David de Rothschild is a billionaire who is set to sail across the Pacific ocean in a catamaran made from recycled plastic bottles and waste.
David, a banking heir who is also listed among the world's most eligible bachelors, will lead a team of scientists and adventurers on a expedition from San Francisco to Sydney.
They vessel is a custom built 60ft Plastiki, made from more than 12,000 plastic bottles.
Mr de Rothschild told Sky News Online he hopes the four-month trip will make people think about their use of the material.
"Every bit of plastic that has ever been produced is somewhere on our planet, out there in our atmosphere, in our oceans, or on land," he said.
"There are dumb uses that we should ban and then for other types of plastic we need to be smarter with how we make them and dispose of them.
"The innovation is there but not the appetite because it is not in the interests of certain companies."
Plastiki will showcase Mr de Rothschild's own solutions to the plastic bottle problem.
As you look across the ocean it all seems very similar to everywhere else, but most of the waste and litter is hidden beneath the surface. It might look fine, but the reality is that it is not.
The Plastiki will be partly made up of a recently discovered self-reinforcing PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) which he hopes has the potential to replace fibreglass in the boat buildling industry.
Unlike the reclaimed plastic PET bottles which make up the sides of the boat, it can be melted down and reused.
It is not the only innovation on the vessel.
The glue is made from cashew nuts and sugar while solar panels and wind turbines have been custom designed to produce energy.
Extra power can be obtained by pedalling stationary bikes which Mr de Rothschild joked would also help to keep him toned.
The team will venture to the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch", an area of ocean where there is six times more pollution than plankton.
Much of the world's plastic waste is carried by currents to this area and other similar patches across the globe.
"Looking out across the ocean it all looks very similar to everywhere else, but most of the waste is beneath the surface," Mr de Rothschild explained.
"It might look fine, but the reality is that it is not."
The small crew of six will share limited space on board and will spend up to four months at sea.
Mr de Rothschild is confident the team will get on well during the challenge, but does have concerns of his own.
"I've been known to be sea sick," he admitted.
"I think it's something I'll be able to get over quickly. I hope so. But I've heard fresh ginger is good for it, so I'll be taking plenty of that!"
Fans will be able to keep track of the Plastiki's travels on there website.
The boat is currently undergoing seaworthy tests and If all goes well, the team plans to set sail early in 2010.
source: news.sky.com
