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{{mergefrom|System 001|discuss=Talk:System_001#Merge_this_article_back_into_The_Ocean_Cleanup|date=December 2018}}
{{Third-party|date=August 2018}}{{Infobox organization
{{Third-party|date=August 2018}}{{Infobox organization
| name = The Ocean Cleanup
| name = The Ocean Cleanup
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Since its inception the organization has primarily worked to realize a cleanup system first proposed by Slat in 2012, consisting of a floating barrier located in the [[Ocean gyre|ocean gyres]], where [[marine debris]] accumulates. Significant changes to the design of the system have been made since 2012, including scaling down from a 100 km long barrier to 600 m, and dropping the seabed anchors for a drifting system.
Since its inception the organization has primarily worked to realize a cleanup system first proposed by Slat in 2012, consisting of a floating barrier located in the [[Ocean gyre|ocean gyres]], where [[marine debris]] accumulates. Significant changes to the design of the system have been made since 2012, including scaling down from a 100 km long barrier to 600 m, and dropping the seabed anchors for a drifting system.


In September 2018, The Ocean Cleanup launched its first cleanup system, [[System 001]], and in October 2018, it was declared operational and deployed in the [[Great Pacific garbage patch|Great Pacific Garbage Patch]]. The Ocean Cleanup claims that 60 such systems will be able to clean 50% of the plastic in the patch in 5 years.{{cn|date=December 2018}}
In September 2018, The Ocean Cleanup launched its first cleanup system, System 001, and in October 2018, it was declared operational and deployed in the [[Great Pacific garbage patch|Great Pacific Garbage Patch]]. The Ocean Cleanup claims that 60 such systems will be able to clean 50% of the plastic in the patch in 5 years.{{cn|date=December 2018}}


The organization also conducts scientific research into oceanic plastic pollution. It has conducted two expeditions to the [[North Pacific Gyre]], and publicized several scientific papers.
The organization also conducts scientific research into oceanic plastic pollution. It has conducted two expeditions to the [[North Pacific Gyre]], and publicized several scientific papers.
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== Deployment ==
== Deployment ==
On September 9, 2018, ''System 001'' (nicknamed ''Wilson'' in reference to the floating soccer ball in the 2000 film ''[[Cast Away]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/15/tech/ocean-cleanup-project/index.html|title=This floating pipe is trying to clean up all the plastic in the ocean|last=Business|first=Story by Ahiza Garcia, CNN Business Video by Bryce Urbany, Bronte Lord, & Frank Fenimore, CNN|work=CNN|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/08/scientists-get-ready-to-begin-great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleanup|title=Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup|last=Summers|first=Hannah|date=2018-09-08|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-12-14|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>) was deployed from San Francisco. consists of a {{convert|600|m|ft}} long floater with a {{convert|3|m|ft}} long skirt that hangs beneath it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/12/05/the-ocean-cleanup-isnt-capturing-plastic-but-organizers-are-testing-a-solution/#1978b1731749|title=The Ocean Cleanup Isn't Capturing Plastic, But Organizers Are Testing A Solution|author=Jeff Kart|date=5 December 2018|work=Forbes}}</ref> It is made from [[High-density polyethylene|HDPE]], and consists of 12 m sections joined together.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.plasticstoday.com/sustainability/plastics-rescue-cleanup-great-pacific-garbage-patch/58706817959439|title=Plastics to the rescue in cleanup of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch|date=2018-09-10|work=PlasticsToday|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en}}</ref> Being unmanned, it has a number of monitoring and navigation systems, including GPS, cameras, lanterns and [[Automatic identification system|AIS]]. These are being powered by solar cells.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/|title=The Ocean Cleanup Technology|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|website=The Ocean Cleanup|language=en|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>
{{see also|System 001}}
System 001 (nicknamed "Wilson" in reference to the floating soccer ball in the 2000 film ''[[Cast Away]]'') is the first of 60 planned projects aimed at cleaning up ocean garbage and was launched in September 2018 from [[San Francisco]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ocean Cleanup Isn't Capturing Plastic, But Organizers Are Testing ... |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/12/05/the-ocean-cleanup-isnt-capturing-plastic-but-organizers-are-testing-a-solution/ |website=Forbes |publisher=Forbes |accessdate=10 December 2018}}</ref> It was created using [[High-density polyethylene|HDPE]]. The goal for System 001 is for it take out half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years while more systems are outputted by 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/08/scientists-get-ready-to-begin-great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleanup |website=The Guardian |publisher=The Guardian |accessdate=10 December 2018}}</ref>


