WORRYING LEVELS OF OCEANIC MICROPLASTICS FOUND DURING THE OCEAN RACE

Oceanic microplastics remain one of the main environmental challenges ahead. The preliminary results reported by this year’s edition of The Ocean Race added further food for thought, as microplastics were found even in the remote waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean – a route seldom traveled.

Photo: Pixabay

Oceanic microplastics remain one of the main environmental challenges ahead. The preliminary results reported by this year’s edition of The Ocean Race added further food for thought, as microplastics – in levels up to 1884 particles per cubic meter sea water – were reported in each of the 40 samples analyzed so far. Even during the challenging third leg through the remote waters of the southern Atlantic Ocean – a route seldom traveled – microplastic levels of up to 1492 particles per cubic meter were reported.

For the first time, this year’s edition of The Ocean Race also examined the chemical structure of the plastic particles collected to better understand the causes and origins of oceanic microplastics. The initial analysis point towards polyethylene (PE) as the main contributor; meaning fishing nets, flexible packaging, plastic bags, and containers, to name some of the most common.

The Ocean Race, apart from being a round-the-world sailing race (formerly known as Volvo Ocean Race), also runs a sustainability program that, among other topics, monitors the levels of microplastics in the ocean. Racing through some of the most inhospitable waters in the world, participants in The Ocean Race are uniquely well-positioned to monitor the microplastic levels in the oceans.

Given the worrying results put forward by The Ocean Race, GAIA is further strengthened in its belief that Biodolomer® will solve many of these problems, as it can replace up to 80% of the world’s volume plastics while being both biodegradable and compostable. It also has a density higher than seawater, meaning that it will sink to the bottom of the ocean, where the bacteria found in the bottom sediments will completely biodegrade it.

For those interested in learning more about The Ocean Race and their work with microplastics, you can find it here

Gaia BioMaterials is a Swedish company that develops and produces biodegradable biomaterials. With our patented material, Biodolomer®, we are revolutionizing the plastics industry and contributing to a cleaner and healthier planet. Biodolomer® is inspired by a half-a-billion-year-old packaging design from Mother Earth – the egg. Read more.

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