Angelo Solimando
Representing: Cayman Islands
"Glass to Sand" is an initiative that involves crushing glass bottles into sand, which is then used to rejuvenate depleted mangrove and seagrass populations and combat coastal erosion in the Cayman Islands.
Project Name: Glass to Sand
The issue
The idyllic shores of the Cayman Islands are facing a silent adversary: coastal erosion. Once adorned with sandy beaches, Grand Cayman now grapples with their disappearance. For local beachfront Hospitality Businesses, the stakes are high. Livelihoods depend on pristine coastlines. Numerous fellow bartenders have had to relocate due to the impact of this challenge.
The solution
Enter an unexpected hero: glass bottles. Often seen as trash, they hold the key to environmental restoration. Installing NFC tags on Ketel One bottles, I have introduced GlassRoots.KY, a non-profit organization repurposing recycled glass. Their ingenious approach involves crushing glass into sand, which is then used to rejuvenate depleted mangrove and seagrass populations, actively counteracting coastline erosion in Cayman.
My initutive
My mission is to raise awareness through a series of Ketel One cocktail events at affected venues. Inspired by the Nolet Family and their continuous pursuit to make the world a more sustainable place, I will educate people to become part of the solution by visiting glassroots.ky/contribute. My first event I reached 120 people, 30% signed up as contributors instantly. With one event a month, I could reach and inform 1000 people a year who could become future contributors.
Join me and Ketel One to transform waste into hope, one glass bottle at a time. Together, we'll protect our coastlines and preserve the beauty that makes Cayman truly extraordinary.
GlassRoots
45ml Ketel One Family Made Vodka
30ml Clarified Mango and Matcha cordial
75ml Carbonated Local Coconut Water
Mango Leaf
