Electrolux Unveils “Vacs From the Sea” Made From Plastic Waste

We're thrilled to see all sorts of organizations and individuals raising awareness about <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/07/26/plastiki-concludes-8000-mile-journey-in-sydney-australia/" target="_blank">plastic in our oceans</a>, and recently one unexpected company took the plunge - a vacuum manufacturer. Sweden-based <a href="http://www.electrolux.se/" target="_blank">Electrolux</a> launched a new initiative at the beginning of the summer to raise awareness about the awful amount of plastic in our oceans and sent off teams to five oceans around the world to collect plastic. That trash was then used to create a limited edition of vacuum cleaners called <a href="http://www.electrolux.se/Innovation/Campaigns/Vac-from-the-sea/" target="_blank">Vacs from the Sea</a>, which were recently completed - read on for a look at each design!

Electrolux started the "Vac from the Sea" initiative at the beginning of the summer to raise awareness about the amount of plastic trash in our oceans.

As part of that initiative they created 5 vacuums made from recycled plastic ocean trash and released a new vacuum model made from recycled plastic.

Electrolux sent out a number of teams to locations around the world to collect plastic trash.

Then the trash was taken and organized to create the front panels for a limited edition series of vacuums.

Here is the model representing the Baltic Sea alongside the front panel in production stage.

On the right is the vacuum representing the North Sea and on the left is the model representing the Indian Ocean.

Here is the model representing the trash from the Mediterranean Sea alongside a rainbow assortment of bottle caps collected there.

Finally, on the left is the model from the Pacific Ocean next to Electrolux's newest green vacuum - the Ultra One Green-model made from 70% recycled plastic.

Here a team from Hawaii picks up trash on the beach and places it in special Vacs from the Sea collection bags.

The trash is then sorted by volunteers before being sent to Electrolux.

Trash was collected off coral reefs underwater by teams of divers as well as by beach collectors.

Collectors from the North Sea pile up their booty from the ocean.

Originally 6 vacuums were planned, but only five were finished. They showcase trash collected from the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, North Sea, Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean.