Check it, a friend of Maku EcoShop is a Realtor here in North County San Diego and loves the Eco Candle Company Beach House soy candles. So much in-fact that she bought our entire stock of Beach House candles to give to her clients for the holidays and to use during open houses to add a little something special to the ambiance of the homes she is selling. (But don't worry we have more coming before the end of the week!)
Soy candles by Eco-Candle Co. are cool and clean burning and will enhance your home or make the perfect gift for environmentally conscious friends. Burn time for a 16 oz. Eco-Candle is an amazing 90-100 hours.
Aside from saving some Cent's, have great Sense to give an Eco Friendly Gift, and the amazing Scent of these candles here are Six great reasons why to buy an Eco-Candle Co. soy wax candle:
1. Eco-Candles are cleaner burning – no toxins, carcinogens or pollutants which means they are less likely to trigger allergies and unlike petroleum-based paraffin candles they give off no petrol-carbon soot. 2. Eco-Candles last longer – soy wax burns cooler which means in general they will last 30-50% longer than a paraffin candle. 3. Eco-Candle Co. soy wax is certified kosher and contains no herbicides or pesticides. 4. Eco-Candle Co. uses only the highest quality scents and dyes. 5. Eco-Candle Co. uses only cotton, paper or hemp wicks. 6. Best of all — These soy candles are made in the USA.
A Day Without a Bag is an education and grassroots event started by Heal the Bay in LA that involves businesses and individuals throughout Southern California and beyond. On this day we ask holiday shoppers and retailers to forgo single-use, plastic shopping bags in favor of reusable bags. In addition, Surfrider will be handing out reusable bags in conjunction with the Cities of Encinitas and Oceanside.
DID YOU KNOW: - Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. - Californians throw away 294,000,000 pounds of plastic bags every year, or 147,000 tons. - 600 plastic bags are thrown away every second in California. - Most of the bags we use are NOT recycled! They are littering our oceans, beaches, landfills and killing animals & birds.
On Thursday December 17th, please tell your friends and family to forget the single-use bag at the store and get hip with a reusable bag. Here are a few tips on remembering your reusable bags for the next trip....
Keep your bags in your car, Write "REMEMBER BAGS" at the top of your grocery list each week, Hang a bag on the door knob to your garage or someplace near by, Keep a reusable bag or two in your purse or backpack, Ask the kids to remind you to bring your bags as part of earning their allowance.
By the way, we will be adding these to the Maku Ecoshop in the next couple of days
Quick Eco Fact - If every one of us in the USA recycled a Sunday Newspaper over 550,000 trees would be saved every week!
In fact - In 2000, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) said that pulp, paper, and paperboard mills account for 12 percent of total manufacturing energy use in the U.S.
I continue to say that print media is dead (perhaps dying is a better assessment) and can't remember the last time I picked up a newspaper other than being bored in the airport and perusing the bookstore. Otherwise I prefer to get my info online...
By the way, a quick plug for the MakuEcoshop, we have lots of cool recycled items like Bucky and Fred that come shipped in recycled packaging!
The ultimate accessory to your organic living space: Dinner by candlelight, aromatherapy indoor or out.
A handsome accent to any environment with the natural elegance of the Maku candle block. Made of 100% repurposed teak from Indonesian architecture of yesteryear, the Maku candle block is available with the Frangipani carving in the following sizes:
Bike Chain Bowl Recycled Revivial’s artists created this gorgeous bowl from the most unlikely medium, recycled bike chain. With a great weight and classic shape they are perfect on an entry table for your keys etc. the end of the day. 10" diameter x 2" deep
Hybrid Wall Clock Recycled Revival made this wall clock from a recycled bicycle sprocket and recycled computer hard drive. A great gift for computer or bike lovers, or both! AA battery included. 7″ × 7″
Bicycle Chain Frames he ultimate gift for the cycle lover! Recycled Revivals classic frames have been praised by critics from coast to coast. Made from recycled bicycle chain with an easel back/stand. Stands or hangs vertically or horizontally.
There are not many nights living in Carlsbad that could be considered blustery and on the chilly side. But as the first solid storm of the season rolls through, not only are we on Storm Watch 2009 (LOL!) but we decided to break out the newest addition to the Maku FurnitureEcoShop - Earthopoly.
