Global public affairs at The Ocean Cleanup

Plastic pollution is a cross-boundary problem, which makes it difficult to combat. Efforts to address plastic pollution are fragmented, thus failing to deal with the problem at a systemic level. Now, finally, the plastic crisis has been receiving increasing attention from international policymakers. In particular, marine litter and microplastics have been on the agenda of the UN Environment Assembly for several years. The Ocean Cleanup aims to assist policymaking processes by providing input based on our operational learnings and scientific research. In September 2022, the United Nations granted us consultative status, which enables us to contribute to Multilateral Environmental Agreement processes.

There is currently no policy detailing who is responsible for the cleanup of plastic in international waters. Our ongoing cleanup operations in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

One of our most recent findings was that roughly 80% of the plastic we catch in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from fishing activities. The top sources were Japan, China, the Korean Peninsula, and the USA. To tackle this other source, fishing waste needs to be addressed – cleaning up the gyres and stopping river trash is not enough.

This issue highlights the importance of the development of marine pollution policies. To avoid large economic costs and environmental damage, accountability for the inflow and cleanup of marine plastic pollution needs to be taken.

Unlike the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, rivers do have a legal owner. With our Interceptor technology, we provide a solution to halt plastic now, while waste management infrastructure is being set up and optimized in the 1000 most polluted rivers by local governments. The trash removed also gives a tangible picture of the problem, which can help mobilize more initiatives. We welcome government officials globally to connect to assess the situation together.

The Ocean Cleanup works together with governments and international organizations to support them in addressing marine plastic pollution. In November 2022, we signed a joint declaration with the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands to expand river cleanup activities in Indonesia. Indonesia has ambitious goals to tackle marine pollution, as during their presidency of the G20, Indonesia set up the Ocean 20 program.