Two leading conservation NGOs, Ocean Care and the Environmental Research Agency (EIA), published a report warning that some of the plastic-cleaning technologies touted as game-changers for oceans can be harmful. The study argues these solutions can distract from real environmental action and may have unintended negative effects on marine life.
The report, titled Cleaning or clean washing, arrived just days before negotiations at the United Nations on a Global Agreement on Plastic Pollution, a landmark pact expected to be the first of its kind. The intergovernmental talks were scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from November 13 to 17.
Ocean Care and EIA urge governments to prioritize reducing plastic production over investing in cleanup technologies. They contend that such devices can be expensive, potentially harmful to ecosystems, and, in some cases, may divert attention from source-reduction policies. Among the concerns are the accidental capture of protected or endangered species.
Plastic waste on the beach
The report advocates pursuing technologies that can quickly remove plastic waste from the oceans, including methods that physically extract debris from ships or through nets and other devices. Yet these approaches can harm marine life and are viewed by critics as a form of greenwashing that misleads the public about the true scale of the problem.
The study analyzes 38 specific examples of collection devices or technologies designed to tackle marine plastics, including drones and robots intended to collect and remove debris from the sea.
Get to the root of the problem: reduce plastic production
The organizations call for governments to focus on radical measures that cut plastic production rather than quick fixes with broader negative consequences. They warn that while cleanup technologies may appear attractive, they threaten wildlife and ecosystems and can deflect policy from addressing the pollution source in both production and consumption chains.
While cleanup measures are acknowledged as part of a comprehensive life-cycle approach to solving plastic pollution, leaders emphasize that they should not substitute for upstream reforms that reduce waste in the first place. Kean-Hammerson, head of the UN EIA Oceans Campaign, stresses that geopolitical leaders must leverage the next World Plastics Pact to implement necessary measures to prevent the need for perpetual ocean cleanup. People and the planet should take priority when decisive action is required.
Even with the installation of numerous cleaning devices on ships, researchers warn that oceans would not be cleaned within a feasible timeframe, and such deployments could still influence climate in adverse ways.
Accidental capture of endangered species
The report highlights the risk of incidental captures by marine-cleaning systems, including sea turtles, sharks, various fish species, and cephalopods. It also examines links to the plastic industry and notes that financiers for some cleanup projects include large petrochemical and plastics producers. Lauwerier, a policy expert on plastics, cautions that these projects can appear appealing to the public and policymakers yet are problematic because they allow ongoing habits and business practices to persist. He argues cleanup schemes are often ineffective, capital-intensive, and potentially harmful to marine wildlife.
Historically, one prominent cleanup initiative has been discussed as a potential model for large-scale ocean recovery. In practice, researchers noted that projected waste collection targets were far from achieved, underscoring the gap between ambition and measurable impact.
Environmental organizations and scientists have also raised concerns about the broader ecological footprint of such projects, including bycatch of endangered species during offshore cleanup efforts. Critics warn that the public-facing appeal of cleanup campaigns can overshadow the need for systemic change in consumption and production patterns.
Overall, the report argues that the core of the problem lies in plastic production and consumption, not merely in cleaning up after waste has already entered marine environments. The analysis emphasizes accountability for financiers and advocates a strategic shift toward pollution-prevention policies that address the root causes of plastic leakage into oceans.