Earthopoly is a game celebrating Earth, one turn at a time! Players become the caretakers of wondrous locations around the planet, then increase their property value by collecting Carbon Credits and trading them in for Clean Air. AAHHHH!
It’s all fun and games until someone gets sent to the Dump! So choose your token, (all made by nature of course!), and advance to Go Green.
Measure your Keiki's growth by recording his or her height within the two stripes (which are intentionally left unfinished) for easy marking.
Like all ecotots products, the growth chart is made from 100% formaldehyde-free,FSC Certified real wood and has a non-toxic, water-based finish.
This eco-friendly longboard hangs on the wall and also doubles as a coat hook when rotated 180 degrees. It’s certain to become a cool keepsake when your ecotot becomes an ecoteen.
Check it out, one of the coolest new products we have on the EcoShop is "Fred" by Cardboard Safari. Fred comes in 3 great colors including "Camo Fred" so he can hide on your walls...
Cardboard Safari’s Moose Trophy “Fred” is laser-cut for precision fit and easy assembly using slotted construction. Fred is available in native brown, bright white or camouflage and can be decorated with paint, glitter or other craft material.
Fred is a fun accent for home, office or kid’s room and makes a great gift for dad.
Each trophy is made in the USA from non-toxic, environmentally friendly recycled cardboard. Fred measures 24" wide by 20" high by 19" deep.
Check it out, The Maku EcoShop is now open. Featuring the finest in sustainable and eco friendly products for your household, pets, and lifestyle!
EcoShop represents the next level of our commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle. The products represented within EcoShop not only follow the same mantra and philosophies of Maku Furniture but more importantly are products we believe in and use.
Keep checking the site as we are adding new products daily. And if you have any product suggestions let us know by emailing to - info@makufurniture.com
Yikes, I can't believe it's been since July 30th that I posted anything. Where has the time gone...? While I'd like to think it was spent surfing, that's definitely not the case as you my have read in the last post in July I separated my shoulder while training for a triathlon.
Fortunately my shoulder is getting much better and I am back in the water within the last week surfing, we even had a great swell so it was good timing for a comeback and I have started training again. Who knows there may be an Ironman race in my future...
So what have we been up to in the last 4 months. Well I guess like a lot of companies out there we have been just trying to survive and I happy to report that we are still here, in business and have actually exceeded our numbers from last year with a few month yet to go in 2009. So things in Maku Land are not too bad all things considered. On the unfortunate side a number of our retailers have had to close their doors and we hope and wish that they land on their feet as the economy recovers!
We have some pretty cool things in the works for Maku including and Eco Shop that we will be launching in time for the holidays as 2 very cool new collections that we will launch at the first of the year. One of which is a completely different direction for us and might be the first of it's kind in terms of recycled material usage for outdoor furniture.
Stay tuned, lots is happening and we'll be posting much more in the coming days, weeks, and months!
Thanks to everybody for their support and remember to do something everyday that puts a smile on your face and helps mother nature!
The first solid swell of the summer 2009 and I missed it... Been training for a triathlon the last 4-5 months and 1 week before the event I crash during a cycling training ride. Grade 3-4 AC separation of my right shoulder.
sorry for the lack of quality updates, summer time is go time for Maku furniture and there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the days lately. An NO we are not surfing the summer away, if there were waves we probably would be but it looks like the worst winter for waves on record could turn into the worst summer. The water is a chilly 58 degrees and blown out... BRRRR!
So I'm on my way to NYC for some east coast luv and meetings on various projects. And as I sit in the red carpet club at SFO waiting for my red eye to take off I found some interesting facts regarding purchasing habits and eco friendly product that I thought I would share with you.
- 28% of Sports participants say they would be more likely to buy a product if it "Stated" it was sustainble... (sounds like a greenwashing opportunity)
- 27% women vs 21% men say they would buy a garment that is made of sustainable fabrics. Come on guys get with it! One of my favorite pairs of shoes is the Grun by Adidas that is 100% recycled materials.
47% of the population said they would buy a green product if they also liked the style and function of that product.
Off to NYC I go, more to come from the road and don't forget to check out Maku Furniture on Twitter.
