Environment

We know that plastic is highly present in the ocean gyres and it has been observed that organisms are both suffering and benefiting from its presence. Before launching System 001, in 2018, an independent consultancy firm, CSA Ocean Sciences, conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for its operations. The results indicated that the operations of System 001 to remove plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch would result in a positive impact.

The Ocean Cleanup has since conducted many months of offshore testing and monitoring to understand the impact of our technology in this environment. As of now, we know that more research is needed to be able to properly understand all possible environmental impacts. To help bridge the gap of available information, biologists and researchers at The Ocean Cleanup are working in collaboration with other institutions and universities to improve our knowledge of this ecosystem and the possible impacts related to our operation. Our offshore work when testing our systems provides us with the opportunity to increase the knowledge available.

Before we scale up to a fleet of systems, we will conduct further EIAs to help us make the best decisions for deploying our cleanup systems.

The findings from our Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) concluded that the system will likely act as a fish aggregating device (FAD), based on the data available that fish species are often attracted to offshore floating structures such as oil and gas platforms and other types of flotsam. That said, this should not have an effect on the population levels of fish communities. For a more detailed analysis, you can read our EIA here.

As with any large-scale activity at sea, having a carbon footprint is inevitable, caused by the fuel consumption of the support vessels. With the help of South Pole, a leading developer of climate protection projects, we have compensated for the carbon emissions from all fuel consumed during the System 001 campaign. Together with South Pole, we are currently looking into options for offsetting System 001/B as well. As we move forward in our project, we regularly assess and maintain awareness of our carbon footprint, investigate ways to minimize where possible, and compensate where we can our CO2 emission.

The biggest change is the switch from a moored system to a drifting system; catching the plastic by acting like plastic. We learned this has many advantages: higher plastic capture efficiency; reduced deployment- and maintenance costs; reduced risk of system damage due to lower forces from wind, waves and currents to name a few.

From System 001, we learned that connecting the screen to the floater with a dovetail was not ideal for structural integrity. The knowledge gained from System 001 was implemented into a redesign: System 001/B, a smaller, modular version, that could be adjusted offshore, if necessary. During the deployment of System 001/B, we also learned that slowing down the system (versus speeding it up) created the most consistent speed difference between the system and the plastic, allowing the plastic to concentrate and remain inside the system.

We have conducted an environmental impact assessment for our first ocean cleanup system, System 001. The results are available online and can be found here. Before we scale up to a fleet of systems, we will reference our original assessment and conduct additional EIAs based on the new design and scope of the operations. We will only move forward with deployment once we have confirmation from new EIAs that our activities will not adversely affect the environment.

It is difficult to determine what positive or negative impact will occur between our technology and floating organisms (neuston), as little is known about the interaction of these organisms with this offshore environment, plastic, and our technology. There is still much to learn, hence the need for continued research. Fortunately, our operations provide a unique platform to conduct research on this under-studied topic, helping us to understand our potential impact on the marine environment and providing greater insights on these organisms.

We have commissioned third-party environmental impact assessments (EIA) with Royal Haskonig, Arcadis, and Witteveen en Bos for the deployment areas in question. The EIA results concluded that in all locations where an Interceptor is deployed, the negative impacts on the environment are negligible. For each deployment, we will conduct additional EIAs.

Before our operations commence, The Ocean Cleanup takes several steps in consideration of local communities, wildlife, and habitats.

Prior to each Interceptor deployment, we work with local and global partners and expert consultants to scan for environmental and social impacts unique to the specific conditions of each river, and to comply with local environmental laws and regulations. Together with Royal Haskoning DHV, Arcadis, and Witteveen & Bos, we have finalized four assessments to date, and one in-progress with Stantec. These reports have been shared with the necessary regulatory stakeholders for each project, but with the involvement of multiple third parties, which differ for each Interceptor, it is not appropriate for us to publicly share the assessments at this time. We will continue scanning for environmental and social impacts prior to each Interceptor project. Since the approach and depth of the assessments have varied, we are learning how to best conduct and standardize environmental and social impact scanning and to share results. To achieve this, we are selecting a global organization to develop this process for impact scanning as we deploy the next 10 to 16 Interceptors over the next 12 to 18 months. Part of this process includes the development of management plans with monitoring and mitigation protocols, including recording occurrences of animal interaction and collected debris composition. This information is used to continuously improve our technology and methodology to reduce impacts.

Considering that we are still developing this process, our intention is to provide more information on this page in the future, including a summary of results of existing impact assessments.

We are always welcome to collaboration and we would love to hear from you. You can send an email to our team at environmentalteam@theoceancleanup.com.

Thank you for taking the time to share your concern with us. It’s important to us to be able to hear and learn from critical feedback as well as positive. Would you please send an email our team at environmentalteam@theoceancleanup.com so we can start a dialogue with you?

Thank you for your interest in The Ocean Cleanup and wanting to help solve the plastic pollution problem!
There are several steps you can take to prevent plastic pollution, but some depend on recycling facilities in your area. Here are a few tips:

• Organize beach, river bank or land cleanups (you might also be able to find Facebook groups for established initiatives in your area)
• Reduce your use of disposable plastics (use a reusable water bottle, use a reusable grocery bag, get into some ‘do it yourself projects’ to reduce packaging, etc.)
• Make sure you dispose of trash properly
• Reuse and recycle whenever possible
• Wash your synthetic clothing as little as possible and use microfiber absorbers when you do
• Help fund the continuation of the cleanup with The Ocean Cleanup Sunglasses.
• Support us financially with a donation
• Join the The Ocean Cleanup team
• Lobby to your (local) government
• Simply share The Ocean Cleanup’s mission through word of mouth or over social media with your network
• Tag @theoceancleanup to share your individual efforts against plastic pollution
• Start a Facebook Fundraiser for The Ocean Cleanup on your profile to get your friends and family involved
• Donate your KLM Flying Blue miles, to help enable our team to be where they need to be to further our mission

Thanks again for your offer to help – we really appreciate it!