Trillions of plastic pieces currently float on ocean surfaces, damaging marine habitats and contaminating food chains worldwide. Without intervention, scientists predict this problem will worsen exponentially as rivers continue carrying plastic waste into our seas.

A non-profit organization called The Ocean Cleanup has developed innovative technologies addressing this crisis through a dual approach: removing existing ocean plastic while preventing new plastic from entering rivers. Their ambitious goal? Reducing floating ocean plastic by 90% by 2040.

Already removing plastic from the Pacific Ocean with their cleaning systems and deploying river solutions globally, The Ocean Cleanup represents one of our most promising efforts to reverse marine plastic pollution on a massive scale.

Plastic Soup: Why Our Oceans Can’t Take Any More

Marine ecosystems suffer tremendously from plastic pollution. Fish, seabirds, and marine mammals ingest plastic fragments, mistaking them for food. These plastics absorb toxic chemicals during their journey through industrial and urban environments, making them particularly dangerous when consumed.

Research conducted by The Ocean Cleanup’s engineers and scientists reveals that plastic accumulation forms massive garbage patches, with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch alone containing an estimated 100,000,000 kilograms of plastic. As this material breaks down into microplastics, removing it becomes increasingly complex and more likely to enter the food chain.

Millions of tons of new plastic enter our oceans each year, accelerating a crisis that threatens marine biodiversity, human health, and coastal economies worldwide. Plastic pollution has reached such extreme levels that scientists have found it in the deepest ocean trenches and most remote polar regions.

Fighting Plastic on Two Fronts: Oceans and Rivers

After extensive research and modeling, The Ocean Cleanup discovered a fundamental truth: neither ocean cleanup nor river interception alone can solve this crisis. Both approaches must work in tandem.

Their data shows that cleaning existing ocean pollution without stopping new inputs would be futile, like draining a bathtub while the faucet runs. Conversely, focusing solely on river interception would allow existing ocean plastic to continue damaging marine ecosystems for decades or centuries.

By targeting both problems simultaneously, the Ocean Cleanup aims to reduce plastic already in oceans while preventing new waste from entering them. Their models demonstrate that this dual strategy provides the only viable path to their 90% reduction goal by 2040.

Meet the Ocean-Cleaning Machines Making Waves

Since 2018, The Ocean Cleanup has rapidly evolved its ocean cleaning technology. Their original System, 001, provided crucial data that informed subsequent designs.

System 002 has proven remarkably effective, covering over 2,700 square kilometers (approximately half a million football fields) and removing more than 84,000 kilograms of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch as of June 2022.

Now, System 03 represents the organization’s largest and most efficient iteration yet. This advanced system will serve as the blueprint for scaling up to a larger fleet capable of tackling ocean plastic on an unprecedented scale.

Each system uses natural ocean forces to concentrate plastic for collection, operating autonomously and using minimal energy. As the fleet expands, collection capacity will increase dramatically, accelerating progress toward the 2040 goal.

Stopping Plastic at the Source: River Cleanup in Action

Rivers function as plastic highways to oceans, and just 1,000 rivers are responsible for 80% of all ocean plastic emissions. Recognizing this concentration, The Ocean Cleanup developed its Interceptor technology to capture plastic in rivers before it reaches open water.

Interceptors currently operate in multiple countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Malaysia. Additional deployments are planned for Bangkok, Thailand, and Los Angeles County, USA.

These solar-powered systems can extract tons of waste daily from polluted rivers, operating continuously in various conditions. The Ocean Cleanup maximizes impact by targeting the most polluting rivers first while building vital support for broader implementation.

From Now to 2040: How We’ll Get There

Since beginning operations in 2018, The Ocean Cleanup has progressed from testing to active cleanup, collecting valuable data and refining its technologies.

Current operations involve ocean systems in the Pacific and multiple Interceptors in rivers worldwide. As System 03 deployment approaches, the organization prepares to scale significantly, with plans to deploy multiple systems across all major ocean garbage patches.

Their timeline envisions rapidly increasing collection rates throughout this decade, with major milestones including deployment in all major garbage patches by 2025 and a substantial reduction in plastic concentration by 2030. By maintaining this trajectory, they project achieving their 90% reduction target by 2040.

Friends in High Places: Who’s Backing This Cleanup Mission

As a non-profit organization, The Ocean Cleanup relies entirely on partnerships and support to fund its ambitious work. Major partners include The Coca-Cola Company, Maersk, Kia, rock band Coldplay, and the Government of the Netherlands.

These partnerships provide more than financial support—they offer logistics expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and global reach that accelerate technology development and deployment.

The Ocean Cleanup builds a coalition capable of sustained action against ocean plastic pollution by collaborating with major corporations, governments, and influential cultural figures. Their partnership model demonstrates how public and private sectors can unite around environmental challenges.

Joining Forces with Global Ocean Defenders

The Ocean Cleanup proudly supports Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), aligning their work with global ocean conservation and management priorities.

They endorse the UN Oceans Conference recognition of threats to marine environments, as expressed in the 2022 Ocean Conference Political Declaration “Our ocean, our future, our responsibility.”

Additionally, they support the UN Environment Assembly Resolution “End Plastic Pollution: Towards a legally binding instrument,” which seeks international agreement on reducing plastic pollution.

By connecting their practical work to these global frameworks, The Ocean Cleanup helps transform high-level commitments into tangible results, providing a model for effective action on international environmental agreements.

Keeping Score: How We Know It’s Working

Measuring success in ocean cleanup requires sophisticated monitoring and verification. The Ocean Cleanup employs aerial surveys, water sampling, and tracking technology to quantify plastic removal and validate its progress.

Regular reporting ensures transparency, with detailed information about collection amounts, areas covered, and technological improvements shared publicly. This open approach builds credibility while facilitating scientific collaboration.

Independent researchers verify their methods and results, ensuring claims about plastic reduction can withstand scrutiny. By establishing clear metrics at the outset, The Ocean Cleanup creates accountability for its ambitious 2040 target.

Cleaner Oceans Ahead: What This Means for Our Planet

Removing 90% of floating ocean plastic would mark an unprecedented environmental recovery. Marine ecosystems would gain breathing room to heal, with reduced entanglement risks for animals and decreased plastic entering food chains.

For humans, cleaner oceans mean healthier seafood, more productive fisheries, and coastal economies unburdened by plastic waste management costs. Precious beaches and waters would also benefit tourism destinations.

Most importantly, this achievement would demonstrate humanity’s capacity to reverse environmental damage at scale, providing a model for addressing other seemingly insurmountable ecological challenges.

The work requires sustained commitment from organizations, governments, businesses, and individuals worldwide. Still, The Ocean Cleanup shows that we can turn the tide on ocean plastic pollution with innovation and determination.

Want to Learn More or Help Out?

The Ocean Cleanup regularly publishes progress reports on its website, offering detailed information about collection operations, technology development, and scientific findings.

Individuals can support their mission through donations, awareness-raising, and reducing personal plastic consumption. Businesses can explore partnership opportunities or adopt practices that minimize plastic waste.

Their platform offers educational materials about ocean plastic pollution and potential solutions, helping to spread knowledge about this critical environmental issue.

Updates on system deployments and technology advancements appear regularly on their social media channels and website, allowing supporters to follow their journey toward cleaner oceans by 2040.

By combining cutting-edge technology with global collaboration, the Ocean Cleanup offers a viable path to drastically reducing ocean plastic in our lifetime, turning an environmental disaster into a story of hope and recovery.

Featured image source: Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Sustainable Development