Here's a sneek preview of a new piece that will be debuting soon. The Maku Planter Box made of 100% Reclaimed Teak just like the rest of our collection!
I had the distinct pleasure to meet Sherman in the early / mid 90's in Banff Canada during a Transworld Snowboarding Industry "Conference". (Which was basically a big excuse for key snowboard industry "execs' to get together and get our shred-on.)
Since then I have ridden with Sherman a few times in Whistler BC and his home mountain of Steamboat. Believe it or not, Sherman did not start "Officially" snowboarding until his late 60's and I can't think of a person that exuded more stoke and excitement to slide sideways than Sherman.
To this day after 25 years of snowboarding, countless EPIC powder days at some of the best resorts and backcountry around the world, the times I was able to ride with Sherman are at the tops of the list. (Right along with teaching my son and daughter to snowboard and watching them link up their first turns. Then a first decent of an amazing chute in AK that myself, Billy Anderson and Wooly from Volcom all enjoyed and aptly named Lil' Bitch afterward)
By the way, sorry for the lack of updates, been swamped shipping tons of new Maku pieces all across the country. To those that have purchased a new piece for their outdoor space a big high 5 and thanks!
I found this little gem - "Fish for Thought" on the LeucadiaProject.com. Ed and David are a couple of locals guys that surf the same spots as I do. Ed's zest for surf culture is second to none and David is an incredible photographer.
So check it out, Local North County artist Rodney McCoubrey takes trash found in and around our local beaches and re-purposes it to some pretty cool artwork. Combined with an Eco-Educational aspect with some of the local kids in Del Mar and you have a pretty rad little project going!
The event was yesterday and hopefully the dreary weather did not put a damper on things. (Yes you read right, I said "Dreary" weather.... This time of year we get a little May Gray and June Gloom...)
FISH for THOUGHT
MILE of ART on the beach in Del Mar
TEACHES KIDS, COMMUNITY, ABOUT RECYCLING
Featuring Rodney McCoubrey
Elementary students' artwork display from recycled materials (trash to treasure)
with local artist Rodney 'Rodrigo' McCoubrey this Saturday, May 30th. on the beach in Del Mar
A mile of marine-themed artwork—colorful concoctions of scrap wood, old toothbrushes, aluminum soda tabs, popped balloons and the like, mounted on recycled sticks--winding "Christo style" along the scenic Del Mar coastline. Trash to treasure - a message of HOPE and RECYCLING.
Mini-masterpieces, the kids call Fish Sticks, will be proudly created and displayed to tell the tale ending ocean pollution.
This simple recycling/art project by 400 Del Mar Elementary School children has taken on a life of its own in their hearts and minds, while heightening ocean pollution awareness. Fish For Thought will culminate this Saturday, May 30th, from Power House Park North to Dog Beach in Del Mar in an all-community beach cleanup and coastline art installation along Del Mar beach.
Local recycled-trash artist Rodrigo (aka Rodney McCoubrey) will help them create their own one-of-a-kind recycled wooden fish, embellished with recycled trash collected from the beach and home. www.FishForThought.org
Filmmakers will be onhand to document this grass roots effort and are fundraising to complete an educational documentary. Del Mar hopes to highlight this pilot program as an example of what a community can do to reverse the negative impact trash makes on our beaches and ocean - a small community with a big message.
Local Chief Lifeguard Pat Vergne says, “Our community is using art to raise awareness about trash and the negative effect it has on the health of our marine life and our coastal community. We are thrilled to be supporting the Fish Sticks exhibition and the 5th annual Keep Del Mar Clean community beach clean up as we kick off our city’s new recycling program.”
Additional partners in the project include the City of Del Mar and environmental group “Keep Del Mar Clean.”
Beach clean up will take place from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Power House Park in Del Mar.
Fish Sticks will be on display 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. , Power House Park north to Dog Beach in Del Mar, this Saturday May 30th.
So I was reading the latest issue of my favorite surf mag that features an interview with Surfrider Foundation Executive Director Jim Moriarty and an interesting fact popped out at me within the first few paragraphs of the interview.
This is a very disheartening and sad state of our oceans and the ramifications within the food chain may now be irreversible. Plastic is not bio-degradeble in any means, it is photo-degradeable which means that it will continue to break down into smaller and smaller pieces to where it can't be seen by the naked eye.
