Ocean Plastic

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, together with The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit, have today announced the launch of the $2 million New Plastics Economy Innovation Prize. The Prize which is funded by Wendy Schmidt as Lead Philanthropic Partner of the New Plastics Economy Initiative, calls for innovators, designers, scientist and entrepreneurs to help create packaging that keeps plastics out of the ocean.

The demand for plastics products is expected to double in the next 20 years – but the plastics system is broken. Only 14% of plastic packaging is recycled, with the remainder, worth $80-120 billion, lost as waste. Most plastic packaging items are used only once before being discarded, often ending up polluting the environment. If nothing changes, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050. This new prize aims to keep plastics as valuable materials in the economy, and out of the ocean.

 

 

Water-scrapers

Move over sky-scrapers, now we have water-scrapers. Power is generated in this self contained underwater city using wave, wind and solar power. The city also produces its own food using farming, aquaculture and hydroponic techniques. So what keeps the water-scraper upright? It uses a system of ballasts that are aided by squid-like tentacles which also help generate kinetic energy to provide... Read More»

Sea Tree

The Sea Tree is intended to be a floating structure moored out in the water by a cable. Designed by Dutch architect Koen Olthuis from the Waterstudio, the tree is comprised of a series of layers for use as homes by plant and animal species both above and below the water. The structure would be built using offshore technology... Read More»

Brexit blueprint for sustainable seas

ABPmer have written a paper to explore the issues for the marine environment following Brexit, and stimulate debate about Brexit opportunities. The views expressed are solely those of the author, but is interesting to consider the possibilities as well as the downsides of how the coast and marine environment could be affected by these huge forthcoming changes. Follow this link to read... Read More»