Indosole

The Crew: Anna Cummins, Executive Director, and Marcus Eriksen, Research Director, started 5 Gyres in 2009 with goals to research and communicate solutions to marine plastic pollution worldwide. Stiv Wilson, Policy Director, joined the team after his first oceanic expedition in 2010 across the North Atlantic Gyre and recently carried out a successful campaign with several companies to phase out micro plastic beads used in many popular cleansers. Carolynn Box, San Francisco Coordinator, joined the team after her first expedition in 2011 across the South Atlantic Gyre and has taken on the task to analyze plastic pollution on beaches along the California Coast by building a network of 5 Gyres Ambassadors and citizen scientists. Michelle Nakamura, office manager, keeps the team on their toes and recently joined a research expedition to the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic. Since establishing, 5 Gyres has completed 11 Plastic Pollution Research Expeditions to the five main oceanic gyres and two expeditions to the Great Lakes, determining that marine plastic pollution is a global issue. 5 Gyres encourages solutions through numerous education and policy campaigns that encourage companies and the public to think about and reduce their plastic footprint. In the Bay Area, 5 Gyres is carrying out beach research on Ocean Beach. You can get involved: http://5gyres.org/how_to_get_involved/projects/plastic_beach_project/

Sponsors: Klean Kanteen, Teva, Osprey Packs, Patagonia, and the California Coastal Commission