Fish, birds, whales, and many other sea creatures that in one way or another end up on the plates of millions of diners tables around the world have potentially mistaken this plastic for plankton...
The only answer, reduce, reuse, recycle and most importantly EDUCATE!
While most are planning bbq's, time at the beach, lake, river, or just simply chilling with family and friends, lets not lose site of what Memorial day is really all about.
Whether one agrees or not with the war in Iraq or the previous wars our country has fought in, the fact remains that thousands of our Military personnel wake up each day to defend our land from those that wish to harm us.
Some would think that being a surfer and spending as much time in the water as I do, why would I ever talk about sharks...?
Well, truth be told, the Whale Shark and the Basking Shark of 2 of my all time favorite underwater creatures. The huge majestic beauty and millions of years of evolutionary progress make these 2 sharks very intriguing.
I found this cool article on cnn.com about some recent studies on the Basking Shark and their migratory habits.
(CNN) -- The migration patterns of basking sharks have long mystified marine biologists, but new research has finally revealed where the world's second-biggest fish hide out for half of every year.
Despite growing to over 10 meters in length, basking sharks have often eluded close scientific study.
"While commonly sighted in surface waters during summer and autumn months, the disappearance of basking sharks during winter has been a great source of debate ever since an article in 1954 suggested that they hibernate on the ocean floor during this time," said Gregory Skomal of Massachusetts Marine Fisheries, one of the authors of a report recently published in "Current Biology".
"Some 50 years later, we have helped to solve the mystery while completely re-defining the known distribution of this species."
Using new satellite-tagging and a new geo-location technique, the researchers found that basking sharks make long migrations through tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean during the winter, traveling at depths of 200 to 1,000 meters.
The researcher's data show that the sharks sometimes stay at those depths for weeks or even months at a time.
"In doing so, they have completely avoided detection by humans for millennia," Skomal said in the report. Basking sharks are the world's second-largest fish and can grow to more than 10 meters -- more than 30 feet -- and weigh more than seven tons.
Skomal said they were "absolutely surprised" when they first received a signal from the tagged sharks coming from the tropical waters of the western Atlantic, in the vicinity of the Caribbean and Bahamas. Before the study basking sharks were believed to be cool-water sharks, restricted to temperate regions.
Several factors made basking sharks a challenge to study. Added to their annual disappearing act, they feed exclusively on plankton, which means they can't readily be captured with traditional rod-and-reel methods.
Even when the sharks are found closer to the ocean surface, they spend their time in the cool-temperature, plankton-rich waters that limit underwater visibility and make diving difficult.
The researchers believe their findings could have important implications for the conservation of basking sharks, which have shown some signs of dramatic decline in the last half century and are listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
"Coupled with recent genetic data, our finding indicates that the Atlantic population -- and perhaps the world population -- are connected and may constitute a single population," Skomal said.
"Hence, the global population of basking sharks may be even smaller than previously thought."
Maku 48" Spa bench with the Maku 72" dining table and if you look closely there is a sneak peek at the new multifunctional Silent Spring piece that will be in the new DV collection that is due out soon...!
Alt Build is the premier show for eco friendly building and state of the art design materials. It's free to attend and there are a lot of great speakers and seminars to attend.
So check out this rad 12 year old grom that is wise beyond his years. Jonathan Lee is a wrecking crew of Eco Friendly passion and resource that is looking to knock out Dr.Pollution!
Technical difficulties with the Maku website and email right now, our service provider media temple is working to get everything restored and I'll post up again when the site is up and running...
2 years ago today the little town of Greensburg Kansas was devastated and totally destroyed by tornadoes. Virtually every building in the town was leveled. Those that weren't leveled sustained some serious damage...
The next thing that happened is nothing short of SPECTACULAR! The towns goverment decided this was the perfect opportunity to build the countries first green town. A showcase for eco friendly and sustainable building. Very cool indeed! From a wind farm to Silo Eco building, and even a TV show on Planet Green, Greensburg and it's fine citizens are truly eco heroes!
Kudos and congratulations to each and every member of Greensburg Kansas, I'm for sure stopping by and throwing out high fives the next time I happen to be in Kansas. And if anybody in Greensburg Kansas wants some Maku pcs for their outdoor space just let us know and we'll hook you up!
