Posted by Tessa.
Have you ever gone to a Nike or Lululemon or any other athletic clothing store and bought a couple of shirts or pants? Probably, right? No big deal. Actually it is a big deal. The one pair of pants or a shirt is actually contributing to over 5 trillion pieces plastic that are in the ocean, and millions more microplastics. These pieces of clothing are made of synthetic fibers. When they are washed they release microplastics which stay in the waste water and eventually get to the ocean. Microbeads are also a problem, they are small plastic beads that are in cosmetics. They are going to be banned by 2020 but many companies are trying to defy this law and keep putting them in their products. When marine life eat these plastics, they stay in their guts. Then we, humans, eat the fish and it increases our risk of cancer, liver disease, and reproductive problems. This is a huge problem that needs to be solved which is why we are now trying to find a way to solve it.
This week we brainstormed many different solutions and we researched what is already being done now. Some of our ideas are: a silicon filter for washing machines and sinks, a line of cosmetics that do not use microbeads, contacting government wastewater companies and asking them to put in microplastic filters, make athletic clothing that is made of breathable materials that do not produce microplastics (bamboo, cotton, wool, etc.), and a filter bag for synthetic clothing in the wash. From our research we learned that the filter bag is already being done and it is called the ‘Guppy Friend’. We also learned that the ‘Cora Ball’ is a laundry ball that collects microplastics in the wash. Finally, we learned that many organizations are working together to create a large v - shaped machine that collects plastics that are already in the ocean. The ‘Guppy Friend’ is expensive so we were thinking of making our own filter bag that is less expensive so more people will want to use it. The ‘Cora Ball’ is a successful product and works really well. Both of those products are available online across the world. We used these products as inspiration and as a group we have decided on a final solution. It is to make a DIY Microplastic Reduction Kit. It will include a filter to put in a sink or washing machine that is threaded small enough that it will catch the microplastics. It will also include instructions on how to make your own toothpaste and face scrub that does include microplastics. Finally, it will include a pamphlet about the dangers of microplastics and microbeads, how we can help, and statistics on who is affected, how, and a link to our blog for more information.
Have you ever gone to a Nike or Lululemon or any other athletic clothing store and bought a couple of shirts or pants? Probably, right? No big deal. Actually it is a big deal. The one pair of pants or a shirt is actually contributing to over 5 trillion pieces plastic that are in the ocean, and millions more microplastics. These pieces of clothing are made of synthetic fibers. When they are washed they release microplastics which stay in the waste water and eventually get to the ocean. Microbeads are also a problem, they are small plastic beads that are in cosmetics. They are going to be banned by 2020 but many companies are trying to defy this law and keep putting them in their products. When marine life eat these plastics, they stay in their guts. Then we, humans, eat the fish and it increases our risk of cancer, liver disease, and reproductive problems. This is a huge problem that needs to be solved which is why we are now trying to find a way to solve it.
This week we brainstormed many different solutions and we researched what is already being done now. Some of our ideas are: a silicon filter for washing machines and sinks, a line of cosmetics that do not use microbeads, contacting government wastewater companies and asking them to put in microplastic filters, make athletic clothing that is made of breathable materials that do not produce microplastics (bamboo, cotton, wool, etc.), and a filter bag for synthetic clothing in the wash. From our research we learned that the filter bag is already being done and it is called the ‘Guppy Friend’. We also learned that the ‘Cora Ball’ is a laundry ball that collects microplastics in the wash. Finally, we learned that many organizations are working together to create a large v - shaped machine that collects plastics that are already in the ocean. The ‘Guppy Friend’ is expensive so we were thinking of making our own filter bag that is less expensive so more people will want to use it. The ‘Cora Ball’ is a successful product and works really well. Both of those products are available online across the world. We used these products as inspiration and as a group we have decided on a final solution. It is to make a DIY Microplastic Reduction Kit. It will include a filter to put in a sink or washing machine that is threaded small enough that it will catch the microplastics. It will also include instructions on how to make your own toothpaste and face scrub that does include microplastics. Finally, it will include a pamphlet about the dangers of microplastics and microbeads, how we can help, and statistics on who is affected, how, and a link to our blog for more information.