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Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen is partnering with ecological pioneer David de Rothschild and his Adventure Ecology team for a 10,000 mile Pacific voyage in a 60-foot catamaran manufactured from plastic bottles and other recyclable waste. The adventure, which will begin in San Francisco and conclude in Sydney, Australia--tracing routes considered particularly vulnerable along the way--is part of a bigger mission to draw public attention to the environmental footprint of mankind, and point the way to sustainable solutions.
To create the Plastiki vessel, de Rothschild and Adventure Ecology turned to leading engineers, marine architects, and experts in sustainable technology. The vessel's name is both a tribute to the legendary 1947 "Kon-Tiki" expedition of Thor Heyerdahl, and a reflection of its state of the art construction in accord with recycled waste manufacturing. By visiting www.theplastiki.com, individuals can become a "virtual crew member" and keep updated on the Plastiki's progress through its Westerly route.
"Adventure Ecology's Plastiki expedition has a distinct point of difference over other sailing adventures in that it clearly demonstrates that anything is possible as soon as you think outside the box, concentrate on sustainability and define boundaries in a new way, says David de Rothschild. "By combining adventure, innovation and enterprise, enhanced with smart thinking and a continual focus on every possible solution, people, companies and industry will be prompted to solve waste-related problems and to rethink the consequences which our lifestyle has on nature."
IWC Schaffhausen is a company with just such a forward-thinking attitude. In 2001, the firm began an effort to shrink its C02 emissions, with the result that today, a 50 percent reduction has been achieved. Through a range of financial incentives, IWC has also given its employees incentives to practice environmental awareness in their everyday lives.
IWC's CEO Georges Kern, a man who has said that "every business bears economic, social and ecological responsibilities" expressed his admiration for the work of Adventure Ecology: "David de Rothschild and his organization Adventure Ecology deserve great respect and support for their inspirational ideas. We are delighted to be on board of their breathtaking expeditions to the most threatened ecosystems of our planet and to make a contribution towards increasing public awareness of the consequences of human behavior on nature."
Says de Rothschild: "The partnership with IWC Schaffhausen is of great significance to Adventure Ecology. In the battle to combat climate change, industry is reliant upon intelligent solutions. IWC Schaffhausen doesn't just talk about protecting the climate, but thanks to efforts towards improving its environmental track record, the company has been certified a CO2-neutral enterprise. This ongoing commitment is to be commended, and Adventure Ecology is proud to have won over IWC as a long-term official partner for its Plastiki expedition."
A limited edition IWC Ingenieur Mission Earth timepiece has been created to commemorate the Plastiki's remarkable voyage and the continued work of Adventure Ecology in creative environmental missions. Presented in a 46mm stainless steel case with protective shoulders for the screw-down crown, this special Ingenieur model showcases a blue dial with brilliant orange hour indices and hands, a blue rubber strap, and a intricate engraved caseback bearing the expedition logo of Adventure Ecology. An inner case in soft iron shields the manufacture Calibre IWC 80110 from magnetic fields with an intensity of up to 1,000 Gauss/80,000 A/m. The timepiece is water resistant to 120 meters, and features a flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective treatment. |
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