3 Companies Actively Cleaning Ocean Plastic

Plastic is mounting in the ocean and there seems to be no end in sight. Even if we were to stop the flow of plastic from entering, what’s left behind? Someone still needs to clean it! These companies seem to be up to the challenge of cleaning ocean plastic.

This article discusses why we still need to focus on ocean cleaning efforts and lists a few companies worthy of support in our fight to end ocean plastic.

Ending Plastic Pollution in our Ocean

If your bathroom is flooding because the sink is pouring out water, you don’t start mopping up the water, you turn off the faucet”

Nancy Wallace, director of the marine debris program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via NBC News

Marine biologists commonly use this analogy in reference to plastic pollution. And they have a point. Why focus on the clean-up if the problem doesn’t get fixed from the source?

She continues, “That’s a great way to look at it. We can’t just keep pouring more and more in and hope that we can mop it up. We have to turn that faucet off.” (quote pulled from an article published in 2017 by Shannon Hall for NBC News)

She’s absolutely right. However, what this analogy doesn’t recognize is the water that’s left behind. At some point, someone must clean it. Right?

Cleaning up the plastic that’s already in the ocean.

Figuratively speaking, let’s say we do stop the faucet from flowing? What’s next? Well, we still need to mop the mess.

This is the exact stance of Dutch entrepreneur and engineer, Boyan Slat, CEO of The Ocean Cleanup. He argues in a 2015 article, “the ocean garbage patches do not go away by themselves and hence need to be cleaned up at some point in time.” Slat continues, “even if we manage to prevent more plastic from entering the oceans, the garbage patches will continue to cause damage.”

Again, he’s exactly right. At some point we need to clean up the plastic pollution already in the ocean, otherwise, our oceans will continue to suffer. So what do we do?

A complemented approach to cleaning ocean plastic

Discussing whether or not we focus our energy and resources on prevention or cleanup is futile. Why? They go hand and hand. They complement each other. How?

Well for one, Slat states, “Over time, in a process called photo-degradation, UV radiation causes large plastic objects to fragment into ever smaller pieces. Not only are smaller pieces harder to extract, but they are also more harmful than large objects…”. Essentially, if we don’t clean up the plastic currently in the ocean soon, we almost never will, regardless of how much we prevent from entering in the first place.

Secondly, ocean plastic removals generate awareness and make a problem visible to the general population. The power of social media is immeasurable and actively cleaning ocean plastic creates a rippling effect in communities around the world. Ultimately, individuals become aware, make changes, and support sustainable alternatives to a growing problem.

So who’s cleaning up our oceans? Thankfully, a few companies have popped up as the demand for plastic-free seas wildly increases!

🗑️ Reducing Plastic: Our Complete Guide to Reducing Plastic with eco-swaps, useful tips, and more!

3 Companies Actively Cleaning Ocean Plastic

These nonprofits and businesses are fighting the good fight to rid our oceans of detrimental plastic pollution.

1. The Ocean Cleanup

Speaking of Boyan Slat, his nonprofit, The Ocean Cleanup, is tackling a big problem in a big way.

The Ocean Cleanup is focusing its resources on the Pacific Garbage Patch, a plastic heap as big as the state of Texas in the Pacific Ocean. What are they doing? Slat has developed a system that actively uses natural ocean currents to sweep up plastic pollution by the masses. Although, it hasn’t come without its trials and tribulations.

Or as Slat phrases it, “unexpected learning opportunities”.

However, after years of research and development, The Ocean Cleanup had their first successful launch last year in 2019, as reported by The Guardian! Let’s all hope for continued success and many more successful launches in the future!

2. 4Ocean

Although not cleaning at nearly the same scale as The Ocean Cleanup, 4Ocean is making waves throughout the world as they clean coastal zones of plastic pollution.

Amazingly, the South Florida company relies entirely on sales of bracelets made from recycled ocean plastic to fund their projects around the world.

Additionally, with bases in Haiti, Bali, and Guatemala, 4Ocean incorporates community involvement while cleaning the environment and helping people establish vital infrastructure.

Their most effective endeavor, though? Their social media and messaging. 4Ocean’s marketing team has done amazing work to raise awareness of plastic pollution while providing alternatives to single-use plastic.

3. The Ocean Conservancy

This American-based nonprofit does an immense amount of work to help reduce plastic pollution in the ocean, amongst other programs.

Specifically, for cleaning ocean plastic, the Ocean Conservancy hosts the International Coastal Cleanup – a global community event where groups of individuals clean beaches all over the world!

Not only does this program remove great amounts of trash from our ocean, it also collects important data along the way. Thankfully, because of the International Coastal Cleanup, we’re able to identify the biggest offenders in plastic pollution. In case you were wondering, here’s a chart from their 2018 event:

Ways You Can Get Involved in Cleaning Ocean Plastic

Want to get more involved? One way to start is by taking steps in your own life. Using less plastic, particularly single-use plastics, is an easy one. Sustainable living is another!

Beyond that, contact one of the organizations above and see how you can get involved. If that doesn’t work, search your local community for beach clean-ups, conservation programs, or other ways to get involved!

Solutions to the world’s largest problems often start at an individual and community level. So get involved and be a force for good in the world! Our oceans are depending on you!