Solution to Seas of Plastic: End "Throwaway Culture"

Charles Moore captains the Algalita, a marine research vessel belonging to the foundation of the same name. During a research voyage, Moore discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Moore tells the TED audience, 'end throwaway culture to end the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.'

Many of the most encouraging solutions involve stopping the waste stream at the headwaters. Designers with foresight are starting to employ ideas such as design for dissasembly and upcycling to create ways to design excess out of the system. For more on this, check out these articles from our archive:

Casa De Botellas: Turning Waste into Modular Construction

Design Roundup: Dual Use Packaging Reduces Waste

Design for Disassembly, Zero Waste and Sustainable Prosperity

Designing a Zero-Waste City: A Visit to the San Francisco Dump