The ship ''Maersk Launcher'' towed the system to a position 240 nautical miles off the coast, where it was put through a series of sea trials. When the tests were complete, it was towed to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for real-world duty. It arrived on October 16, 2018, and was deployed in operational configuration.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/cleanup-commences-system-001-has-arrived-1/|title=Cleanup Commences: System 001 Has Arrived|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|work=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=2018-12-10|language=en-EN}}</ref>
⚫
Shortly after launch, System 001 encountered difficulties retaining the plastic collected, and engineering work was started to fix these issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/06/ocean-cleanup-system-great-pacific-garbage-patch-wont-hold-plastic/2231554002/|title=Ocean Cleanup fail? System in Great Pacific Garbage Patch to corral plastic needs redesign|author=Elizabeth Weise|date=10 December 2018|work=USA Today}}</ref>

⚫
Shortly after launch, ''System 001'' encountered difficulties retaining the plastic collected, and engineering work was started to fix these issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/12/06/ocean-cleanup-system-great-pacific-garbage-patch-wont-hold-plastic/2231554002/|title=Ocean Cleanup fail? System in Great Pacific Garbage Patch to corral plastic needs redesign|author=Elizabeth Weise|date=10 December 2018|work=USA Today}}</ref>

The Ocean Cleanup aims to launch a total of 60 such systems in the patch by 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkart/2018/12/05/the-ocean-cleanup-isnt-capturing-plastic-but-organizers-are-testing-a-solution/|title=The Ocean Cleanup Isn't Capturing Plastic, But Organizers Are Testing ...|website=Forbes|publisher=Forbes|accessdate=10 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/08/scientists-get-ready-to-begin-great-pacific-garbage-patch-cleanup|title=Scientists get ready to begin Great Pacific Garbage Patch cleanup|last=Summers|first=Hannah|date=2018-09-08|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-11-02}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=CNET|title=The Ocean Cleanup launches to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch|date=2018-09-10|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYC4Q-0wcAc&t=247s|access-date=2018-11-02}}</ref> They predict this capability could clean up 50% of the debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years.


