Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
User submission
20.3K
259.2K
Turns Out That ‘Boy Genius’ Who Said That He Could Make The Ocean To Clean Itself Was Right
Boyan Slat is a 23-year-old Dutch inventor and entrepreneur who started building engineering projects since when he was 2 and first truly impressed the world by securing a Guinness World Record at the age of 14 when launched 213 water rockets simultaneously. Now, Slat is aiming for a much bigger goal — cleaning the ocean of plastic.
Back in 2011, while diving in Greece, Boyan noticed that there was more plastic in the water than there were fish. He decided to devote all his time to try and rid the ocean of plastic pollution, going as far as dropping his studies. Two years later he founded The Ocean Cleanup and hosted a TEDx talk to introduce his idea to use the natural water currents. He first set out to test the system in Japan, but later focused on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, setting a goal to clean half of the plastic waste in 5 years.
The Ocean Cleanup develops technology that would help rid the ocean of the plastic waste and after raising over $2.2 million, the organization launched a huge research in 2014. They studied the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to prepare for the full-scale deployment in 2020. Using the data acquired, they developed technology and set out to launch the first cleanup system in mid-2018.
More info: The Ocean Cleanup | Facebook | Twitter (h/t)
Meet Boyan Slat, a 23-year-old Dutch inventor and entrepreneur who set the world record at the age of 14
Back in 2011, Slat was diving in Greece and noticed that there was more plastic in the ocean than fish
After seeing that Slat decided to dedicate his time to try and clean the ocean of plastic waste
In 2013 he founded The Ocean Cleanup and launched an expedition to research the problem
They focused on the Great Pacific garbage patch, collecting samples with around 30 vessels
All the acquired waste was then transported to The Ocean Cleanup Project facility in Netherlands
Where it was analysed and sorted to help develop the ocean cleaning technology
Here’s what the research found
Using the research data, The Ocean Cleanup created a passive floating device that collects plastic
It uses the ocean currents to do all of the work, as the device floats freely and collects waste
The anchor keeps the installation at the needed level, as well as allows it to move slower than the plastic
The concentrated plastic can then be extracted and shipped to shore for recycling
Boyan Slat predicts that they will be able to clean half the patch in 5 years
Watch the video below to find out more about the project
259Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
Mixedupste 6 years ago
Because it's not some idiot celebrity or some royal getting wed or a country going to war thats why mate. Sad sad world!
Load More Replies...
Jef Bateman 6 years ago
If you want to help him out, you can donate at theoceancleanup.com. The donate button is at the bottom of the page.
d r e a m w o r l d 6 years ago
Thanks for telling me! Just sent 35 bucks :)
Load More Replies...
BREAK YOUr perceptions 6 years ago
so great to have young minds working on improving our tomorrow when so many of the old minds have given up on trying, stopped caring, or simply never cared at all. On i side note. i wonder if those currents and debris in the past could have caused the idea of disappearing islands.
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
Count me in! How can I help?! I already pick up others' waste on the California beaches by choice. I"d love to volunteer further. Please let me know how I can help other than trying to stop it before getting in the ocean to begin with. Thanks and GREAT WORK! Count Me IN!!
serge 6 years ago
It's great that someone is trying to take care of this problem, but is this all really that realistic? Disregarding the fact that this will only catch large, floating bits of plastic, whereas the tiny particles that are dispersed throughout the water column (and that enter the food chain) are mostly left where they are, it still seems difficult to do. A quick, back of the envelope calculation, shows that he'll need at least ~60,000 of these beams to clean up this amount of ocean in 5 years. Perhaps more, seeing as these are passive devices that are not 100% effective/efficient. Certainly possible, but is that really realistic? Is there really not a better engineering solution to this problem? I really hope this doesn't turn out to be some kind of scam like for example Theranos.
Full Name 6 years ago
FFS, do some research on the what he's doing before spouting off. That's just intellectually lazy.
Load More Replies...
gaia 6 years ago
This has been proven several time not to be feasible by oceanographers and marine biologists. Essentially, not only is the structure itself not ocean-worthy, but it also would catch most marine life (fish, dolphins...) Here is an article from the Guardian that covers some of the criticism. Slat has ignored all of the criticism while gathering more money. If this project ever is deployed it would be a disaster for the ecosystem and wouldn't remove any plastic... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/26/ocean-cleanup-project-environment-pollution-boyan-slat
Joe Bloe 6 years ago
And we don'T talk about the false number about ocean pollution...
