Latest news with #PlasticOdyssey
Euronews
3 days ago
- Science
- Euronews
From plastics to sunscreen: The battle to clean our oceans
On March 18, 1967, the supertanker SS Torrey Canyon struck a reef off the coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom, spilling 100,000 tonnes of crude oil into the English Channel. Beaches in southern England, the French region of Brittany, and Guernsey in the Channel Islands were submerged in thick sludge. More than 15,000 seabirds were killed, and the spill caused innumerable long-term damages to the marine environment. The Torrey Canyon disaster was the first major oil spill in European waters. It marked a turning point in the way people interacted with oceans, revealing how vulnerable marine ecosystems are to human-induced threats. To mark World Oceans Day on June 8, Euronews Tech Talks talked to two ocean experts to better comprehend the state of our oceans and the high and low-tech innovations that can help protect them. Over the past four decades, global plastic production has more than quadrupled, yet recycling has failed to keep pace, with rates remaining below 10 per cent. Simon Bernard is the CEO and co-founder of Plastic Odyssey, a project dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution. Bernard and a group of researchers embarked on a tour around the world aboard a research vessel to explore the best solutions for reducing plastic pollution. "The idea of a research vessel is to be a scientific platform to study, do research, and development... The vessel acts as a laboratory, so for example, the aft is dedicated to recycling with various machines used to recycle plastic, test different solutions and technologies, and train local entrepreneurs," Bernard explained to Euronews. Plastic Odyssey has been sailing for two and a half years. During the journey, the crew stops for three weeks in locations affected by plastic pollution, meets the locals, institutions, and entrepreneurs to learn about their solutions, and helps support them. "That's quite shocking to realise that there is no pristine environment anymore, because plastic pollution has impacted all the places," said Bernard. Throughout the Plastic Odyssey's journey, Bernard has met many people tackling plastic pollution and has been impressed by the cleverness of the simplest solutions. "We've visited maybe 150 factories and initiatives, and what's most interesting to us is the ingenuity and the use of low-tech solutions," he said. "We met a guy in Lebanon who made the equivalent of a food delivery app but for waste connection... and I'm thinking about Silvio in Colombia who was building houses out of plastic waste," Bernard said. While plastic pollution is a visible threat to marine ecosystems, oceans are also damaged by hazards that are much harder to detect, like chemical pollutants. Researcher Anneliese Hodge from the University of Plymouth is studying these complex pollutants, and one of her most recent studies focuses on sunscreen. The most harmful components of sunscreen are its UV filters designed to block, absorb, or reflect the sun's ultraviolet rays. "A recent estimation has suggested that approximately 10 million tonnes of UV filters are produced annually for the global market, of which an estimated 6,000 to 14,000 tonnes are released into coral reef zones alone annually," Hodge told Euronews. "So this is quite a widespread issue," she continued. Hodge explained that UV filters in sunscreen can affect marine ecosystems at a molecular, cellular, individual, and community level. For instance, sunscreen can damage the DNA of marine organisms and cause coral bleaching. Despite the need for further research into this topic, Hodge highlighted several potential solutions to reduce the threats sunscreen poses to marine environments. Among them is the encapsulation of UV filters in biodegradable capsules that activate only upon contact with the skin. In addition, Hodge cited the possibility of reducing UV filters and instead using Sun Protection Factor (SPF) boosters, specialised ingredients that could replace UV filters. She also pointed to the introduction of some regulations to make corporations reduce the UV filters or ban the use of certain products.