==Research==
==Research==
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{{NPOV-section|talk=This article does not seem neutral|date=August 2018}}
{{NPOV-section|talk=This article does not seem neutral|date=August 2018}}
Several criticisms and doubts about method, feasibility, efficiency and return on investment have been raised in the scientific community about The Ocean Cleanup Array.
Several criticisms and doubts about method, feasibility, efficiency and return on investment have been raised in the scientific community about The Ocean Cleanup Array.
* Critics of the project have said that the approach taken by ''System 001'' cannot possibly solve the [[Plastic pollution|plastic pollution]] problem in the ocean.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-09/this-thiel-backed-startup-says-it-can-swiffer-the-seas-scientists-have-doubts|title=This Thiel-Backed Startup Says It Can Clean Up the Seas. Scientists Have Doubts|website=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2000-foot-long-plastic-catcher-released-aid-cleanup-great-pacific-garbage-patch-180970256/|title=2,000-Foot-Long Plastic Catcher Released to Aid Cleanup of Great Pacific Garbage Patch|first=Meilan|last=Solly|website=Smithsonian}}</ref>
* [[5 Gyres|The 5 Gyres Institute]] claim The Ocean Cleanup did not produce a thorough Environmental Impact Report and did not examine alternatives, for example having fishermen recover plastic pollution.<ref name="Planet Experts">{{Cite news|url=http://www.planetexperts.com/why-the-ocean-clean-up-project-wont-save-our-seas/|title=Why the Ocean Clean Up Project Won't Save Our Seas - Planet Experts|date=2015-09-09|work=Planet Experts|access-date=2017-06-28|language=en-US}}</ref> Boyan Slat states using conventional methods like vessels and nets would be inefficient in terms of time and costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/milestones/how-it-all-began/|title=How it all began|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|website=The Ocean Cleanup|language=en-EN|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref> The Ocean Cleanup is working on environmental impact studies with external experts to assess and minimize any environmental impact their technology may have.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/faq/|title=FAQ|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|website=The Ocean Cleanup|language=en-EN|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref>
* [[5 Gyres|The 5 Gyres Institute]] claim The Ocean Cleanup did not produce a thorough Environmental Impact Report and did not examine alternatives, for example having fishermen recover plastic pollution.<ref name="Planet Experts">{{Cite news|url=http://www.planetexperts.com/why-the-ocean-clean-up-project-wont-save-our-seas/|title=Why the Ocean Clean Up Project Won't Save Our Seas - Planet Experts|date=2015-09-09|work=Planet Experts|access-date=2017-06-28|language=en-US}}</ref> Boyan Slat states using conventional methods like vessels and nets would be inefficient in terms of time and costs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/milestones/how-it-all-began/|title=How it all began|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|website=The Ocean Cleanup|language=en-EN|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref> The Ocean Cleanup is working on environmental impact studies with external experts to assess and minimize any environmental impact their technology may have.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/faq/|title=FAQ|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|website=The Ocean Cleanup|language=en-EN|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref>
* Marcus Eriksen et al. (2014) have found 92% of plastic in the ocean is smaller than [[microplastics]] and cannot be caught by The Ocean Cleanup's system. Researchers have now found microplastic and synthetic fibers frozen into ice cores, abundant on the sea floor, and on every beach worldwide. Along the way, it passes through the bodies of billions of organisms.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cózar|first=Andrés|last2=Echevarría|first2=Fidel|last3=González-Gordillo|first3=J. Ignacio|last4=Irigoien|first4=Xabier|last5=Úbeda|first5=Bárbara|last6=Hernández-León|first6=Santiago|last7=Palma|first7=Álvaro T.|last8=Navarro|first8=Sandra|last9=García-de-Lomas|first9=Juan|date=2014-07-15|title=Plastic debris in the open ocean|url=http://www.pnas.org/content/111/28/10239|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=111|issue=28|pages=10239–10244|doi=10.1073/pnas.1314705111|issn=0027-8424|pmc=4104848|pmid=24982135}}</ref> However, the 2014 study shows the plastic mass is mainly found in the two larger size classes (86%).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Eriksen|first=Marcus|last2=Lebreton|first2=Laurent C. M.|last3=Carson|first3=Henry S.|last4=Thiel|first4=Martin|last5=Moore|first5=Charles J.|last6=Borerro|first6=Jose C.|last7=Galgani|first7=Francois|last8=Ryan|first8=Peter G.|last9=Reisser|first9=Julia|date=2014-12-10|title=Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea|url=http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=9|issue=12|pages=e111913|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4262196|pmid=25494041}}</ref> Catching the larger debris before it breaks down into microplastics is The Ocean Cleanup's goal.<ref name="theoceancleanup.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/show/page/1/item/why-we-need-to-clean-the-oceans-garbage-patches/|title=Why We Need To Clean The Ocean’s Garbage Patches|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|work=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=2017-06-28|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
* Marcus Eriksen et al. (2014) have found 92% of plastic in the ocean is smaller than [[microplastics]] and cannot be caught by The Ocean Cleanup's system. Researchers have now found microplastic and synthetic fibers frozen into ice cores, abundant on the sea floor, and on every beach worldwide. Along the way, it passes through the bodies of billions of organisms.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Cózar|first=Andrés|last2=Echevarría|first2=Fidel|last3=González-Gordillo|first3=J. Ignacio|last4=Irigoien|first4=Xabier|last5=Úbeda|first5=Bárbara|last6=Hernández-León|first6=Santiago|last7=Palma|first7=Álvaro T.|last8=Navarro|first8=Sandra|last9=García-de-Lomas|first9=Juan|date=2014-07-15|title=Plastic debris in the open ocean|url=http://www.pnas.org/content/111/28/10239|journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences|language=en|volume=111|issue=28|pages=10239–10244|doi=10.1073/pnas.1314705111|issn=0027-8424|pmc=4104848|pmid=24982135}}</ref> However, the 2014 study shows the plastic mass is mainly found in the two larger size classes (86%).<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Eriksen|first=Marcus|last2=Lebreton|first2=Laurent C. M.|last3=Carson|first3=Henry S.|last4=Thiel|first4=Martin|last5=Moore|first5=Charles J.|last6=Borerro|first6=Jose C.|last7=Galgani|first7=Francois|last8=Ryan|first8=Peter G.|last9=Reisser|first9=Julia|date=2014-12-10|title=Plastic Pollution in the World's Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea|url=http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=9|issue=12|pages=e111913|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0111913|issn=1932-6203|pmc=4262196|pmid=25494041}}</ref> Catching the larger debris before it breaks down into microplastics is The Ocean Cleanup's goal.<ref name="theoceancleanup.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/show/page/1/item/why-we-need-to-clean-the-oceans-garbage-patches/|title=Why We Need To Clean The Ocean’s Garbage Patches|last=www.theoceancleanup.com|first=The Ocean Cleanup,|work=The Ocean Cleanup|access-date=2017-06-28|language=en}}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean Cleanup, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ocean Cleanup, The}}

