David de Rothschild, the heir to a Rothschild banking fortune is talking to Billabong about a new recycled plastic product his business has developed. Adventurer and conservationist David de Rothschild says Seretex, or self re-enforcing textile, was developed during experiments to invent new ways of recycling plastics for Plastiki. The Plastiki is a vessel made of 12,500 plastic soft drink bottles and fully recyclable plastic, which he and his crew sailed into Sydney Harbour a week ago. The vessel has attracted worldwide attention since leaving San Francisco on March 21 to raise awareness about plastic waste in our oceans. Mr de Rothschild said his scientists developed Seretex as they searched for a way to make structural supports for the boat out of recycled plastic.

'Innovation came through the most unexpected places and in this instance through trying to find a material that would be suitable for Plastiki's superstructure,' he told AAP.

I have no idea where it can go, but I'm positive it will change the value perception of what is now seen as waste, as a resource.'

Mr de Rothschild showed Billabong a surfboard fin made from Seretex, but is hoping the material will be able to be used for making everything from shipping containers to structural components for buildings.

'I became interested in Billabong after noticing what they were doing with their wetsuits, which are made of exactly the same material we're seeing in our oceans. 'My interest in brands like Billabong is that I see them as being a custodian of the ocean, which is the playground of millions of people.

'Every morning they wake up, they get into the ocean, they're surfing, they see what's happening - so why can't they become ocean scouts?

'I don't have to say this, Billabong aren't paying me any money, I just want to find companies that aren't afraid to think outside the box and not only influence the consumer, but business as well. 'They've got outlets that are education centres as far as I'm concerned and we've got to change the way we view a product; a product ultimately should be able to tell a story and that story should have authenticity.'

Billabongs interest in recyclables and renewable forms of plastics isnt limited to talks with the banking heir. Billabong have already incorporated PET materials in their boardshort and wetsuit ranges . Billabong founder Gordon Merchant is also shareholder in VISY a Melbourne based company which is one of the world's leading privately owned packaging, paper and recycling companies.

More information on Plastiki Voyage go to www.theplastiki.com

Source Bigpond Technology