That is why the Asia Pacific green ambassador for Electrolux has spent the past eight days hitchhiking the length of New Zealand with a vacuum cleaner strapped to his back - all in the name of raising awareness of the large amounts of plastic polluting our oceans, and creating discussion on recycling plastic in New Zealand.
The Electrolux he is lugging from Whangarei to Invercargill is not just any old vacuum cleaner, he said.
This one was designed by eco-fashion designer Laurie Foon from clothing label Starfish, using an array of plastic collected from organised Electrolux beach cleanups around New Zealand.
Mr Huitfeldt said the appliance was one of five limited-edition vacuum cleaners made from recycled plastic collected from the world's oceans as part of the Vac from the Sea initiative. Each of the Vac from the Sea designs embodied the plastic paradox: oceans were full of plastic waste, yet on land there was a shortage of recycled plastic for producing sustainable recycled plastic products, he said.
"For every square kilometre of ocean, there are on average 50,000 pieces of trash."
Mr Huitfeldt stopped at the Rudolf Steiner School in Dunedin yesterday to present its staff and pupils with an $800 Electrolux Ultra One Green Vacuum Cleaner, a reward for their environmentally friendly and sustainable practices at the school.
Principal Rachel Barrington said the school had its own vegetable garden, composting, recycling and pupils even brought their lunches to school in stainless steel lunch boxes to avoid using plastic wrapping.
"It's part of our philosophy to be aware of, and have reverence for, our environment."