[[Category:Ocean pollution]]
[[Category:Plastics and the environment]]
[[Category:Plastics and the environment]]
[[Category:Litter]]
[[Category:Litter]]

Revision as of 02:27, 14 December 2018

The Ocean Cleanup
Formation2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Founded atDelft, Netherlands
TypeStichting
PurposeCleaning the oceans
HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
Coordinates51°55′15″N 4°28′06″E / 51.92083°N 4.46833°E / 51.92083; 4.46833
Boyan Slat
Staff
80+[1]
Websitewww.theoceancleanup.com

The Ocean Cleanup is non-government engineering environmental organization based in Netherlands, that develops technology to extract plastic pollution from the oceans. The organization was founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, a Dutch-born inventor-entrepreneur of Croatian origin[2][3] who serves as its CEO.

Since its inception the organization has primarily worked to realize a cleanup system first proposed by Slat in 2012, consisting of a floating barrier located in the ocean gyres, where marine debris accumulates. Significant changes to the design of the system have been made since 2012, including scaling down from a 100 km long barrier to 600 m, and dropping the seabed anchors for a drifting system.

In September 2018, The Ocean Cleanup launched its first cleanup system, System 001, and in October 2018, it was declared operational and deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Ocean Cleanup claims that 60 such systems will be able to clean 50% of the plastic in the patch in 5 years.[citation needed]

The organization also conducts scientific research into oceanic plastic pollution. It has conducted two expeditions to the North Pacific Gyre, and publicized several scientific papers.

Design

Side view of floating barrier
  • A: Wind
  • B: Waves
  • C: Current
  • D: Cross section of floating barrier.
  • (Wind, waves, and current all act on the barrier, thus pushing it into the slower moving debris, which is moved only by the current.)
Top view of floating barrier
  • A: Navigation pod
  • B: Satellite pod
  • C: Camera pod
(There are also nine lanterns situated every 100 metres along the barrier to provide visibility.)

The Ocean Cleanup proposes using passive floating structures localized in the ocean gyres, where marine debris tends to accumulate. These structures will act as a containment boom, and utilize the wind, waves and ocean currents to concentrate the marine debris, so it can be collected. A solid screen underneath the floating pipe will catch the debris not directly on the surface. The entire system is to be powered without external energy.

Original proposal

In October 2012, Slat held a TED-talk where he proposed such a system. This design, which was an early draft, consisted of long floating barriers fixed to the seabed, attached to a central platform shaped like a manta ray for stability. The barriers would direct the floating plastic to the central platform, which then would pick the plastic up from the water. Slat did not specify the dimensions of this system in the talk.[4]

In 2014, the design was revised, replacing the central platform with a tower not attached to the floating barriers. This platform would collect the plastic using a conveyor belt. The floating barriers were suggested to be 100 km wide. In 2015, this design won the London Design Museum Design of the Year.[5][6] and the INDEX: Award.[7][8]

Revised proposal

In May 2017, significant changes to the design were made:

  • The dimensions were drastically reduced, from a total length of 100 km to a length of 1–2-kilometre (0.62–1.24 mi). The Ocean Cleanup suggested using a fleet of approximately 60 systems instead.[9]
  • The seabed anchors were replaced with sea anchors, allowing it to drift with the currents, but slower. This allows the plastic to "catch up" with the cleanup system. The lines to the anchor would keep the system in a U-shape. According to The Ocean Cleanup, this design allows the system to drift to the locations in the ocean with the highest concentration of debris.[10]
  • An automatic system for collecting the plastic was dropped. Instead, the system would only concentrate the plastic before it can be extracted by support vessels for transportation back to shore.[11]

In 2018, the sea anchors were also removed because tests showed that the wind moved the system faster than the plastic. In this new design, the U-shape would have to turn forward, which would be achieved by having the underwater screen deeper in the middle of the system, creating more drag.[9]

Testing

Scale model tests

In the summer 2015, The Ocean Cleanup started performing scale model tests in controlled environments.[12] Tests took place in wave pools at Deltares and MARIN. The purpose was to test the dynamics and load of the barrier, when exposed to currents and waves, and to gather data for continued computational modeling.[13] The Ocean Cleanup performed more scale model tests in 2018.[14]

Open sea tests

A 100-metre segment went through a test in the North Sea, just off the coast of the Netherlands in the summer of 2016.[12][15] The purpose was to test the endurance of the materials chosen and the connections between elements. The test indicated that conventional oil containment booms were not fit for the harsh environments the system would face. They changed the floater material to a hard-walled HDPE pipe, which is flexible enough to follow the waves, and rigid enough to follow its open U-shape. More prototypes have been deployed to endurance test the system components.[16]

On May 11, 2017, The Ocean Cleanup announced the next step is to test their new drifting system in the North Pacific in 2017.[10]

Deployment

On September 9, 2018, System 001 (nicknamed Wilson in reference to the floating soccer ball in the 2000 film Cast Away[17][18]) was deployed from San Francisco. consists of a 600 metres (2,000 ft) long floater with a 3 metres (9.8 ft) long skirt that hangs beneath it.[19] It is made from HDPE, and consists of 12 m sections joined together.[20] Being unmanned, it has a number of monitoring and navigation systems, including GPS, cameras, lanterns and AIS. These are being powered by solar cells.[21]

The ship Maersk Launcher towed the system to a position 240 nautical miles off the coast, where it was put through a series of sea trials. When the tests were complete, it was towed to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for real-world duty. It arrived on October 16, 2018, and was deployed in operational configuration.[22]

Shortly after launch, System 001 encountered difficulties retaining the plastic collected, and engineering work was started to fix these issues.[23]

The Ocean Cleanup aims to launch a total of 60 such systems in the patch by 2021.[24][25][26] They predict this capability could clean up 50% of the debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years.

Research

Oceanic expeditions

In August 2015, The Ocean Cleanup conducted its so-called Mega Expedition, in which a fleet of approximately 30 vessels, including lead ship R/V Ocean Starr, crossed the Great Pacific garbage patch and mapped an area of 3.5 million square kilometers. The expedition collected data on the size, concentration and total mass of the plastic in the patch. According to the organization, this expedition collected more data on oceanic plastic pollution than the last 40 years combined.[27][28]

In September and October 2016, The Ocean Cleanup conducted its so-called Aerial Expedition, in which a C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted a series of aerial surveys of the Great Pacific garbage patch. The goal was specifically to quantify the amount of large debris, including ghosts nets in the patch.[29] Boyan Slat said that the crew saw a lot more debris than expected.[30]

The Ocean Cleanup have launched an app called The Ocean Cleanup Survey App, which enable other people to survey the ocean for plastic, and report their observations to The Ocean Cleanup.[31]

Scientific findings

In February 2015, the research team published a study in Biogeosciences, about the vertical distribution of plastic, from samples collected in the North Atlantic Gyre. They found that the plastic concentration decreases exponentially with depth, with the highest concentration being at the surface, and approaching zero just a few meters down in the water column.[32][33] A follow-up paper was published in Scientific Reports in October 2016.[34]

In June 2017, The Ocean Cleanup research team published a paper in Nature Communications, with a model of the river plastic input into the ocean. Their model estimates that between 1.15 and 2.41 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the world's oceans every year, with 86% of the input stemming from rivers in Asia.[35][36]

