From a Dutch teenager’s question in 2013 to 50 million kilograms of debris removed, Ocean Cleanup proves ingenuity can still tackle one of the ocean’s most overwhelming problems.
Our oceans cover 71% of the planet’s surface, plunging down nearly 11,000 meters at their deepest point in the Mariana Trench, deeper than Mount Everest is tall. Below the waves lies home to billions of species spread across coral reefs, mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and hydrothermal vents. The deep-sea bed alone hosts an estimated 500,000 to 10 million species, with scientists believing 91% of ocean species remain unclassified to this day.
Despite this astounding biodiversity, humans continue to put large portions of it at risk with persistent detrimental activities.
In 2023, the 5 Gyres Institute, set up by Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummings to carry out in-depth research on plastic pollution, published data revealing that 82-358 trillion plastic particles currently float on the ocean’s surface, equal to between 2.4 and 4.9 million tonnes.
However, this figure is only the portion of plastic that floats; the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC) estimates that in total from rivers, lakes and oceans, between nine and 23 million tonnes of plastic waste reach aquatic ecosystems annually.
These are the statistics that led Boyan Slat, at the age of only 18, to ask himself why no real progress was being made to tackle the plastics that had found their way into our world’s seas.
In 2013, Slat set up Ocean Cleanup, which has now grown into a globally recognized non-profit organisation that utilises sustainable innovation to systematically clear non-biodegradable waste from oceans.
The idea was brought to life when the Dutch innovator designed a system that harnesses the natural movement of waves and currents to push plastic into the curve of a U-shaped inflatable barrier which floats on the ocean’s surface, with both ends steered by a boat.
Once the retention zone is full, it is detached from the main inflatable system, emptied into a third boat and replaced, continuing the process. The plastics on board the collection boat are taken back to shore and recycled.
At 18, Boyan Slat designed a U-shaped floating barrier that uses natural wave and current movement to concentrate ocean plastic into a collection zone, creating the foundation of what Ocean Cleanup has become today. Photo courtesy of Ocean Cleanup.
A perfected process now allows the organization to use an Automated Debris Imaging System (ADIS), which not only keeps track of plastic collected, but also monitors and maps the distribution of plastic debris using embedded AI. This helps to plot where to place their cleanup systems as efficiently as possible.
The crew onboard also includes independent observers to monitor interactions with marine life, such as protected turtle species or whales. The key to the design is that ocean animals can easily swim under or around the system without harm. The retention zone has numerous inbuilt safety measures, including acoustic deterrents, escape aids for any animals caught up in the rubbish, and breathing hatches for mammals to ensure they can access a clear patch of ocean surface.
In 2025, Ocean Cleanup launched System 03, which is almost three times larger than previous systems and measures up to 2.2km long, hoping to make even more impact on the effects of the climate crisis.
The organisation has found that ocean plastics accumulate mainly in five different zones called ocean garbage patches, the biggest of them all being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This is bounded by the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a network of ocean currents, which rotates clockwise around an area of 20 million square kilometres. As the currents churn the plastics piled up in the Patch, they break down further, becoming microplastics which are known to build up in food chains that are reaching humans. Turtles are eating plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish, albatrosses are feeding resin pellets to young instead of fish eggs, and a phenomenon known as ‘ghost fishing’ is becoming ever more common as marine mammals get tangled in discarded plastic fishing nets. This is why this Patch has become a main target zone for the organisation.
However, by weight 70-80% of ocean plastic actually arrives there by rivers, with studies suggesting that just a few major rivers are the worst offenders. This is why Ocean Cleanup tackles the root of the problem as well, working with government leaders, individuals and private companies to set up interceptors at points along some of the most polluted rivers, like the Sandy Gully in Kingston, Jamaica. These interceptors include barriers, barricades, guards and the Interceptor Original: an autonomous, 100% solar powered craft that utilises a conveyor belt to continuously extract debris and distribute it evenly between containers that can store up to 50m3 of trash combined before needing to be emptied. All of which work together to drastically reduce the trash flow from rivers into the wider sea.
In March 2026, Ocean Cleanup reached 50 million kg of debris removed. This organization is living proof that with perseverance and ingenious solutions we can come together to tackle some of our world’s largest problems.
But how can you play your part to help reduce plastics in our oceans?
So how can you help reduce plastic in our oceans? Every little bit counts. Refuse single-use plastics like straws, and bring reusable bags when you shop. Recycle properly, following your local program’s rules closely. Avoid microbeads in products like face scrubs, usually listed as “polyethylene” or “polypropylene” on ingredient labels. Share what you’ve learned with others. Support organizations fighting plastic pollution. Join a river or beach cleanup, and never flush non-biodegradable items down the toilet.