From yesteryear the use of native plants and landscaping, efficient use of space dependent upon season, and lightweight / movable furniture to the philosophies of the next generation of green homes that interestingly enough have a keen throwback to the early days of our country.
(BRANCHING OUTWilliam McDonough + Partners envisions its house like a tree. The "bark" of the house is made up of thin, insulating films that would self-clean and self-heal if damaged. A curved roof with large eaves provides shade, which lowers the heat load in summer. The "trunk," or the frame of the home, consists of carbon tubes, while the "roots" are a heat-pump system buried in the yard.)
We have the first solid south swell of the spring and summer season filling into the local southern California beaches yesterday and today. So we loaded up the boards and headed to Trestles this early this morning. No pictures to post as we were all too busy surfing. A nice long session of almost 4 hours in 6-10 ft surf with a few Double Overhead sets felt great!
I took out my trusty 6'4" shaped by Cole Simler and had a blast! Too tired to work the rest of the day so I think we'll just start the weekend early with a nice cold one from our favorite local brewery and Maku Furniture supporter.
Have a great weekend! We'll be at the beach making the most of this swell!
Designed and developed by fellow surfers David “Kawika” Watt, Kealii Mamala, and Dale Geldum, whom all saw an unfortunate abundance of "trash being left behind on island beaches and in hotels each year. These include recreational items such as “boogie boards,” straw and inflatable plastic mats, and literally any other floating device found on the sand and in the water by day’s end."
So they approached the hotels about helping them take care of this problem and here you have it - Kini Beach Tote Bags.
A pretty rad idea and everybody here at Maku are going to pick up a few of these totes on our next trip to the islands!
Mahalo to the crew of Kini Beach nice job keeping the beaches clean!
Happy Earth Day 2009 to All. We're taking the day off to go surf and then clean up the beaches as well as cruise around to the local earth day celebrations.
In honor of Earth Day, here are 5 things you can do to lessen your impact on Mother Earth (courtesy of our friends at the Surfrider Foundation)
We have been getting a lot of web traffic from the NYC area, not to mention some good orders (Thanks to all in NYC who have ordered some Maku Furniture for your Penthouse, Terrace, or outdoor space so far this year!)
This weekend is a great opportunity in NYC to get some really cool furniture at a great price.
In SFC's own words - "The Sustainable Furnishings Council is a non-profit balanced coalition of industry players created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike with a public tagging program to identify good choices. We are over two hundred and fifty members strong and growing fast. The solution starts with you."
I have been closely watching SFC develop over the past 18 months before joining because I wanted to see if there were any "teeth" in the projects and movement of the group. Certainly any group of manufacturers that are as passionate about Sustainable Practices as we are is a good thing. And to take it a step further the SFC really helps bring truths and realities to those brands which are doing a good job in creating sustainable products vs. those that are "Greenwashing".
Jeff Hiller and the B.O.D. are doing a great job and I think the future is very bright for the SFC and it's members! Maku Furniture is stoked to be a part of this great group!
A quick high five to the crew at Bambeco.com! Check out the site and products, they are just starting to ramp up for the spring / summer months and will be adding new products weekly.
If you happen to be in the North San Diego County area this weekend check out Jake Shimabukuro on Saturday night at the Grace Theater in O'side. All proceeds from the concert go to the California Surf Museum.
So Check it out, as you know I am an avid (perhaps addicted is better) surfer and my life and everyday activities are tied very very close to the ocean. There is just something very special about spending time in the water almost daily. Some call it a greater spirit connection, Ijust love being outdoors...
But I am also a realist and understand the needs of the "greater good" in an effort to maintain commerce and all things that go with living in this greatest country in the world. As such I always try to look at the most viewpoints possible and asses alternatives. In short there are always 2 ways to the same answer...
So when the offshore drilling ban was lifted, I became very concerned (and still am) that we will see the beautiful coastline covered in offshore oil rigs. Not only detracting from the natural beauty of the ocean and those terrific So.Cal sunsets but more importantly adversely affecting the eco system from fish kill to pollution to sea bed damage the list goes on.
