The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is a not-for-profit environmental engineering group based in The Netherlands that develops and deploys technology to extract plastic pollution from the oceans and rivers before it can go to the ocean. The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013 by Dutch inventor Boyan Slat, pioneered innovative technologies designed to extract plastic waste from both the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) and major river systems. (The Ocean Cleanup, 2013) (Geographic, 2018)
The organization’s primary value lies in its ability to remove plastic from oceans and rivers. By deploying large-scale cleanup system in the GPGP and the interceptor technology in polluted rivers, it actively contributes to reducing marine plastic pollution, protecting marine ecosystems, and improving biodiversity. (Cleanup, 2013)
While The Ocean Cleanup is driven by an environmental mission, it also operates within the frameworks of value creation and value capture, concepts essential for its sustainability and impact. This supports with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 14: Life Below Water. (Nations, 2015)
The Ocean Cleanup creates value through Technological innovation, developing passive ocean cleanup systems and autonomous interceptor river barriers. These scalable solutions address plastic pollution on a global level, allowing for more efficient and long-term waste removal. (Cleanup, 2013)
Beyond its direct cleanup efforts, The Ocean Cleanup also plays a key role in raising public awareness. Through media campaigns, educational initiatives, and collaborations, with governments and corporations, the organisation spreads knowledge about the dangers of plastic pollution. These partnerships not only help develop its operation but also impact waste management policies, encouraging more sustainable practices worldwide.
The Ocean Cleanup funds its operations through a variety of creative channels.
One of the main sources of funding for The Ocean Cleanup comes from corporate sponsorships, where companies support the cleanup efforts in exchange for enhancing their corporate social responsibility (CSR). This partnership allows businesses to demonstrate their commitment to environmental sustainability while helping to address a critical global issue.
In 2020, the organisation also launched a unique initiative: sunglasses made from plastic retrieved from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. (Cleanup, The Ocean Cleanup , 2020)
The sales of these sunglasses directly fund further cleanup projects turning ocean waste into a valuable product.
In addition to these initiatives, donations and crowdfunding are vital in maintaining the financial stability of The Ocean Cleanup, enabling the organisation to expand its operations and impact. Furthermore, The Ocean Cleanup gathers and analyse extensive data on plastic pollution, which could be leveraged to fund environmental research and shape future policies on waste management. This data provides valuable insights that not only support the organisation’s mission but also contribute to broader global efforts to combat plastic pollution. This wealth of information has the potential to shape the future of global plastic waste management.
Its primary goal is environmental impact rather than profit. However, securing consistent funding through corporate partnerships, product sales, and donations ensures that its cleanup technologies can be continuously developed and deployed. By reinvesting captured value into expanding operations and improving technologies, The Ocean Cleanup creates a sustainable cycle – where the more plastic it collects, the more resources it attracts.
The Ocean Cleanup demonstrates how an organisation can generate significant environmental and social value while maintaining financial sustainability. Its combination of cutting-edge technology, corporate collaboration, and innovative revenue streams makes it a leader in the fight against plastic pollution. Maintaining this balance will be essential to achieving its long-term mission of cleaning the world’s oceans.
References
Cleanup, T. O. (2013). The Interceptor . Retrieved from https://theoceancleanup.com/media-gallery/interceptors-in-operation/
Geographic, N. (2018, March ). National Geographic . Retrieved from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch/
Nations, U. (2015). Retrieved from un.org : https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/goal-14-life-below-water/
The Ocean Cleanup. (2013). Retrieved from theoceancleanup.com: https://theoceancleanup.com/about/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAqrG9BhAVEiwAaPu5zhcgqe4lQE6ouCAau-6YBsY_IfkGqRqVc837c5ZCb2imMPLdPVawDhoCALQQAvD_BwE
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