Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, and it is having a profound effect on the world's oceans. If current trends continue, plastic pollution is expected to outweigh all fish in the sea by 2050! Finding lasting solutions to this problem is vital. Recently, designer Cesar Pieri and Furf Design Studio have developed a new way to combat plastic waste.
The Second Sun Sailboat Inspires A More Sustainable Future
In Italy, Furf Design Studio and designer Cesar Pieri have innovated a sailboat concept with a transparent, algae-based bioplastic hull and internal structures and fabrics made from plastic trash collected from the ocean!
They’ve envisioned a new design concept that takes watercraft sustainability to a whole new level: the Second Sun sailboat. The best part about this design is that it has minimal impact on nature, both environmentally and visually.
The clear hull of the boat provides a glimpse into the dancing waves and sea creatures, to encourage the connection between the sailor and sea. It sounds like a truly unique sailing experience! The project’s name ‘Second Sun’ refers to the mainsail’s round shape and yellow color which depicts a second sun, inspiring a more sustainable future.
What Once Polluted The Seas, Now Helps In Its Awareness & Preservation
According to the concept, the transparent hull of the sailboat would be made from algae-based biopolymer, whereas the internal structure and fabric would be made from plastic waste collected from the oceans.
We think this boat design is such an imaginative way to put plastic waste to use. With plastic production estimated to double in the coming years, this would eventually lead to a sharp increase in ocean pollution. Currently, only 9% of plastic is recycled, owing to the low value of its waste.
The designers of this sailboat chose to utilize the polluting plastic retrieved from the ocean, to raise awareness of the everlasting environmental impact of plastic water pollution. What once polluted the seas, now helps in its awareness and preservation.
An Iconic Work Of Art On The Water That Is Just As Clever As It Is Stunning
Let's explore the functionality of the sailboat design in more detail — the design was inspired by two iconic inventions: America's Cup sailboats and circular winged aircrafts. The sail of the boat has a unique wing shape, which allows it to turn and curve in order to increase or decrease the thrust as necessary.
This design greatly enhances the control and maneuverability of the sailboat, making it more efficient than other sailboat designs. In addition, the avant-garde sail design is also visually stunning, making the sailboat a true work of art on the water!
Furf Design Studio shares that this concept is “an iconic sailboat developed with the hope to bring more light and boldness to design a more conscious future.”
What are your thoughts on The Second Sun sailboat? Please share what you think in the comments below! We think this design has the potential to usher in a new generation of watercraft and could even inspire more environmentally friendly concepts in the future.
For more inspiring stories about sustainable innovations from around the world, check out our Eco News category and the blogs below.
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