Sure Fossil Fuels are the easy answer and the technology to drill for them is readily available. I hope we can all agree that fossil fuels are also not the answer to a longer term problem.
Our kids are off from School this week and we have been chilling at the beach, perfect weather, the water is starting to warm up and we have a nice little swell scheduled to fill in on Tuesday...!
I'll have some green wisdom later in the week. Until then make sure you live everyday to the fullest!
Here's a shot from our local beach earlier this afternoon. Sorry for poor quality, shot it with my Iphone.
Our good buddy Josh Dorfman aka The Lazy Environmentalist just came out with a new book that is focused around going green on a budget. As the title on the book says - "save money, save time, save the planet".
Aside from being a world renowned expert on green living, Josh also runs the Vivavi showroom in NYC which of course offers all kinds of great Maku Furniture!
Earth Hour 2009, this Saturday from 8:30-9:30 pm at your local time! Invite some friends over, have a party, lite some candles (Maku candle holders...) and vote for mother earth!! Most importantly, turn off your lights and remember 1 person can make a difference... :)
We'll be spreading the word here in Carlsbad and will be sure to post updates on Saturday night!
Continuing on with the Ocean related "theme" of recent posts I thought I would try and bring some attention to what posses to be the newest and potentially greatest threat to our Oceans.
Acidification of our oceans has risen 30% since 1900! Yikes, that's a lot of acid in our most precious of natural resources and the cycle that drives life on our little piece of the galaxy.
A Sea Change debuted to tremendous acolades at the Environmental Film Festival 2 weeks ago in Washington D.C.
I wonder if President Obama attended the film festival or perhaps he was too busy putting his brackets together for March Madness or setting his schedule for his appearance on The Tonight Show... (Sorry, couldn't resist a little dig on our 44th president but to me it seems he should be focusing on the economic and environment problems at hand versus trying to be a media star or dare I say media whore...)
....Now back to our regularly scheduled programing - So check out the trailer below for what looks to be a great documentary on the plight of our oceans. And remember change starts with one person at a time!
I found this article is in Today's Wall Street Journal, page A14. It is nice to see more broad based media outlets covering this potential disaster in the Pacific Ocean. ---------
WSJ MARCH 25, 2009.
How Big Is That Widening Gyre of Floating Plastic?
In the Pacific, Ocean Flows Sweep Litter Into a Flotilla That Could Be the Size of Quebec or Maybe the U.S. -- No One Knows
By CARL BIALIK
A soup of plastic debris floats off the coast of California, a testament to humanity's reliance on plastic and the failure to dispose of it properly.
Just how big is this oceanic zone? Some say it is about the size of Quebec, or 600,000 square miles -- also described as twice the size of Texas. Others say this expanse of junk swept together by currents is the size of the U.S. -- 3.8 million square miles. Or, it could be twice that size.
The debris floating in a large area of the Pacific Ocean usually isn't visible on the surface.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, as it has been called, has become a symbol of what some say is a looming crisis over trash. But this floating mass of plastic in the Pacific Ocean is hard to measure, and few agree on how big it is or how much plastic it holds. That makes it difficult to determine what to do about it.
That hasn't stopped activists and the media from using only the biggest estimates of the patch's size to warn of an environmental catastrophe.
"We've found it really captures the public's imagination and its focus," says Eben Schwartz, marine-debris program manager for the California Coastal Commission, a state agency. However, "as hard as [environmental advocates] try to characterize it accurately, it is prone to mischaracterization."
The plastic-rich portion of the ocean is a product of swirling currents, known as the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, that gather and concentrate debris. It captured public attention thanks to the efforts of Charles Moore, a woodworker-turned-sea captain who sailed through the zone in 1997 and was stunned to find plastic debris hundreds of miles from land. "That set off alarm bells and made me want to monitor it, made me want to quantify it, made me want to get a better handle on it," says Capt. Moore, a licensed merchant-marine officer. He dedicated the Algalita Marine Research Foundation that he had founded to studying this region of the ocean and publicizing its plastic problem.
The Numbers Guy BlogTaking the Measure of Plastic Soup. Researchers at the foundation have attempted to quantify the gyre by sailing deep into the Pacific and trawling for plastic and zooplankton using a contraption that resembles a manta ray. Sifting through the entire gyre for plastic would be impossible, so researchers survey a small sample.
