Background
- Name: Lisa Blair (Lisa Blair Sails the World)
- Location: Australia and beyond!
- Our contribution: BioPak supports Lisa Blair, an Australian adventurer and multi-world record holding sailor, dedicated to Climate Action Now and microplastics research.
Why We Support Lisa Blair
Lisa Blair is a force to be reckoned with. She’s an Australian sailor, multi-world record holder, author, keynote speaker and the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.
But her mission extends beyond world records – she’s committed to community activation, collecting oceanographic data and microplastic samples for several scientific organisations, as well as launching her Climate Action Now campaign. Lisa sees sailing as a platform to encourage climate positive actions and rally communities.
“Sailing has become a fantastic avenue for me to create change, the more projects I complete the more impact I can create.”
- Lisa Blair
About Lisa Blair
Lisa Blair discovered the world of sailing in 2005 while working as a hostess on a sailing boat in the Whitsundays. Since then, she’s clocked up more than 80,000 nautical miles and embarked on her record-breaking voyage – a solo, non-stop and unassisted lap around Antarctica.
On a personal level, Lisa is nothing short of inspiring. She currently holds five world records in sailing, has battled cyclonic and life-threatening storm conditions, was awarded the Spirit of Adventure award by Australian Geographic, and became the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica.
But looking beyond world records and impressive personal milestones, Lisa is a passionate environmentalist with a long list of sustainability accomplishments.
Lisa Blair’s Sustainability Accomplishments
Beyond her most renowned accomplishment – being the fastest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Antarctica – Lisa Blair is making waves in the sustainability space.
Climate Action Now Campaign
Lisa sees sailing as a platform to encourage sustainability. Her boat – Climate Action Now – is made up of ‘post it’ messages from the wider community with actions individuals are taking to encourage climate action now – whether that’s turning the lights off or riding a bike to work. She believes the more notes collected, the bigger the statement we can make.
Microplastics Research
Lisa works in partnership with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) to collect microplastic samples. In 2022, Lisa completed the first near-continuous microplastics survey in Southern Ocean waters, providing data in the fight against plastic pollution – a fight we share here at BioPak.
On this voyage alone, Lisa collected a total of 178 seawater samples from the sub-surface of the Southern Ocean with 83 samples having been processed and analysed.
The findings were shocking:
- Microplastics were present in almost all samples analysed.
- On average, the microplastic samples collected were equivalent to 58,500 particles per average Olympic-sized swimming pool.
- The highest concentration of microplastics was found in the waters below Australia (equivalent to 357,500 particles of plastic in an Olympic-sized swimming pool).
Lisa’s findings confirm that the Southern Ocean is not immune to microplastic contamination – reiterating the significance of the plastic problem and the need for viable alternatives to single-use plastics.
Oceanographic Research
During Lisa’s solo lap around Antarctica, she also collected oceanographic data and meteorological data for several scientific organisations.
- Measured Ocean Health through data sets like acidity, salinity and PCo2
- Deployed eight weather-drifting buoys
- Deployed an Argo Research Float (collects real-time ocean observations)
- Set up a mobile weather station for the Bureau of Meteorology
- Contributed seafloor depth data to the Seabed 2030 Program
Keynote Speaking
Lisa is also an Author (Debut book: Facing Fear) and a motivational speaker. She uses her platform to educate communities on the environmental issues close to her heart.
Lisa presents to the general public and schools to share ways they can minimise their impact. She uses BioPak as an example of how people can make small changes to their daily behaviour. By reducing plastic use, choosing compostable alternatives and disposing of them correctly, we can minimise the amount of microplastics going into the ocean.
Examples of other small changes to daily behaviours include installing a filter on your washing machine, buying clothing made from natural materials and disposing of bottles correctly.
Our Impact
At BioPak, we’re proud to support Lisa Blair on not only her adventurous journey, but her mission to encourage sustainability at an individual level.
We will continue to closely follow her adventures and the microplastic data she releases to the science community. At BioPak, we share her commitment to reducing single-use plastic pollution and creating circular solutions that put the planet first.
If you follow along with Lisa Blair’s adventures, look out for the BioPak stickers on her boat, as well as the BioPak flag when docked!
Together, let’s help Lisa spread the message of Climate Action Now!
