Digital Innovation Is Key in Solving The Ocean Plastic Crisis

Published in February 2022 for Bloom Partners.

Last week, WWF released a harrowing report on microplastics and their detrimental effect on the ocean.

Today, we take a look into the report to understand the main challenges we face in reducing our plastic use, and highlight some startups using digital solutions to turn the tide.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE WWF REPORT

THE SHEER MAGNITUDE OF PLASTIC WASTE

According to WWF, up to 23 million tons of plastic waste get into the waters every year, which is equivalent to almost two truckloads per minute. Plastic production has exploded in the last two decades — in the period 2003–2016 alone, more new plastic was produced than in all previous decades combined. Only 9% of this has been recycled, and half of all plastic produced is “disposable”, designed to be used only once before being thrown away.

2. MICROPLASTICS AND IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE

If all plastic pollution inputs stopped today, marine microplastic levels would still more than double by 2050, with some scenarios predicting a 50-fold increase by 2100. Large plastic fragments (“macroplastics) break down into smaller microplastic fragments, which in turn become nanoplastics. Even if no new plastic is dumped in the ocean, the fragmentation process of existing waste will continue for decades.

3. MARINE LIFE ENDANGERED BY PLASTICS

The WWF study found that a total of 2,141 species have been found to encounter plastic pollution in their natural environments. 88% of marine species were negatively impacted by this plastic, such as being entangled, strangled, smothered by plastic waste. Chemicals from plastics leach into the marine ecosystem and interfere with animal hormones.

4. THE NEFARIOUS EFFECTS LEAK UP THE FOOD CHAIN — AND START TO HARM HUMANS

Sinking microplastic particles are consumed by plankton and other tiny organisms, which are consumed by larger marine animals, and then by humans. 4 out of 20 brands of canned sardines and sprats were found by researchers to contain microplastics. A 2019 WWF study found that average consumers could be ingesting approximately 5 grams of plastic every week, which is the equivalent weight of a credit card.

5. THREATENING FOOD SECURITY & ECONOMIES

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates plastic waste costs the ocean economy around US$8 billion annually. Plastic pollution hinders the productivity of some of the world’s most important marine ecosystems like coral reefs and mangroves, which provide many coastal communities with food security and flood defences among other services. A study of Javan mangrove forests found a density of 2,700 plastic items per 100m2 , with plastic covering up to 50% of the forest floor at several locations.

If current trends continue, our oceans could contain more plastic than fish by 2050.

So, how can digital accelerate positive change?

Now more than ever, there is an imperative to adopt circular models, and find new solutions which involve reusing rather than dumping waste.

Here at Bloom Partners, we hope to see increased investment and research not only in monitoring the environment, but in startups, technologies and innovators developing solutions to change the way we interact with it for the better.

Let’s take a look at 6 startups harnessing digital to make this happen:

REMOVING PLASTIC FROM THE OCEAN

Dutch organisation theOcean Cleanup operates a two-prong approach: its System 002 machines harvest plastic waste from the ocean, while its preventive machines intercept and collect plastic waste in rivers, before they reach the ocean.

REUSING RECOVERED PLASTIC

Spanish startup Sea2See design and produces 100% recycled watches and sunglasses made from marine plastic collected by fishermen working along the Atlantic coast.

Swiss startup #tide collects ocean plastic and transforms it into a granular material which can be used to create various consumer goods; from jackets, to furniture and even electronic devices.

REPLACING SINGLE USE PLASTIC

German startup Wisefood provides edible kitchenware from spoons to straws, as well as more sustainable paper and wood products. The startup raised a 7-figure Series A in 2020.

Vienna-based Waterdrop developed a microdrink model. This new drink is made by compressing fruit and plant extracts into a small cube and adding flavour and vitamins to water. For every pack of Waterdrop sold, 1 plastic bottle is collected from the environment, with up to 30 million plastic bottles saved to date.

OFFSETTING PLASTIC USE

CleanHub in Berlin has facilitated 100+ brands in reducing ocean waste as their brand grows. Firms set targets such as funding collecting plastic every time they make a sale, or offsetting their carbon footprint. CleanHub and its partners have recovered over 1,071,112 kg of plastic waste so far.

Removing microplastics from our oceans (and preventing their presence there in the first place) will grow in importance in coming years. Technology will be the key in developing solutions which remove microplastics from our oceans — and equally importantly, developing new concepts which avoid plastic waste in the first place. We are excited to follow this space as exciting new technologies to emerge — from research-stage projects on bacteria which will “eat” waste plastic, to new, circular packaging.

For more insights on improving everyday lives with digital, make sure to follow Bloom Partners on LinkedIn.