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Plastic Odyssey Fund Launches in the United States to Combat Ocean Plastic Pollution Worldwide
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Plastic Odyssey is a global initiative dedicated to tackling plastic pollution in the world's most affected regions. Over the past eight years, it has built a worldwide network of recycling and reduction solutions, working to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean. Now, Plastic Odyssey is launching a new phase: large-scale missions to restore biodiversity in protected areas overwhelmed by plastic pollution, starting with the 50 priority sites listed by UNESCO. As a milestone in this expansion, Plastic Odyssey is proud to announce the creation of Plastic Odyssey Fund, a US-based Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. Launch Events Plastic Odyssey Fund was co-founded by Simon Bernard and Alexandre Dechelotte, co-founders of Plastic Odyssey, along with Fabien Lamaison, a social and climate entrepreneur. As the flagship for Plastic Odyssey's mission in the U.S., this new Nonprofit entity is dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution by scaling low-tech, community-driven solutions and fostering innovation in waste reduction. To mark this milestone, several events are organized in 2025, beginning with the Yachting Luncheon at the St. Francis Yacht Club, followed by 'The Ocean Night: Navigating a Plastic-Free Future with Plastic Odyssey' at 9Zero in San Francisco with the participation of a panel of experts monitored by Janelle Kellman, Candidate for Lt. Governor of California. Later this year, the series will continue with an event at the Explorers Club in New York, Seattle and other major cities, deepening engagement with the ocean community and raising awareness about Plastic Odyssey's mission. Additionally, the latest documentary from Plastic Odyssey will be screened across the U.S., bringing its powerful story to new audiences and inspiring further action against plastic pollution. Scaling The Impossible Cleanups: Biodiversity Hotspots Restoration Missions Building on the success of its 2024 Proof of Concept mission on Henderson Island, Plastic Odyssey is now launching large-scale Biodiversity Hotspots Restoration Missions targeting the 50 most vulnerable and isolated UNESCO Marine Heritage Sites. These sites act as natural plastic traps, accumulating plastic waste at concentrations up to 400 times higher than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Their extreme remoteness has long made clean-ups seem impossible—until now. Plastic Odyssey's approach combines proven extraction methods, mobile recycling units, and scientific research to make large-scale clean-ups viable. The cost of plastic removal is reduced to just $10 per kilogram—a 10x efficiency gain compared to open-ocean cleanups. Each mission deploys a sail-powered research and cleanup fleet, designed to operate within fragile ecosystems, preventing further microplastic breakdown and transforming collected waste into durable, sequestered products through containerized mini-recycling factories installed in nearby coastal communities. Fundraising Campaign To scale this effort, Plastic Odyssey is launching a $30 million fundraising campaign over six years to support initiatives aimed at restoring marine biodiversity, protecting vital coastal ecosystems, and establishing a sustainable model for large-scale cleanup and recycling efforts. Volunteering opportunities are also available to help the mission succeed. Learn more on
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plastic Odyssey Fund Launches in the United States to Combat Ocean Plastic Pollution Worldwide
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2025 /CNW/ -- Plastic Odyssey is a global initiative dedicated to tackling plastic pollution in the world's most affected regions. Over the past eight years, it has built a worldwide network of recycling and reduction solutions, working to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean. Now, Plastic Odyssey is launching a new phase: large-scale missions to restore biodiversity in protected areas overwhelmed by plastic pollution, starting with the 50 priority sites listed by UNESCO. As a milestone in this expansion, Plastic Odyssey is proud to announce the creation of Plastic Odyssey Fund, a US-based Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. Launch Events Plastic Odyssey Fund was co-founded by Simon Bernard and Alexandre Dechelotte, co-founders of Plastic Odyssey, along with Fabien Lamaison, a social and climate entrepreneur. As the flagship for Plastic Odyssey's mission in the U.S., this new Nonprofit entity is dedicated to tackling ocean plastic pollution by scaling low-tech, community-driven solutions and fostering innovation in waste reduction. To mark this milestone, several events are organized in 2025, beginning with the Yachting Luncheon at the St. Francis Yacht Club, followed by "The Ocean Night: Navigating a Plastic-Free Future with Plastic Odyssey" at 9Zero in San Francisco with the participation of a panel of experts monitored by Janelle Kellman, Candidate for Lt. Governor of California. Later this year, the series will continue with an event at the Explorers Club in New York, Seattle and other major cities, deepening engagement with the ocean community and raising awareness about Plastic Odyssey's mission. Additionally, the latest documentary from Plastic Odyssey will be screened across the U.S., bringing its powerful story to new audiences and inspiring further action against plastic pollution. Scaling The Impossible Cleanups: Biodiversity Hotspots Restoration Missions Building on the success of its 2024 Proof of Concept mission on Henderson Island, Plastic Odyssey is now launching large-scale Biodiversity Hotspots Restoration Missions targeting the 50 most vulnerable and isolated UNESCO Marine Heritage Sites. These sites act as natural plastic traps, accumulating plastic waste at concentrations up to 400 times higher than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Their extreme remoteness has long made clean-ups seem impossible—until now. Plastic Odyssey's approach combines proven extraction methods, mobile recycling units, and scientific research to make large-scale clean-ups viable. The cost of plastic removal is reduced to just $10 per kilogram—a 10x efficiency gain compared to open-ocean cleanups. Each mission deploys a sail-powered research and cleanup fleet, designed to operate within fragile ecosystems, preventing further microplastic breakdown and transforming collected waste into durable, sequestered products through containerized mini-recycling factories installed in nearby coastal communities. Fundraising Campaign To scale this effort, Plastic Odyssey is launching a $30 million fundraising campaign over six years to support initiatives aimed at restoring marine biodiversity, protecting vital coastal ecosystems, and establishing a sustainable model for large-scale cleanup and recycling efforts. Volunteering opportunities are also available to help the mission succeed. Learn more on Alexandre Dechelotte, press@ Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Plastic Odyssey Fund View original content to download multimedia:
