Women-led War on Plastic

A staggering 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year; marine biologists predict that by 2050 the sea will be more saturated with plastic than fish.

Such careless contamination of pollutants not only decimate the natural beauty of our waters, but it also threatens the lifespan of marine mammals, birds and other seafaring wildlife. Moreover, microplastic wastes have been found in human excrement, and particles are small enough to be transferred from an expecting mother to her unborn child.

Concern for the spiraling effects of plastic wastes on our ecosystem propelled ocean advocate and skipper Emily Penn to launch eXXpedition, a global network of multidisciplinary women who spearhead scientific studies and explore sustainable solutions that curb plastic pollution. Much of the success of their work hinges on the community outreach programs that they implement in the distant regions to which they travel. While some of the women involved have science-based backgrounds, the diversity of their skillsets and interests are anchored in the collective goal of diminishing marine pollution and its destructive consequences.

Read on via 1883 Magazine