It is an amazing Dutch initiative, enabling kids to experience connection with the ocean and nature at its best – sailing the world and learning about life, nature, sustainability and all this while doing regular school work, as well.
We are proud to be able to equip the washing machines on board their sailing vessel Thalassa with our filters and to make a small part in the pollution prevention. Microfibres coming from textiles represent 35% of microplastic pollution, the research on its damaging effect on our health is mounting up and every little step, every filter installed, counts!
We have briefly chatted with Karlijn Moeskops, the education coordinator and biology teacher on their journey so far and the experience with filtering their laundry.
How long have you been sailing now and why are you doing this?
Every year, we embark on a six-month sailing journey. We start in The Netherlands in October, set sail to the Caribbean, visit several destinations along the way, and return to the Netherlands in April. School at Sea is a unique school project that combines education, adventure, and sustainability. Our journey is about learning and experiencing life at sea while exploring the environmental challenges that impact our oceans and the world. We aim to discover, learn, and make a positive impact on the planet, all while developing essential skills in sailing, teamwork, and supporting each other with our regular school work on board. We are now halfway through this year’s journey and have been sailing for three months. Currently, we are in Panama.
When did you first hear about microfibre pollution?
I work as an education coordinator and biology teacher on board the ship. During my biology studies, I learned about microplastic pollution, which also has been a prominent topic in the news for some time. I’ve made it a point to educate my students about this issue as well, helping them understand its impact on the environment, especially in relation to microfibres and their contribution to ocean pollution.
Where did you hear about us and our filters?
While searching for a filter for the washing machines on board our ship, I came across the PlanetCare website.
How many of you are on board and how often do you do laundry? Where do you dry your clothes?
There are 37 students and 9 crew members on board, and we typically do laundry about 35 times a week depending on the conditions and our time at sea. We dry our clothes on deck, where we have lines set up. We try to minimize water use and keep our consumption low since (fresh) water is limited.
What is your experience with the filter? Do you find them easy enough to use? Would you suggest any improvements in terms of user experience?
The filter has been easy to use and fits well into our regular laundry routine. We appreciate how simple it is to incorporate it into washing clothes without any extra hassle. However, space is very limited on board the ship, so finding a dedicated spot for the filter initially was a bit of a challenge. Once in use, it has proven to be effective in capturing microfibres but also lots of sand 😊. One issue we’ve encountered is that when the filter is full, it pops up, but students don’t always remember to replace it. This can sometimes be due to laziness or lack of attention, so maybe a more noticeable or automatic reminder system could help. If we could suggest any improvements, it would be to make the filters more durable (so they take up less space, space is the limiting factor for us) or offer a version that can handle larger loads, especially on those busy laundry days when everyone is doing their wash at once.
What else are you doing for the environment during your time at sea?
During our time at sea, we actively engage in several environmental initiatives. We regularly organize beach clean-ups to help reduce plastic pollution on the shores we visit. Additionally, we observe and document floating plastic as part of efforts to support organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and Ocean Movement. One of our students is also conducting a personal project, investigating microplastic pollution by comparing water samples from various locations, helping to raise awareness about this growing issue. These activities are part of our broader commitment to sustainability and environmental protection while at sea.
When are you returning to your home port and what are your next plans?
We are currently in Panama and will set sail towards Cuba in about two weeks. After visiting Cuba we continue our journey to Bermuda and the Azores. We will return to the Netherlands mid April. Back home students will return back to their families and schools in The Netherlands and we will start preparing for the next journey with a whole new group of teenagers.
Wish you a great time and thank you for all the great stuff you learn and do 😊!
At Planetcare we develop solutions that help solve the problem of microplastic pollution. As 35% of microplastics in the oceans coming from washing machines (synthetic clothes shed microfibers during washing), we have developed an easy to use and super effective microfiber filter that captures 98% of these microfibers. It's a small but effective step towards a cleaner future.
To help you become part of the solution, we prepared a special offer: a 10% discount on the PlanetCare 2.0 microfiber filter, or One Month Free for the Planetcare GO Easy subscription.
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