Prevention is indeed a necessary part of the entire solution; it is one of many options, but it is a much more complex issue, which likely requires a mix of legislative change, infrastructure change, and advancements in materials science. All efforts to prevent and remove plastic from our waterways are necessary, but, as a technology foundation, we have decided to focus on what we know best: technology. Furthermore, we believe this is the path that could yield the fastest results, which is key considering the urgency of the problem.
We go into more details on the topic in this update: Why Rivers are the Key to Rapidly Stopping Plastic Pollution.