Eagle Creek Supports Plastic Pollution Action

Travel goods specialist Eagle Creek has announced a joint initiative with California-based 5 Gyres, whose mission is to empower action against the global health crisis associated with plastic pollution. Together with 5 Gyres, Eagle Creek is launching the limited Eagle Creek x 5 Gyres Collection, donating 10% of the net proceeds from sales of each product in the collection, until 30 June 2021, to help 5 Gyres to combat plastic pollution in oceans and shorelines.

The accumulation zones of plastic in the ocean, called ‘gyres’, are a result of the vortex of winds and currents occurring at latitudes synonymous with continental deserts. Plastic gets trapped within these currents, taking at least ten years to cycle back out. That is, if it doesn’t first get consumed by marine life or sink to the bottom, resulting in trillions of microplastic particles filling up our oceans, according to 5 Gyres. There are five major gyres – the North and South Pacific Subtropical Gyres, the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres and the Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre.

The 5 Gyres Institute is a leader in the global movement against plastic pollution with more than ten years of expertise in scientific research and engagement on plastic pollution issues. Since 2009, the team has completed 19 expeditions, bringing more than 300 citizen scientists, corporate executives, brands and celebrities to the gyres, lakes, and rivers to conduct first hand research on plastic pollution.

Through this research, 5 Gyres aims to engage diverse stakeholders in understanding the science to drive impact as well as conduct community outreach and citizen science to implement data-driven solutions. With over 1800 volunteer Ambassadors in 66 countries, 5 Gyres supports and is supported by community members with information, tools, connections to help drive local change to fight this global crisis.

Monica Rigali, Senior Marketing Director at Eagle Creek, said, “We’re teaming up with 5 Gyres because of our shared common values of environmental protection and social justice. This collection will not only bring awareness to plastic pollution in the ocean, which we call ‘the smog of the sea,’ but will also ignite action.”