Shackleton x Blue Marine Foundation
Shackleton has partnered with NGO Blue Marine Foundation to support the protection of four million square kilometres of Antarctic waters. To mark the launch of the partnership, we have developed the Antarctic Protector Parka for field teams operating in the region - it's the world's first expedition-grade parka made from recycled plastic bottles.
Antarctica is our spiritual home. It was where Ernest Shackleton made his name as a polar explorer over a century ago and the harsh conditions remain the standard for which our apparel is developed to perform.
Antarctica supports nearly 10,000 unique and diverse species, including 15 species of whale and five species of penguin. Furthermore, the nutrient-rich waters encourage blooms of plankton and swarms of krill, which form the basis of the entire ocean food chain. Antarctica and its surrounding waters are vital references for planet health, providing central areas for scientific research.
But the Frozen Continent is under serious threat.
As global warming melts the ice and the waters become more accessible, pressure mounts from increased industrial fishing fleets, mining operations and unregulated tourism, threatening feeding grounds and habitats.
Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE) is the marine conservation NGO on a mission to see the designation of four million square kilometres of marine protected areas (MPAs) in the Antarctic, incorporating the Weddell Sea, East Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula. Shackleton is proud to have partnered with BLUE in this fight.
“I’ve seen Antarctica’s jaw-dropping coastal zones first-hand,” says Shackleton co-founder Martin Brooks. “The only way to protect and preserve them from further human damage is to grant them the comprehensive MPA status they so obviously need and deserve.”
To mark the launch of this partnership, Shackleton has developed the Antarctic Protector Parka to equip the men and women working in the region – it's an expedition-grade parka developed from recycled and recyclable materials (the outer shell is made from 27 post-consumer plastic bottles). Finished with a Fluorine-free water repellant, the 3-ply fabric achieves the highest waterproof rating of 20,000hh, while the 800-fill 95/5 RDS-certified goose down provides insulation to minus 25ºC.
HOW TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE
For every Antarctic Protector Parka sold, £100 will be donated to Blue Marine Foundation to help protect Antarctica's Seas.
To donate to Blue Marine Foundation and learn more about their work, visit bluemarinefoundation.com
