BioStraw4Planet

Dear donors,

as you know, one of the main scientific projects of the Polarquest expedition was its research of microplastic pollution in the ocean. A key element of this research was that it searched for plastic pollution in areas that had never before been researched. Data-collection is now complete and analysis of the samples is underway – however, we are not optimistic about what we will find. During the expedition, we did not have to look hard to find evidence of plastic pollution: we found plastic pieces visible to the naked eye in ocean waters as far as the edge of the North Pole ice-shelf, over 82 degrees Latitude North!

While countries around the world are now beginning to take action to limit plastic use, the oceans cannot wait for top-bottom solutions to fix this problem. Polarquest2018 decided to take action now and support real solutions witth the BIOSTRAW4PLANET project, aiming to to replace plastic straws in the island of Rodrigues with biodegradable bamboo straws.

Although this microproject did not reach the objective, the funds it raised in the 90 days online will be very useful for project leader Gabriella who has continued working on it.

In these past months, she finalized development of the straws together with the small family company in the Province of  Anhui dove where bamboo is farmed according to ethical principles. Theymanaged to remove chemical produce from the production process and Gabriella is very satisfied with the result. She has been invited to join the   Geneva cocktail week (25-29 August), where her straws will be used as a demonstrator and she wil have a stand and make presentations and  masterclasses on plastic pollution addressed to business professionals such as   CocaCola, RedBull, Martini, etc.)

Gabriella is grateful for the funds raised through this microproject in the 90 days it stayed up on the Global Giving pages and and she keeps applying for funds to develop it further. We have no doubts she will succeed and we will keep supporting her in this noble endeavour.