Upcycling Plastic Ocean Trash into Fashion

swim wear from waste

A while back I wrote an article about a collaboration between Adidas and Parley to create a shoe out of abandoned fishing nets appropriately named the Adidas Recycled Ocean Waste Shoe. I was happy to see that this turned out to be more than just a concept and that you can actually purchase Adidas shoes made from recycled plastic. Even …

Waste from Shoes and Shoes from Waste

It’s estimated that 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced annually, with roughly 300 million pairs ending up in landfills after they have been worn. The Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, which usually makes up the midsole of most running shoes, can last for as long as 1,000 years in a landfill. There are a few organizations out there trying to reduce …

Blackfish Documentary Movie Review

Blackfish has made a lot of waves lately, from environmental groups applauding the spotlight on captivity and dolphin capturing practices, to entertainers dropping out of Sea World events and companies pulling sponsorships. It may be for good reason. Blackfish is a documentary movie which tells the story of Tilikum, a troubled killer whale that killed several people while in captivity. …

White Tuna, Butterfish, Escolar – Oh My!

This has recently hit my radar, being a sushi lover and all, because of the very surprising ‘leakage accidents’ which are associated with a certain fish. Escolar (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum), or as it is commonly (and mistakenly) referred to as butterfish, super white tuna, or sometimes walu/waloo, can have a nasty side effect if too much is consumed. Besides that, I …

Sunscreen and the Environment – Coral Reef Damage

With more and more doctors and experts telling us to slather on a shotglass of sunscreen every two hours when at the beach to protect our skin, one must wonder, how much gets washed off in the ocean, and what is it doing to the environment? Plenty as it turns out. There has been major damage to coral reefs (many …

Android Seafood Watch App

For all of you with Android phones looking for eco-friendly apps, here is my top pick! As many of you know, the Monterey Bay Aquarium puts out a Seafood Watch list of sustainable fish choices when it comes to dining or shopping. I used to print and carry around the paper version, but the great thing about it is that …

The Case Against Whaling: Prostitutes

Japanese representatives appear to have bribed small nations with aid and (in one case) prostitutes, in exchange for their votes on upcoming pivotal discussions with regards to international whaling regulations.

The Case Against Whaling: Whale Feces

With the International Whaling Commission considering legalizing whaling with quotas, Australian scientists have found more reason than before not to – the positive effect of whales against the impetus of global warming.

Obama and Offshore Drilling

So I’ve been trying to figure out Obama’s decision to allow the end of the longstanding ban on oil exploration off the coasts of the US. In particular along the East Coast, from norther Delaware to central Florida, as well as the Gulf of Mexico and the northern coast of Alaska. Frankly it seemed to be a plain and blatant …

Shark Week! 10 Deadliest Sharks

One of my favorite times of the year is when the Shark Week series airs on The Discovery Channel. Having always wanted to go into Shark Biology/Ecology, this show lets me dream of what might have been. The first show I watched was the 10 Deadliest Sharks and I was a bit surprised at some of those that made the …