Plastic Found On The Last Frontier
Plastic can pretty much be found everywhere on the planet these days, and unfortunately it has made its way down to one of the last frontiers: Antarctica.
In a recent study, scientists found microplastics for the first time in Antarctica, highlighting the impact plastic pollution has on our planet. Scientists collected 19 samples of snow from Antarctica and found an average of 29 microplastic particles per liter of snow. 13 different types of plastic were found in the snow samples but the most prevalent type found was polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used to make soft drink bottles and clothes. One major reason that plastic is found in Antarctica is due to the ocean currents and winds.``Ocean currents and winds are the vectors for plastic pollution to travel across the globe and even to the remotest corners of the world”
I am one of ~36,000 people each year who had the incredible opportunity to go to Antarctica on an Intrepid cruise with Follow the Fro Tours with my sister.
While I was on this cruise, I saw multiple sustainability initiatives implemented to limit plastic usage, waste and water usage. There was limited plastic used and all cups, bowls, silverware were used were reusable. Seafood was not served most nights to help highlight some issues of seafood sustainability including overfishing and bycatch.
Politically, there needs to be more legislation in place to help tackle the plastic issue, but as a society, we can reduce the amount of plastic that we use in our everyday lives. This is where the USEFULL solution comes into play.
By implementing the USEFULL solution, we will be able to eliminate the need to use plastic bottles and containers for our takeout, thus reducing the amount of plastic pollution. This initiative is what led me to join the USEFULL team. I wanted to work for an organization that is providing a sound solution to a global issue.
By Christine Francois, Customer Engagement Manager