Coding sustainability: The Ocean Cleanup's mission to end plastic pollution | GitHub

The Ocean Cleanup is a mission to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a massive accumulation of plastic in the ocean three times the size of France. Founder Boyan Slat was inspired to act after a disappointing scuba diving experience filled with garbage rather than the expected marine life. The organization uses technology and data to develop innovative solutions, including a floating barrier system that funnels plastic into a collection bag for removal. With a focus on open-source data and continuous learning, they aim to clean up a significant portion of the plastic pollution and eventually put themselves out of business. The project emphasizes the importance of human behavior change and individual actions to prevent further pollution, highlighting that every effort counts in preserving our oceans.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a massive accumulation of plastic in the ocean, covering an area three times the size of France.
• 😳 Despite its size, the plastic in the patch is very dispersed, making it difficult to visually identify from the surface.
• 💡 The speaker's personal experience of disappointment during a scuba diving trip sparked a realization of the scale of the problem and a passion for using technology to solve it.
• 🔍 Breaking down the plastic pollution problem into smaller, solvable pieces is a key strategy for addressing the issue.
• 🚢 The Ocean Cleanup's technology involves a U-shaped floating barrier that funnels plastic to a collection point for removal.
• 📈 Extensive numerical modeling is used to understand the dynamic nature of plastic movement in the ocean.
• 🔬 The organization collects and studies high-quality data on plastic accumulation, with a focus on continuous sampling.
• 🌐 They are strong advocates for open-source and open access data, sharing their findings with the global scientific community.
• ♻️ The goal is to recycle the collected plastic into useful and durable products to prevent it from re-entering the ocean.
• 📊 Data management is crucial for traceability and learning about the composition and characteristics of the collected plastic.
• 🤖 The development of artificial intelligence systems is underway to improve the efficiency of plastic detection and collection.
• 🌟 Even though only a small fraction of the plastic has been cleaned so far, the project demonstrates that the problem can be tackled with technology and human effort.

Q & A

What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation zone of plastic in the ocean, covering an area about three times the size of France. It is a significant environmental issue representing a major threat to marine ecosystems.

Why did the founder of The Ocean Cleanup become interested in addressing plastic pollution?

The founder became interested in addressing plastic pollution after a disappointing scuba diving experience where he expected to see the beauty of nature but instead found himself in a garbage dump. This experience led to a realization of the scale of the problem and a passion to use technology to solve it.

What is the approach of The Ocean Cleanup to solving the plastic pollution problem?

The Ocean Cleanup approaches the problem by breaking it down into smaller, solvable pieces. They develop technology that doesn't exist yet, test concepts early in the process, and collect data from these tests. They also use extensive numerical modeling to understand where plastics are located in the ocean.

What is the role of the Catch Management Director at The Ocean Cleanup?

The Catch Management Director is responsible for ensuring that the trash removed from oceans and rivers does not return to the environment. This involves documenting every step of the process, managing data, and ensuring the plastic is recycled into useful and durable products.

What is the significance of open source and open access data in The Ocean Cleanup's work?

Open source and open access data are crucial for The Ocean Cleanup as they allow for the sharing of their high-quality data with the global community. This fosters collaboration, enables further research, and contributes to a broader understanding of plastic pollution.

How does The Ocean Cleanup's system work to collect plastic from the ocean?

The Ocean Cleanup's system consists of two ships and a retention system in the middle, which is a long floating barrier that funnels plastic to a collection bag. When full, the retention zone is brought on deck, emptied, and redeployed to continue cleaning.

What is the current progress of The Ocean Cleanup in addressing the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

The Ocean Cleanup has managed to clean up about a quarter of a percent of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. While this is a small fraction, it demonstrates the feasibility of their approach and provides proof of concept.

What is the ultimate goal of The Ocean Cleanup?

The ultimate goal of The Ocean Cleanup is to put themselves out of business by solving the plastic pollution problem within 10 years. They are optimistic that with technological advancements and a change in human behavior, the problem can be addressed.

How does The Ocean Cleanup use technology to predict and target plastic hotspots?

The Ocean Cleanup uses a three-dimensional numerical model of the North Pacific Ocean and is developing artificial intelligence systems that can detect plastics using cameras from the ship. This technology helps them identify the type, size, and velocity of the plastic, allowing them to determine if they are in the right location and how much is entering their system.

What is the importance of individual action in addressing plastic pollution?

Individual action is crucial in addressing plastic pollution. Simple acts like picking up plastic when seen in the environment and not littering can significantly reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the oceans.

What is the role of a naval architect in The Ocean Cleanup's mission?

A naval architect, by trade, plays a key role in The Ocean Cleanup by focusing on the technical side of solving the plastic pollution problem. They work with teams to develop new technologies and test concepts, ensuring the systems are efficient and effective in collecting plastic from the oceans.

How does The Ocean Cleanup ensure the plastic collected is not returned to the environment?

The Ocean Cleanup ensures that the plastic collected is recycled into useful and durable products. They document every step of the process for traceability and manage data about the composition of the catch and characteristics of the end products to optimize their recycling efforts.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Technological Challenge

The first paragraph introduces the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, which is identified as the largest accumulation zone of plastic in the ocean, covering an area three times the size of France. Despite its vastness, the patch is not immediately distinguishable from the rest of the ocean, with plastic pollution being very dispersed. The speaker expresses astonishment and concern over the extent of human-induced pollution in such a remote area. The narrative then shifts to the speaker's personal journey, from a childhood fascination with technology to a transformative experience scuba diving and encountering a garbage dump instead of the expected natural beauty. This experience catalyzes a commitment to leveraging technology to address the significant environmental problems facing the oceans. The speaker's background as a naval architect is highlighted, emphasizing their role in developing new technologies to combat plastic pollution. The process involves breaking down the problem, extensive testing, data collection, and numerical modeling to understand plastic distribution in the ocean. The importance of open-source data and continuous sampling is stressed, with the goal of characterizing and archiving plastic samples for global research. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the role of the 'Catch Management Director', focusing on ensuring that collected waste is recycled into useful and durable products to prevent re-entry into the ocean.

