The Ocean Cleanup is pretty self-explanatory, even if its exact workings are actually rather wondrous. It's a concept that involves installing the largest floating structure ever deployed in the ocean, to be situated between Japan and South Korea. The project is expected to be come a reality in the second quarter of 2016.
The idea involves deploying huge floating gyres that will collect pieces of plastic floating in the ocean. The system is passive in that ocean currents are used to herd plastic waste into the gyres toward a central point where it is collected. Since the gyres float on the surface of the water, marine life is able to pass by underneath.
The Ocean Cleanup project is admittedly audacious, but it's the kind of big thinking that will be needed to clean up the oceans.
Ocean Cleanup Structures
The Ocean's Longest Floating Structure Will Help Rid Oceans of Plastic
Trend Themes
1. Passive Plastic Collection - The concept of passive collection of plastic waste using ocean gyres and currents creates an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the waste management industry.
2. Large-scale Floating Structures - The use of large floating structures for ocean cleanup creates an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the marine engineering industry.
3. Environmental Protection Technology - The development of new technology for cleaning up the ocean creates an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the environmental protection industry.
Industry Implications
1. Waste Management - The passive plastic collection system presents an opportunity for the waste management industry to develop sustainable solutions for reducing plastic waste in the world's oceans.
2. Marine Engineering - The development of large-scale floating structures creates an opportunity for the marine engineering industry to design and deploy innovative solutions for ocean cleanup.
3. Environmental Protection - The Ocean Cleanup project presents an opportunity for the environmental protection industry to develop new technology and processes for ensuring the health and safety of the world's oceans and marine life.