“It is sticky and attracts particulates” is how Bruce Kania of Floating Island International explains the biofilm that serves as the glue for the floating islands his company produces. Bruce, during his conversation with Designers of Paradise host Erik van Lennep, describes why these recycled-plastic based islands are beneficial and how they work.

Kania talks about how the plastic matrix supports a natural biofilm that attracts particulates and supports a food web. Comparing them to natural, peat-based, islands these islands, designed with the help of biomimicry, help increase biodiversity and clean the water. They support “water resource recovery.” Over 9000 islands have been deployed around the world. As Bruce clarifies, we think that we need to clean the water to bring back a healthy food web, when actually, repairing the food web is what cleans the water.

The interview closes with a discussion of ways to get involved in Floating Island International’s work ranging from citizen science on the islands to internships and partnering for sales or manufacturing.

As Bruce says, ” We have the tools. We have the science. We’re ready.”

Notes about Bruce:

• Floating Island International
• Bruce’s email address
• Bruce Kania TEDx Billings MT talk “Transition Water“

References & Links

• Biomimicry
• The Water Resource Recovery Prize
• Biofilm reactor
• Fish Fry Lake case study
• hypereutrophic 
• (National Geographic) Massive 8,000-mile ‘dead zone’ could be one of the gulf’s largest
• Toxic Golden Algae
• The Cuyahoga River Fire

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