The Sustainable Flag Project

Flags which are crucial in denoting safe travel, visual aids to relocate deep field scientific instruments and marking station equipment are constantly shedding polyester Microplastics across Antarctica. This is particularly concerning at a coastal research station such as Rothera.  It is not uncommon to encounter the erosion of polyester flags around station which can be replaced by field guides up to three times a year.

Marker flag blowing in the wind, Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica.

The field department have estimate the use of 400 flags on station with ~ 1,000 flags deployed into the field each year. We have conducted a preliminary trial by testing different material types (cotton canvas and Ventile) at select sites around Rothera. The tested material types are used for field tents and as tarpaulin for skidoos.

Results of this study are being submitted to an environmental impact journal and will be shared on this page once the results are published.