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.

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. Unfortunately, they are not as durable as we hoped, hence our second trial to test a hopefully more durable plastic approach, kites which are used on boats at sea.