The harmful impact of plastic pollution

Plastic pollution impacts the environment, society, economies, and human health. Plastic objects can persist in the oceans for up to hundreds of years, all the while constantly breaking down into microplastics – increasing the damage to marine life and becoming even more challenging to clean up.

Researching and monitoring

Plastic pollution is a planet-sized problem, and we still do not fully understand the extent of the damage it inflicts on our marine environment and society. Our Environmental & Social Affairs (ESA) team includes experts across numerous fields of environmental science, such as marine biology, oceanography, and sustainability. They work on expanding the global knowledge of the effects of plastic pollution and the impact of cleanup operations. Besides helping guide our deployments to the right place, this research and monitoring work benefits policymakers as well as local, national, and regional authorities worldwide.

Enriching global knowledge

Our Environmental and Social Affairs team researches and publishes peer-reviewed, open-access papers on the impact of plastic pollution on:

  • The ecosystem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, coastal areas, and rivers
  • The impact of ocean plastic on climate change
  • The environmental and social benefits of intercepting plastic in rivers
  • The ecosystem-scale impact of plastic pollution.
Conducting research on microplastics

Net benefit analysis

We are continuously evaluating the net environmental and societal benefit of our operations, through cost-benefit analysis and fundamental research. This research involves evaluating any potential negative impact (such as CO2 emissions or incidental catch) against the positive impacts of our cleanup efforts on marine life, the environment, and society by reducing the associated harm caused by plastic pollution.

Retention zone of System 03
Retention zone of System 03

Environmental and Social Impact Assessments

Our Environmental & Social Affairs team guides our technology design and operational planning to ensure our work is safe for the environment. In the oceans, before every new iteration of our ocean technology, we conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to identify any potential negative impact and develop mitigation measures ahead of deployment. ln rivers, all our deployments undergo an advance Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) to ensure local communities and environments receive the fullest and most positive impact of our work. We also develop and implement Environmental Management Plans (EMPs) for our operations, which include environmental monitoring and crisis management protocols.

Oceans

Since our operations began, we have conducted continuous research in the laboratory and the field, aiming to optimize our positive impact and limit interactions between our system and marine life. System 03, our ocean-cleaning technology, consists of design, operational, and monitoring measures to minimize risk to marine wildlife, such as deterrents, underwater cameras, escape aids, and thermal imaging cameras.

Overview of the mitigation measures in System 03
Overview of the mitigation measures in System 03
Large mesh sizes incorporated into System 03
The large mesh size allows small marine animals such as plankton to pass through
Escape aids are located in the retention zone
Escape aids are located throughout the Retention Zone of System 03 to allow animals to swim out safely
The Marine Animal Safety Hatch (MASH)
The Marine Animal Safety Hatch (MASH) blocks further entrance into the Retention Zone and opens a hatch on the bottom
Air access points on System 03
Access to air for air-breathing animals is ensured with the breathing hatches and circular float rings
There is an emergency release for trapped animals
The end of the retention zone has an emergency release that would flush out the entire Retention Zone
Green led lights are installed for visual detectability of the system
Green led lights are installed for visual detectability of the system
Acoustic deterrents are installed to safely deter high-frequency hearing animals
Acoustic deterrents are installed to safely deter high-frequency hearing animals
Cameras are used to monitor marine life 24/7
Cameras are used to monitor marine life 24/7

Rivers

As each river is unique, we adapt our technology and operations to fit each river’s unique conditions. We conduct Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and develop Environmental & Social Management Plans to regulate our operations.

These measures support policy development and act as a catalyst for broader systemic change. Through research and monitoring, we continuously improve our technology and methodology for more effective river deployments and better environmental management.

Plastic pollution along and on the river bed of Rio Las Vacas
Plastic pollution on the river bed of Rio Las Vacas
Plastic pollution on a river bank close to one of The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptors in Dominican Republic
Plastic pollution on a river bank close to one of The Ocean Cleanup's Interceptors in Dominican Republic
A sea turtle entangled in a ghost net A bird surrounded by ocean plastic on the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Photo credits: Matthew Chauvin A young monk seal on Laysan Island holds a plastic fragment in his mouth. Photo credits: Matthew Chauvin Sperm whale mother and calf. Observed on System 001’s first mission.

Our latest environmental scientific publications

  • Mind the fragmentation gap

    November, 2024, article in peer-reviewed journal
    Nature Communications

    Karin Kvale, Zhenna Azimrayat Andrews and Matthias Egger

  • Densities of neuston often not elevated within plastic hotspots territory inside the North Pacific Garbage Patch

    July 2024, article in peer-reviewed journal
    Environmental Research Ecology

    Matthias Egger, Marjolein van Vulpen, Kiri Spanowicz, Kyle Wada, Yannick Pham, Helen Wolter, Samuel Fuhrimann and Laurent Lebreton

Frequently asked questions

OCEANS
RIVERS
SUPPORT

Contact

For questions, please reach out to us at esa@theoceancleanup.com