Load More Replies...
Paul O'Connor 6 years ago
The writing on this article is awful! C'mon Bored Panda, that sort of thing loses you credibility.
Load More Replies...
Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
Someone said that since his project focuses on collecting floating trash, fish eggs that stick to things such as plastic will be brought away and soon the fish of those species will be gone. But I'm not sure, I only wrote a small essay on him.
Load More Replies...
GalaxyInAJar 6 years ago
Will this affect the marine life? Or is it so limited in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that that's not a problem?
Full Name 6 years ago
His nets are really close to the surface because the vast majority of the plastic is within a foot of the surface. This is not at all like giant fishing nets.
Load More Replies...
Zori the degu 6 years ago
You are my hero, Mr Slat! I'll keep track on your project, your team does something of vital importance to all of us, all living beings!
noitall man 6 years ago
They have now discovered an enzyme that breaks down the plastic into it's original material form, and are working to do the research to determine how that may affect the animal or plant life. That is the real solution and you should focus money and efforts to that research instead of simply trying to collect all of this plastic. Besides, this article is not accurate in its timeline. There is no possible way they can clean half of that patch in 3 years or even 20 years, and it will cost around $500M a year to do it.
Pieter Korremans 6 years ago
it's these young people the world depends on to save it's future. And not certain people in charge who are doing the opposite and who are against the Paris agreements to stop polution killing our planet.
Speedy panda 6 years ago
Everyone should stop saying negative things about this invention, yes it may have flaws but at least it doing something, if you have a better idea take action instead of just putting down others ideas
Randy Inbred 6 years ago
Why is his invention not being used by every government in the world whose country has a coastline? Politicians should be giving this a lot more focus.
Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
In an essay I wrote about him, it said firstly because his machine cleans up only things at the surface, whereas there is trash in a 'column', so his machine can't pick those pieces up. Also, some experts said that he should focus efforts of river outlets that feed the sea because it's more effective and less costly. Slat's been told the metaphor of trying to mop up the bathroom with the taps all turned on full, and it angers him. But he's still working on his project even if some people are opposed to his ideas.
Load More Replies... Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
Interesting coincidence, I just wrote an essay about him for school.
Donegalsean 6 years ago
Humans need to stop throwing plastic to the sea, and star recycling, but also the governments from every countrys need to motivate people to recycling, making products from recycled source be more cheap and condemning the sea trash throwing and apliyng heay sanctions to those countrys that do not respect the nature!!
Colin Bayler 6 years ago
Great idea, but how about stopping the pollution at its source? Seems to me to be the better solution after you clean up the ocean.
thomas the tank engine 4 years ago
I'm writing an essay on why he should be the Time 2020 Person of the Year
thomas the tank engine 4 years ago
I'm writing an essay on why he should be Time's 2020 Person of the Year
Aebe mac Gill 6 years ago
Amazing . Young'un deserves to be rich and famous , and really should have his head examined . Maybe learn why he thought of such a great idea and no one else has . Plastic is suspended just below the surface . Validate your 2nd Amendment Rights....... Carry !
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
I have spread the word to my friends and family. I believe they Will Jump Aboard!!! I appreciate all who have already! Thank you!
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
I wish this to be on every day until all find out how impressive and needed this action is. I wish and believe "Wish DO Come True!" Let's ALL Put a Buck or TWO in. Just think. You would do it for downtown parking, for a healthy lunch for you or your husband or kid. My goodness, to help the world and all the creatures who make it is worth it. Whatever the reason, YOU CAN afford it. Please move this up so others who want to help, CAN and WILL. A standing ovation for those who have.
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Thanks to Boyan for his knowledge and dedication to begin the major project .Perhaps it would help is we had some big names to assist and get others involved !!!
Yohan Kurnia 6 years ago
silly question, I'm a bit curious on how someone can found these kind of project. Do they use some kind of fundraising system or do they associate with some organizations?
Jim Charles 6 years ago
building engineering projects since when he was 2 "the maury show" and the tests would show that ....that, was a lie
Mary Sears 6 years ago
This is the kind of news that needs to be reported!! I know tons of people that would love to see THIS kind of news instead of royal baby pictures and a celebrity’s scandal.
Nicole Holt 6 years ago
Thank you for working on this! Every time I hear about the floating garbage patch I wonder why we're not doing anything/more about this!
Glynis Lailann 6 years ago
This article should be featured at all public places. Water parks and Ocean Parks and Oceanariums would be good places to start.
