Closing the recycling loop of plastic in the Galápagos

The Galapagos Foundation clasifies and recycles garbage produced in the Galapagos. An important part of the recycling process are plastic bottles that are cleaned and ground into flakes. These flakes are then shipped into the mainland and sold to a recycling company.

In order to close the recycling loop this project will redirect these plastic pellets to a specific outdoor clothing manufacturer in order to produce eco fleece. (Every jacket can save 20 plastic bottles from going to landfill.)

We will then buy, from the eco fleece manufacturer, fabric made from a blend of 89% recycled polyester fibre.

We will install a small manufacture company in Puerto Ayora (Galapagos)were a group of local woman will be trained in the manufacture of jackets made from plastic bottles.

The profits of this project will be directed to the Foundation for further improvement of the garbage recycling process.

These jackets will be sold in the Galapagos to visitors with a message that conveyes the compromise that all visitors should have to reduce, reuse and recycle waste that is brought to the islands.

By product remanufacture we intend to minimize the impact of waste disposal in one of the world´s most precious ecosystems.

We will market the products through Metropolitan Touring that handles 15.000 passengers per year in the Galapagos. We will also receive support from other tourism operators that belong to Asogal ( the Ecuadorian Association of Galapagos Tour Operators) and IGTOA (the International Galapagos Tour Operators Association).

There is little competition and our product is very differentiated because it is linked with the work of Fundación Galapagos.

The place where it is produced; the recycling concept related to the product and the participation of local women workers.

The recycling loop concept.

For the past five years I have organized adventure races in Ecuador.

This activity has allowed me to learn about outdoor clothing equipment as well as fund raising strategies.

I am currently working in tourism and I believe I know what our target client expects. I also know about the way of life in the Galapagos and this allows me to understand how to work with the local people in the Galápagos.

The impact of this project will be to provide income for 4 to 10 women in Puerto Ayora, reduce the impact of 10,400 plastic bottles in Galápagos and provide with additional funds for recycling garbage to the Fundación Galapagos.