In December 2017, they published a paper in Environmental Science & Technology, about pollutants in oceanic plastic, based upon data from the Mega Expedition. They found that 84% of their plastic samples had at least one PBT chemical with concentrations exceeding safe levels. Furthermore, there was found 180 times more plastic than naturally occurring biomass on the surface in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.[37][38]

On March 22, 2018, The Ocean Cleanup published a paper in Scientific Reports, summarizing the combined findings from the Mega- and Aerial Expedition. They estimate that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains 1.8 trillion pieces of floating plastic, with a total mass of 79,000 metric tonnes. Microplastics (< 0.5 cm) make up 94 % of the pieces, but only account for 8% of the total mass. The study suggests that the amount of plastic in the patch might have increased exponentially since 1970. [39][40]

Funding

The Ocean Cleanup is mainly funded by donations and sponsors. It has received over $31.5 million in donations since foundation, from sponsors including Salesforce.com chief executive Marc Benioff, philanthropist Peter Thiel, Julius Baer Foundation and Royal DSM.[41] The Ocean Cleanup also raised over 2 million USD with the help of a crowdfunding campaign in 2014.[42]

Criticism

Several criticisms and doubts about method, feasibility, efficiency and return on investment have been raised in the scientific community about The Ocean Cleanup Array.

  • Critics of the project have said that the approach taken by System 001 cannot possibly solve the plastic pollution problem in the ocean.[43][44]
  • The 5 Gyres Institute claim The Ocean Cleanup did not produce a thorough Environmental Impact Report and did not examine alternatives, for example having fishermen recover plastic pollution.[45] Boyan Slat states using conventional methods like vessels and nets would be inefficient in terms of time and costs.[46] The Ocean Cleanup is working on environmental impact studies with external experts to assess and minimize any environmental impact their technology may have.[47]
  • Marcus Eriksen et al. (2014) have found 92% of plastic in the ocean is smaller than microplastics and cannot be caught by The Ocean Cleanup's system. Researchers have now found microplastic and synthetic fibers frozen into ice cores, abundant on the sea floor, and on every beach worldwide. Along the way, it passes through the bodies of billions of organisms.[48] However, the 2014 study shows the plastic mass is mainly found in the two larger size classes (86%).[49] Catching the larger debris before it breaks down into microplastics is The Ocean Cleanup's goal.[50]
  • The 5 Gyres Institute argue that reducing plastic influx would capture more plastic before it degrades and impacts marine life, and likely cost less than the Array. Boyan Slat agreed that stopping the influx is necessary,[45] but argued that it is complementary to clean-up. By cleaning up what is left in the gyres, The Ocean Cleanup can prevent larger pieces from breaking down into the more harmful microplastics.[50]
  • Mark Noak claims discouraging plastics consumption would be more effective long-term, and The Ocean Cleanup's strategy will instead enable environmentally harmful consumption patterns.[51] Boyan Slat argues a cleanup project has the potential to make the problem visible, and helps people become aware of the problem in general. It might also lead to spin-off technologies.[50]

Awards and recognition

The Ocean Cleanup and its CEO/founder Boyan Slat have won numerous distinctions. The United Nations Environment Programme awarded Slat with the Champion of the Earth in 2014,[52] and he was previously recognized as one of the 20 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs Worldwide by Intel EYE50.[53] In 2015, Harald V of Norway awarded Slat the maritime industry's Young Entrepreneur Award and The Ocean Cleanup Array was named as a London Design Museum Design of the Year.[5][6] Also in 2015, the Ocean Cleanup Array won the INDEX: Award in 2015[7][8] and the 2015 Fast Company Innovation By Design Award in the category Social Good.[54] Foreign Policy recognized Slat as one of the 100 Global Thinkers of 2015.[55] In 2016, The Ocean Cleanup won the Katerva award also known as the ”Nobel Prize for Sustainability.”[56] The Ocean Cleanup was awarded the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association's Thor Heyerdahl award in May 2017.[57]

References

  1. ^ About The Ocean Cleanup, Theoceancleanup.com. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
  2. ^ "HRVAT KOJI ČISTI OCEANE Moj tata živi u Istri, a ja sam s ušteđevinom od 200 € ostvario san". jutarnji.hr. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
  3. ^ "Nizozemac hrvatskog podrijetla izumio sustav koji elimira plastični otpad iz mora". www.monitor.hr. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
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