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Innovations in Reducing Plastic Pollution: What’s on the Horizon?

Trillions of pieces of plastic pollute oceans today and the problem is not getting any better. What is even worse, plastic can impact our ecosystem, especially marine life. As it takes long time for plastic to degrade, it won’t disappear in a month or even in a few years. Moreover, plastic degrades into microplastics which is so small that can be ingested by wildlife and it can even enter the human food chain.

There have been quite a few new technological innovations when it comes to cleaning oceans from plastic, and the Ocean Cleanup is one of them. It is a non-profit organization developing technologies to get rid of plastic from the oceans. They take dual approach: they clean rivers to cut the inflow of pollution, and they focus on cleaning up what is already accumulated in the oceans. Their solution is designed to concentrate the plastic, collect it and remove it. Then, the waste is taken to shore for recycling. The whole process can be seen in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJvVpP3yt9M&t=167s

In 2021, world-leading band Coldplay joined the initiative and announced that they will create their collaborative product which is a limited “Notebook Edition” of the band’s latest LP, manufactured with the use of recycled plastic collected by the Ocean Cleanup. More information on the initiative is provided in the article: The Ocean Cleanup and Coldplay Announce LP Made Using Plastic Intercepted in Guatemala

A worthwhile solution is the implementation of biodegradable plastic which can be decomposed by the action of living organisms like microbes into water, carbon dioxide or biomass. Such plastic is produced from renewable materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals or a combination of all of them. Many companies have started reducing the use of plastic and replacing it with biodegradable plastic in items such as:

  • Bottles;
  • Food containers;
  • Trays;
  • Bags for fruit and vegetables;
  • Garbage bags;
  • Coffee capsules;
  • Disposable tableware.

By implementation of biodegradable plastic, the harm to our ecosystem is much lower as they break down into harmless substances through environmental processes, which means promotion of circular economy and prevention of long-lasting impact.

Other innovations involve recycling processes. There are quite a few innovations but the most interesting are:

  • Plastic-eating enzymes – the scientists developed enzymes that can break down and ‘eat’ plastic, which can significantly reduce plastic waste or waste that is considered non-recyclable on landfills.
  • Smart bins – a revolution in recycling processes. Such bins use various technologies from sensors to data analytics. A variety of material is detected when it is put into a bin and is sorted immediately.
  • AI-powered technologies – The scientists are working on the implementation of AI solutions into the recycling processes, which is similar to smart bins. AI sorting machines are used to identify and sort the materials to improve the process.

Implementation of such technologies to protect our ecosystem is crucial. But individuals and industries have to support plastic recycling, and ocean cleanup initiatives to contribute to sustainable future.