Waste does not appear in nature” is a profound statement. When I contemplated that I thought to myself, when I watch leaves fall away I say, oh how beautiful the colors are!
The Plastiki is due to arrive in Sydney early next week! Over 10,000 nautical miles sailed from San Francisco to Australia…amazing.
When spokeswoman Mina Burn was asked about the fate of the boat, she replied “It could well be recycled.”
They’ve just arrived! After 130 days & 8000 nautical miles the Plastiki docked into Darling Harbour, Sydney! http://tinyurl.com/39gva3a