On the professional side, I work at a local green business here in Boston called Preserve, www.preserveproducts.com. Preserve is most known for making toothbrushes out of Stonyfield yogurt cups. All of their products are made from 100% recycled plastic and manufactured here in the U.S. At work, I’m constantly talking about plastic, the concept of reuse, and generally educating people on anything plastic-related. It’s amazing how many people don’t know what numbers 1 thru 7 mean on a piece of plastic! Hint, it has nothing to do with how recyclable the product is!! Fortunately, Preserve has been incredibly supportive of my trip.
KWM: What are the intended objectives and goals of your research?
AF: For the research, I’ve teamed up with the 5 Gyres Institute, www.5gyres.org, who has lent me the trawl and taught me how to take valuable samples. 5Gyres is the leading voice against plastic pollution and single use plastic. They sponsor bag-bans and other campaigns, are advising on the 2012 London Olympics, and are most known for their research expeditions to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and the other four gyres. In addition, 5Gyres will be leading the first expedition into the Japanese Tsunami Debris fields where houses, cars, and boats, and thousands of tons of debris were swept out to sea. This expedition begins in May, 2012.
KWM: What are you going to miss most while you’re away?
AF: There’s nothing I love more than trekking through the snow in my wetsuit with surfboard in hand. I’ll definitely miss those cold winter swells with my friends who love it just as much as I do.
KWM: Can you suggest books or links to info if readers want to learn more about this issue, what you’re doing, and the gyres you will be exploring?
AF: The book that put it all into perspective to me is called Let My People Go Surfing, by Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard. I read it at a time when I was a frustrated business undergrad, unable to see the purpose of my studies. This book helped me realize that “business can inspire solutions to the environmental crisis” which completely turned my world upside-down!
A few links below:
Earth911
Greenbiz
Treehugger
Sustainability at Harvard
5 Gyres
Surfrider Foundation
To follow Andrew’s adventure:
5 Gyres Blog
MA Surfrider Blog
Surf is Swell
