Hello, I’m Ry Harris. I’m an African American, Eco Board (Sustainable Surfboard) pioneer, environmentalist, artist and surfer. 
 

The Problem

Only 9.% of plastic ever produced has been recycled

90% of curbside plastic set out for recycling doesn’t actually get recycled

California alone dumps more than 12,000 tons of plastic into landfills every day — enough to fill 219 Olympic-size swimming pools

Plastic Pollution is a serious problem that is plaguing our planet. Humans created it and it’s been long overdue that we fix it. Surfboards and their manufacturing waste are also contributing to the problem. With the launch of The ECOSS we will have a serious solution. 
 

The Solution

• After launching the first circular system in the surfboard manufacturing industry over 5 years ago I’m now scaling up.  We are in the midst of launching the First Educational Center Of Sustainability in Surf, The ECOSS.

  The ECOSS will not only be the first of its kind in the surf industry, and a place of education for the next generation and for all of those who will listen.

• I’m one of the newest tenants at AltaSea – where my New sustainable surfboard factory/studio is located. It’s a Sustainable Campus located in the LA Harbor as part of the new LA Waterfront. When the new campus opens this spring (after their current renovation is finished) we will be part of a radical new facility that’s powered via a 4acre solar roof. AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world. It’s the perfect place to launch the ECOSS, surrounded by fellow eco warriors!

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• Together we can make things better and more Sustainable!

• At the ECOSS we will not only be upcycling  surfboard production waste, but also we will have the ability to take ocean bound plastic and turn it into new and useful products and educate about it in the process. By supporting this project you will help our efforts to combat the plastic pollution crisis with realistic a  solution.

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• MOBILE. We’ve partnered up with our friends at SIMA (The Surf Industry Members Association) to bring mobile plastic shredding to the masses. By using a smaller high density plastic shredder that doesn’t way a ton and is on wheels, we will be able to take collected ocean bound plastic and shred it in person at various surf events, tradeshows and even in local Surf Shops! This will help not only spread awareness about The ECOSS, but also help to educate people about the plastic pollution crisis and our solution.

How it Works.

Sort. Clean. Shred. Make, Sounds simple enough right?

In order to monetize plastic waste we need to be able to make useful products out of it. At The ECOSS we will have a network of injection molds and silicone that we can make just about anything in. At time of launch we currently have a small network of existing silicone molds for our TrashCombs, soap dishes, planters and bowls…but we’re thinking bigger! With the addition of injection molds we will be able to melt down plastic waste and upcycle more plastic trash by volume into bigger products (benches, stools, chairs). 

• Plastic trash collected from beach cleanups, brought in from schools, field trips and probably even your plastic curbside recycling will get sorted onsite 
• Next it will get cleaned through a sand filtration system. (Beach trash is particularly dirty)
• After the sorted plastic trash is sorted and cleaned, it’s ready for shredding. The high density shredder is the muscle in this system. It shreds a variety of different densities of plastic from films, bottle caps and containers. to surfboard production waste, into granulated particles, or what I dubbed “Shred”.
• This shredded up plastic waste is Now ready to be Upcycled, For bigger parts and products it can be melted down and pushed through an extruder, or run through an injection molder. For smaller products the shredded up plastic can be Upcycled into silicone molds paired with bio epoxy.
• The List of products we will be able to make at The ECOSS is endless. We have simplified it for the campaign but plan to expand. 
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What We Need.

We are building something for the future at The ECOSS! In order to transform plastic waste into useful products we need to build out the space and a combination  of machines that will make up the system. Here is what we Need. 

• High Density Plastic Shredder (The Muscle in this System that shreds up collected and donated plastic trash).
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• Extruder (To make parts and pieces of larger objects that can be purchased)
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• Injection Molder (to create just about anything from recycled plastic and inject into various molds)
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• Compression Oven
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• Custom metal product Molds
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•  Carbon Filtration System (to filter melted down plastic fumes)
• Plastic Trash Cleaning/Washing system – filters out sand and other contaminates of plastic trash/waste.
• Upcycled 20’ Shipping Container  (will house the machines)
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• Electrical Build out to code and wired into existing Solar powered AltaSea Space $20-30k
• Assembly and build out in new space (contractors fees and labor) $10k

Our Unique Perks

My perks for this campaign are a rad mix of existing lifestyle products made from upcycled surfboard waste and collected ocean bound plastic trash as well as branded merchandise from my sustainable surfboard brand ECObyRy

This is a fixed funding campaign, so any funds raised will contribute to the project and help us clean up our planet!!!

The TrashComb

Trashy Coasters (Coasters with upcycled ocean bound plastic)

Trashy Dish (Soap Dish with Upcycled ocean bound plastic)

ECObyRy x AltaSea – Collaboration Tshirt

ECObyRy Hoodie

Shot Glass/Planter

TrashBowl

Plastic Trash/Planter

Upcycled Surfboard

Trash Bench

The Team

I’ve assembled a team of kind humans and fellow eco warriors to advice on this campaign.

•Vipe Desai, one of my mentors and fellow Eco Warriors, he is the Executive Director of SIMA (The Surf Industry Members Association). His insight and advice is invaluable as well as his connections in the surf industry. 

•Another mentor of mine, good friend and icon who is advising on this campaign is Selema Masekela. The voice of extreme sports, who was also recently involved in a successful Crowd Funding Campaign, The Afro Surf Book. 

•Neeko Abriol, I surf with this rad dude every day…whether its a SUP or a Shortboard…Neeko is a style icon and hair stylist to the stars who runs a prestigious saloon. He will be helping advice me on the campaign as well.

•Rey Banatao. I can not say enough about this genius. Rey and his brother are responsible  for inventing the bio epoxy that helped kickstart the Eco Board Movement.  A molecular bio chemist and Scientist now at Google X, that will be lending his advice to this campaign.

Risks & Challenges

The only risk I see in this project, is not doing it! Our planet needs our help. The plastic pollution crisis is real, and this is a realistic solution to at-least make a dent and show the world how we can help start reusing our plastic and help clean up our planet in the process!

The only real challenge I see is the the Timeline. The sustainable campus of AltaSea that will house the ECOSS is currently being renovated, and sometimes renovations and contracts take longer than initial planned. The goal is to be up and running sometime this spring, and ready for AltaSea’s grand opening to the public in May. Any delays in the build out will be communicated should they arise.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you can’t contribute monetarily, please help us make some noise and spread the word about The ECOSS. Share with your family, friends and network. 
Please use the IndieGoGo share tools. It makes sharing this campaign super easy.