Safeguarding the planet

The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup is a nonprofit developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. It is the only operation in the world that has developed a large-scale solution to approach the ocean plastic pollution problem. Eventually targeting all five accumulation zones, known as gyres, The Ocean Cleanup aims to clean 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, the largest of the five, in just five years; and 90% of all the gyres by 2040.
 
Using natural ocean forces (wind, wind waves and currents) a fleet of 60 passive, U-shaped systems will concentrate the floating debris in this gyre, allowing for collection once every 6-8 weeks. System 001 was launched in 2018 but was brought back to shore due to unscheduled learning opportunities. System 001/B will be relaunched in June 2019 to test solutions for the challenges previously faced.

The Bennink Foundation is, since 2018, supporting The Ocean Cleanup’s mission to eradicate ocean plastic, with a focus on the design and engineering of all subsequent systems. It has also confirmed its commitment through 2020.