Glen Price 6 years ago
https://youtu.be/LIfH0mVMWso And maybe stop dumping in the damn ocean in the first place and Heres why!
Kahna Wanna 6 years ago
Please don't think me vulgar; This young man needs to donate a lot of sperm and populate the future of our planet with as many like minds as he possibly can.
KT Trondsen 6 years ago
This should be in the main news streams, asking for donations to continue their amazing work. We also need to start eliminating all the plastics being used for everything :/
Linda Matheny 6 years ago
You are brilliant! What about garbage continuing to be dumped in the ocean.
We Were On A Break! 6 years ago
There some amazing people out there. A genius such as that can steer his abilities to many profitable and individualistic paths (which is totally ok) but to also use it for the greater good of others as well as nature itself, is amazing in my book. He put a lot of efforts to that and created very good solutions!
Stef Bollen 6 years ago
If he can make it work without destroying other life in the sea, he most likely will
Load More Replies...
Amanda Ferraz 6 years ago
Freaked out to realize that 8% of the mass represents 94% of the total ammount...
Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
I am moved and shattered at the same time. Thank God there are people who are willing to go to such lengths to save our planet! But also - how horrible are the companies who dumb the trash into the ocean! I didnt even imagine the scale of this thing! F*****g hell! Went and made a donation to these guys. The least i can do! :(
Jaded Queen 6 years ago
Here's an idea that will help alot of problems like this. DON'T BREED LIKE RABBITS. And take care of your environment before u rampage on it for your selfish and ridiculous needs. Just take care of environment for your own selfish reasons, coz otherwise the human species is just too much of an moron to even see that.
Full Name 6 years ago
Too many humans? Show us the way to reduce the number of them. I assume you'll start with yourself?
Load More Replies...
7j6eqi 6 years ago
So you are saying it is a bad thing that some people 'steal' the waste and transport it to land free of charge? I think the project leaders would be delighted by that tbh.
Load More Replies...
Caitlin Smith 6 years ago
No, he didn't "invent a net." https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/ It's a very unique design and it has done amazing things. Please don't try to talk down something you don't understand.
Load More Replies...
Mixedupste 6 years ago
Because it's not some idiot celebrity or some royal getting wed or a country going to war thats why mate. Sad sad world!
Load More Replies... Jef Bateman 6 years ago
If you want to help him out, you can donate at theoceancleanup.com. The donate button is at the bottom of the page.
d r e a m w o r l d 6 years ago
Thanks for telling me! Just sent 35 bucks :)
Load More Replies... BREAK YOUr perceptions 6 years ago
so great to have young minds working on improving our tomorrow when so many of the old minds have given up on trying, stopped caring, or simply never cared at all. On i side note. i wonder if those currents and debris in the past could have caused the idea of disappearing islands.
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
Count me in! How can I help?! I already pick up others' waste on the California beaches by choice. I"d love to volunteer further. Please let me know how I can help other than trying to stop it before getting in the ocean to begin with. Thanks and GREAT WORK! Count Me IN!!
serge 6 years ago
It's great that someone is trying to take care of this problem, but is this all really that realistic? Disregarding the fact that this will only catch large, floating bits of plastic, whereas the tiny particles that are dispersed throughout the water column (and that enter the food chain) are mostly left where they are, it still seems difficult to do. A quick, back of the envelope calculation, shows that he'll need at least ~60,000 of these beams to clean up this amount of ocean in 5 years. Perhaps more, seeing as these are passive devices that are not 100% effective/efficient. Certainly possible, but is that really realistic? Is there really not a better engineering solution to this problem? I really hope this doesn't turn out to be some kind of scam like for example Theranos.
Full Name 6 years ago
FFS, do some research on the what he's doing before spouting off. That's just intellectually lazy.
Load More Replies... gaia 6 years ago
This has been proven several time not to be feasible by oceanographers and marine biologists. Essentially, not only is the structure itself not ocean-worthy, but it also would catch most marine life (fish, dolphins...) Here is an article from the Guardian that covers some of the criticism. Slat has ignored all of the criticism while gathering more money. If this project ever is deployed it would be a disaster for the ecosystem and wouldn't remove any plastic... https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/mar/26/ocean-cleanup-project-environment-pollution-boyan-slat
Joe Bloe 6 years ago
And we don'T talk about the false number about ocean pollution...
Load More Replies... Paul O'Connor 6 years ago
The writing on this article is awful! C'mon Bored Panda, that sort of thing loses you credibility.
