Plastiki is built from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic used in making disposable drinking bottles, and an experimental fabric called self-reinforcing PET (srPET), woven from recycled PET fibers. The Plastiki's deck, hull, and cabin are completely recyclable. View an illustration of the ship's features here.
The 12,000 two-liter bottles were prepared for buoyancy by filling them with 12 grams of powdered dry ice. They were then capped and heat-sealed with recycled plastic. As the dry ice turns from a solid to a gas, it pressurizes the bottle with carbon dioxide.
It's powered by wind, solar, and pedal power. Wind turbines and solar panels generate electricity for the boat. Two stationary bikes provide additional power and double as exercise for crewmembers.
For food, they have stocked 100 days worth of supplies on board, but there is also a vertical garden on deck growing fresh greens. Local San Francisco farmers have donated a supply of dried veggies for the crew's journey as well. Under the Sun Food experimented with new dried produce for this expedition. Eggplant chips, onion chips, broccoli chips, and others are being tested on the Plastiki's trip. And, a human-powered desalinator provides fresh drinking water.
Track Plastiki's trip online here. The entire Web site is full of information that will benefit your schools classrooms.
Looking for more ideas to improve your campus and manage your budget? ISM's Summer Institute course The Well-Kept Campus: Strategies for the Facilities Manager is loaded with great ideas, tools, and examples.
To share your green stories with our reader community, please click here. We would love to hear your thoughts not just about greening your school, but also your home.
