TideDrifts: From Ocean Waste to Creative Renewal

This blog post was written by Sam Paul, a 2025 Marine Plastics Ambassador.

TideDrifts was created to transform ocean waste into decorative art that tells the story of life and inspires others to see beauty and potential in what is often discarded. This project combines my lifelong passions for ocean conservation and creative expression, turning environmental harm into art that promotes awareness and sustainability. Each piece, including my plant propagation hangers are made from glass bottles, driftwood, and reclaimed beads, to symbolize renewal and connectivity to the natural world.

A Tidedrifts propagation hanger

This project truly lifted off through my involvement with UNCW Surfrider, where I co-hosted a beach cleanup followed by a trash-sorting event to separate recyclables and collect glass for reuse. As the Sustainable Education Director, I have been able to engage with students and community members, sharing my work and encouraging others to explore their creative minds. Through Instagram, I’ve extended my outreach beyond Wilmington, using social media as a tool for environmental storytelling and artistic inspiration.

Sam speaking to participants at Tidedrifts: Prop’ and Plant event.

To date, TideDrifts has reached over 6,000 people through direct and indirect engagement. More than 250 individuals have been reached through cleanups, events, and social media engagement, while an additional 5,750 have been impacted indirectly through outreach and exposure. Over 20 pounds of glass have been saved from improper recycling, and 24 participants have created their own propagation hangers during the “Prop & Plant” event with UNCWSurfrider. The project has also resulted in three purchases of handmade pieces, demonstrating growing interest in sustainable art.

Left: glass sorted at the co-hosted beach clean up with UNCW Surfrider. Right: sorting in progress at the International Coastal Cleanup Day beach cleanup with UNCW Surfrider.

This experience has challenged and shaped me in profound ways. I’ve learned patience, flexibility, and the importance of persistence. Early in my Ambassadorship, I struggled with public speaking, but through encouragement and guidance from mentors and peers, I’ve developed confidence in sharing my story and message. As I’ve learned from a conversation with Philippe Cousteau, “You are the only one who knows what you truly want to say, so even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned, you’re still in control of your story.”

TideDrifts will continue to evolve. I plan to showcase my work at the UNCW Surfrider Fall Market in November, with hopes of expanding awareness and community involvement. Looking ahead, I aim to launch a website and broaden the project to reach new communities. I will remain committed to advocating against plastic pollution and inspiring others to embrace creativity as a force for environmental change.

Interested individuals can find more information by following @Tidedriftsl on Instagram.