But it is difficult to know how to extrapolate their findings to the entire region, or even what that region is. The borders of the gyre shift between seasons, and some scientists, such as Holly Bamford, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's marine-debris program, argue that the high-plastic area is confined to a relatively small part of the gyre.
"I admire Charles," says David Karl, an oceanographer at the University of Hawaii. But Capt. Moore's estimate of the size of the plastic patch -- up to twice the size of the U.S. -- strikes Prof. Karl as guesswork. "He doesn't know the edge" of the area.
Capt. Moore has relied on models of ocean currents from a retired NOAA scientist to help estimate the scope of the concentrated-plastic zone, with debris lurking, often in tiny, barely perceptible pieces, at or just below the surface. "I just did a very crude estimate, by getting a globe and placing my hand over the area defined by this current, and placing my hand over the continent of Africa" to see how the two compared, he says. "The condensed-soup part may be considerably less than the whole," he concedes, but he is frustrated by critics who play down the scope of the problem without doing any fieldwork.
Even as the debate over the plastic patch's size continues, some of the foundation's estimates have been reported as scientific certainty. For instance, a decade ago, researchers found that the ratio of plastic to zooplankton by mass was six to one. A more-recent visit turned up an increase in this ratio, to 46 to one, according to the foundation's Web site. But that is an average of the ratio at each testing site, which included some very high ratios, probably anomalies. A more comparable figure is eight to one, representing a more modest increase when results are aggregated across all testing sites.
In addition, comparing plastic and plankton weight might not be an ideal way to measure the problem, according to Angelicque White, a biological oceanographer at the University of Oregon who accompanied Prof. Karl on a recent voyage to the gyre. Dr. White points out that many plankton are too small for the nets, and might not have been included in the count. What's more, while the heaviest bits of plastic inflate the measure of the debris patch, those pieces pose less of an environmental threat, because they are too large for marine creatures to mistake for food.
Capt. Moore said that his scientific papers have made these distinctions clear. But news articles generally haven't. Dr. Bamford says inconsistent units of measurement of the plastic problem have impeded research. "We're trying to develop a standardized method," she says of NOAA, "so we can really get a handle on how this compares to various locations around the world." It's possible that consistent measurement will reveal that other parts of the ocean without a catchy name are just as plastic-rich, or more so.
Some misinformation comes from other environmental groups exaggerating the alarming research. Environmental advocate David Suzuki has written of a "massive, expanding island of plastic debris 30 meters [98 feet] deep and bigger than the province of Quebec." Asked whether the high-plastic region could really be called an island, Bill Wareham, senior marine conservation specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation, says, "It's not going to look like island in the context of, 'Gee, I can walk across that.' But it is a very high density of plastic." He adds, "David speaks in a way where he's framing the issue in a way people can understand it."
Other advocates object to such terminology. "The problem with superlative statements that this is somehow a huge floating mass of plastic is that they inevitably lead to desensitizing people when they learn the truth of it," says David Santillo, a senior scientist with Greenpeace.
Even if scientists and advocates could agree on numbers for the size and plastic concentration of the gyre, it is unclear what they would do with the information. Plastics can harm ocean birds and mammals who eat it, because they carry toxins, can pierce internal organs and can trick animals into thinking they are full. But hard numbers are tough to come by. "It's so hard to say a bird died due to plastic in its stomach," says Dr. Bamford. "We have seen birds mature and live out their whole life, and necropsies show plastic in their stomach."
Though no one thinks any possible benefits of plastic outweigh risks, Prof. Karl did find some positive aspects of the patch -- a high concentration of microorganisms clinging to the debris. "The microorganisms are good for the ocean, because it turns out they're making oxygen," Prof. Karl says. "If plastics were otherwise neutral to the environment, then they'd be helping by harvesting more solar energy." Dr. Bamford says it is possible that a cleanup, even if it were feasible, would do more harm than good, by removing these organisms.
Capt. Moore says quantifying the plastic could provide a starting point for measuring the effectiveness of land-based efforts to choke the flow of plastic to ocean waters. "I would love to have a government agency form a concerted program to quantify the debris," he says. "It's a tragedy of the commons: Nobody owns the problem."
