ADBALLA BARGHASH
After two years of R&D, the world’s first 100 per cent recycled plastic dhow was launched in Lamu on International Ocean Clean-up Day 2018, and is expected to sail to Zanzibar in partnership with the UNEP Clean Seas Programme, arriving in time for the Sauti za Busara Festival from February 7-10. It will then be exhibited in Nairobi at the UN Environment Assembly in March.
Measuring nine metres in length, the Flipiflopi was built using several tonnes of plastic waste and 30,000 discarded flipflops. “Our objective has always been to share a simple message that single-use plastics don’t make sense. For every piece of plastic the ocean picks up, the tide brings five new pieces. To bring about change, we have to inspire people to rethink their single-use plastic consumption”, says Dipesh Pabari, project leader.