Ideas for Sea Change: Upstream & Downstream Solutions for Marine Plastics

Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible and detrimental anthropogenic impacts on the oceans. Join 5 Gyres and Adventure Scientists as we explore innovative solutions for measuring, understanding, and developing alternatives to turn the tide on this global ocean problem.

Downstream solutions focus on remedying the negative effects of plastic pollution, primarily identifying and removing plastics from seawater. Meanwhile, upstream solutions focus on solving the problem at the source, developing new ways to get plastics out of the supply chain through biodegradable and environmentally friendly alternative materials.

Accounting for more than 80% of ocean pollution, plastics inundate marine ecosystems from the sediment of the deep seas to the surfaces of the most remote ocean gyres. 14 billion pounds of trash enter our rivers and streams each year (NOAA) making their way into the sea. While plastics may enter the marine system as large pieces of debris, over time,…