A Dutch-founded project is proving that technology can repair the planet, not just connect it.
Founded in 2013 by inventor Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup set out to remove 90 percent of floating plastic from the oceans by 2040, a goal that keeps becoming more achievable through engineering and data.
The organization works on two fronts: floating systems like System 03 collect plastic in open ocean areas such as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, while solar-powered Interceptors stop waste in rivers before it ever reaches the sea.
The results are already significant, with tens of millions of kilograms of plastic removed and growing efficiency each year, alongside design improvements that protect marine life while scaling up impact.
- Goal: remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040
- Dual strategy: ocean cleanup and river interception
- Over 50 million kilograms of plastic removed so far
- Technology designed to protect marine life
- Proof that innovation can restore, not just disrupt