05:02

🚢 The Ocean Cleanup System: Efficiency and Innovation

The second paragraph delves into the operational aspects of the Ocean Cleanup's system, which comprises two ships and a retention system that includes a floating barrier designed to funnel plastic waste into a collection bag. The process of documenting each step for traceability and data management is described, noting the current reliance on Excel spreadsheets and the need for a more robust system to handle the extensive data. The composition of the collected waste, the characteristics of the end products, and the importance of recycling to prevent re-pollution are discussed. The paragraph also explains the technical workings of the cleanup system, emphasizing the floating barrier's role in concentrating plastic waste for collection. The focus then shifts to the need for optimizing the system's path to maximize efficiency and the development of artificial intelligence systems to detect and identify plastic types, sizes, and velocities. The speaker shares their amazement at the volume of collected plastic from remote, seemingly pristine areas. The paragraph concludes with a forward-looking perspective, stating that while only a small fraction of the garbage patch has been cleaned, it demonstrates the feasibility of the task. There is an acknowledgment of the dual need for technological solutions and changes in human behavior, with a call to action for individuals to make a difference by properly disposing of plastic waste. The speaker expresses optimism for solving the problem within a decade and a desire for the company to eventually be obsolete due to the resolution of the issue.

Keywords

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation zone of plastic in the ocean, covering an area about three times the size of France. It represents a significant environmental challenge and is the primary focus of the video's discussion on ocean plastic pollution. The patch is not visibly different from other parts of the ocean, with plastic debris dispersed throughout.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic objects in the environment, causing harm to wildlife and ecosystems. In the video, it is highlighted as a 'tragedy of human creation' and a major threat to the oceans. The speaker's personal experience of encountering a garbage dump while scuba diving underscores the urgency of addressing this issue.

Naval Architect

A naval architect is a professional who designs, constructs, and oversees the building of marine vessels and structures. In the context of the video, the speaker is a naval architect who applies their technical expertise to develop technology for solving the plastic pollution problem in the oceans.

Numerical Modeling

Numerical modeling is a technique used to simulate complex phenomena, such as the movement and distribution of plastic in the ocean. The video mentions the use of extensive numerical modeling to understand where plastics are located and how they form different density areas, which is crucial for developing effective cleanup strategies.

Open Source and Open Access Data

Open source and open access data refer to the practice of making data freely available to the public, allowing for collaborative research and innovation. The video emphasizes the importance of sharing data on plastic samples with the global community to facilitate further study and understanding of the issue.

Catch Management Director

The catch management director is responsible for ensuring that the trash removed from oceans and rivers does not return to the environment. This role involves documenting and managing the process of waste collection, processing, and recycling, which is critical for maintaining the effectiveness of cleanup efforts.

Chain of Custody

Chain of custody is a process that documents each step of the handling of physical or electronic evidence to maintain the integrity of the evidence. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of documenting every step of the waste collection and processing to ensure traceability and accountability.

Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products, which helps reduce pollution and conserve resources. The video discusses the importance of recycling the collected plastic waste into useful and durable products to prevent it from re-entering the ocean.

Ocean Cleanup System

The ocean cleanup system is a technology designed to remove plastic from the ocean. It consists of a U-shaped barrier that funnels plastic to a collection bag, which is then emptied and redeployed. The system is a key part of the organization's strategy to tackle plastic pollution.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the development of computer systems to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as visual perception and decision-making. The video mentions the development of AI systems to detect and identify plastics in the ocean, which aids in optimizing the cleanup process.

Human Behavior

Human behavior refers to the actions and patterns of conduct that result from the interplay of thought, emotion, and social relations. The video highlights the need for a change in human behavior to reduce plastic pollution, emphasizing personal responsibility and the impact of individual actions.

Highlights

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the largest accumulation zone of plastic in the ocean, covering an area about three times the size of France.

Despite its size, the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is very dispersed, making it difficult to visually identify.

The founder's personal experience of disappointment while scuba diving, expecting to see beauty but encountering a 'garbage dump', sparked the mission to end plastic pollution.

The Ocean Cleanup aims to develop technology to address the global issue of plastic pollution in the oceans.

The approach to solving the plastic pollution problem involves breaking it down into solvable pieces and using extensive numerical modeling.

Over 80% of the material collected in the cleanup system is derived from fishing gear.

The Ocean Cleanup believes in open source and open access data, sharing their findings with the global community for further research.

The process of cleaning plastic from the ocean involves a system of two ships and a floating barrier that funnels plastic into a collection bag.

The Ocean Cleanup's system is designed to be efficient, targeting areas with the highest concentration of plastic to minimize fuel consumption.

Artificial intelligence systems are being developed to detect and identify plastic types, sizes, and velocities to optimize the cleanup process.

The Ocean Cleanup has collected high-quality data over seven to eight years, providing insights into where plastic accumulates and its sources.

Once the plastic is collected, it is recycled into useful and durable products to prevent it from re-entering the ocean.

The Ocean Cleanup's goal is to put themselves out of business by solving the plastic pollution problem within 10 years.

Human behavior change is recognized as a crucial component in solving the issue of plastic pollution.

Individual actions, such as picking up plastic waste and not littering, can significantly reduce plastic pollution.

The founder emphasizes the power of one person to make a huge difference in addressing environmental issues.

The Ocean Cleanup's mission is driven by a spirit of finding practical solutions to environmental problems through technology and human effort.