What caught my eye...


The Plastics Challenge


I am not much of a serious campaigner as a general rule, but the Plastics Challenge being promoted by the Canal & River Trust in the UK has captured my imagination I must admit. Each year an estimated 14 million pieces of plastic rubbish end up in and around the UK canals and rivers. Staggering. And it seems with more visitors to the towpaths during the pandemic there has been a dramatic increase in the amount of litter left on them.


Thousands of people have already pledged to visit the towpath and collect litter with the aim of making a positive contribution to their local communty. Remarkably, if everyone who visits one of the many canals or rivers picks up just one piece of plastic, they’d be clear within a year. I have pledged my support.


Greener Dyneema to be trialled by


The humble


weevil to the rescue Now who would have thought that the humble weevil could play such a big part in cleaning up the waterways? An army of 2mm-long weevils has been called in to prevent the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal from being overcome by a problematic water weed. Over 3,000 weevils have been released into the water at locations along the canal in the hope that they will eat the invading Water Fern.


Azolla is a voracious grower and can multiply rapidly, covering the surface of a waterway with thick mats in a matter of weeks. The mats reduce light and oxygen levels in the water, harming fish and other wildlife, as well as affecting how boaters can use the canal.


Individually the weevils consume a relatively small amount of Azolla, however they breed to produce very large populations which, together, will feed extensively, until sections of Azolla start to die and sink to the bottom, where it is further decomposed. Given time to reproduce and spread throughout a mat of Azolla, the weevil is capable of clearing entire lakes or canals within a matter of weeks.


All hail to the mighty weevil!


racing team This is a fascinating story. I read that Royal DSM, SABIC and CirculariTeam are joining forces to create recycled-based Dyneema using mixed plastic waste as feedstock.


For reference, Dyneema fibres are the strongest manmade fibres in the world. Its tensile strength is 15 times greater than high-quality steel. It is lightweight, extremely durable, waterproof, and has high resistance to UV light and chemicals. The new, greener Dyneema will be produced by DSM using SABIC’s certified circular ethylene. The new material will be piloted by the 11th Hour Racing Team when they take to the water using Marlow Grand Prix ropes made with the recycled Dyneema fibre instead of the standard offering.


Reducing waste and emissions The circular ethylene, from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio, uses mixed plastic waste as feedstock. This approach prevents plastic from becoming waste, reduces carbon emissions by avoiding incineration and helps preserve fossil resources.


Mike Schwarz casts his eye back over last month’s eye-catching marine news


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