Load More Replies... Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
Someone said that since his project focuses on collecting floating trash, fish eggs that stick to things such as plastic will be brought away and soon the fish of those species will be gone. But I'm not sure, I only wrote a small essay on him.
Load More Replies... GalaxyInAJar 6 years ago
Will this affect the marine life? Or is it so limited in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch that that's not a problem?
Full Name 6 years ago
His nets are really close to the surface because the vast majority of the plastic is within a foot of the surface. This is not at all like giant fishing nets.
Load More Replies... Zori the degu 6 years ago
You are my hero, Mr Slat! I'll keep track on your project, your team does something of vital importance to all of us, all living beings!
noitall man 6 years ago
They have now discovered an enzyme that breaks down the plastic into it's original material form, and are working to do the research to determine how that may affect the animal or plant life. That is the real solution and you should focus money and efforts to that research instead of simply trying to collect all of this plastic. Besides, this article is not accurate in its timeline. There is no possible way they can clean half of that patch in 3 years or even 20 years, and it will cost around $500M a year to do it.
Pieter Korremans 6 years ago
it's these young people the world depends on to save it's future. And not certain people in charge who are doing the opposite and who are against the Paris agreements to stop polution killing our planet.
Speedy panda 6 years ago
Everyone should stop saying negative things about this invention, yes it may have flaws but at least it doing something, if you have a better idea take action instead of just putting down others ideas
Randy Inbred 6 years ago
Why is his invention not being used by every government in the world whose country has a coastline? Politicians should be giving this a lot more focus.
Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
In an essay I wrote about him, it said firstly because his machine cleans up only things at the surface, whereas there is trash in a 'column', so his machine can't pick those pieces up. Also, some experts said that he should focus efforts of river outlets that feed the sea because it's more effective and less costly. Slat's been told the metaphor of trying to mop up the bathroom with the taps all turned on full, and it angers him. But he's still working on his project even if some people are opposed to his ideas.
Load More Replies... Dumpling Yang 6 years ago
Interesting coincidence, I just wrote an essay about him for school.
Donegalsean 6 years ago
Humans need to stop throwing plastic to the sea, and star recycling, but also the governments from every countrys need to motivate people to recycling, making products from recycled source be more cheap and condemning the sea trash throwing and apliyng heay sanctions to those countrys that do not respect the nature!!
Colin Bayler 6 years ago
Great idea, but how about stopping the pollution at its source? Seems to me to be the better solution after you clean up the ocean.
thomas the tank engine 4 years ago
I'm writing an essay on why he should be the Time 2020 Person of the Year
thomas the tank engine 4 years ago
I'm writing an essay on why he should be Time's 2020 Person of the Year
Aebe mac Gill 6 years ago
Amazing . Young'un deserves to be rich and famous , and really should have his head examined . Maybe learn why he thought of such a great idea and no one else has . Plastic is suspended just below the surface . Validate your 2nd Amendment Rights....... Carry !
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
I have spread the word to my friends and family. I believe they Will Jump Aboard!!! I appreciate all who have already! Thank you!
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
I wish this to be on every day until all find out how impressive and needed this action is. I wish and believe "Wish DO Come True!" Let's ALL Put a Buck or TWO in. Just think. You would do it for downtown parking, for a healthy lunch for you or your husband or kid. My goodness, to help the world and all the creatures who make it is worth it. Whatever the reason, YOU CAN afford it. Please move this up so others who want to help, CAN and WILL. A standing ovation for those who have.
sharron lynn parsons 6 years ago
Thanks to Boyan for his knowledge and dedication to begin the major project .Perhaps it would help is we had some big names to assist and get others involved !!!
Yohan Kurnia 6 years ago
silly question, I'm a bit curious on how someone can found these kind of project. Do they use some kind of fundraising system or do they associate with some organizations?
Jim Charles 6 years ago
building engineering projects since when he was 2 "the maury show" and the tests would show that ....that, was a lie
Mary Sears 6 years ago
This is the kind of news that needs to be reported!! I know tons of people that would love to see THIS kind of news instead of royal baby pictures and a celebrity’s scandal.
Nicole Holt 6 years ago
Thank you for working on this! Every time I hear about the floating garbage patch I wonder why we're not doing anything/more about this!
Glynis Lailann 6 years ago
This article should be featured at all public places. Water parks and Ocean Parks and Oceanariums would be good places to start.
Glen Price 6 years ago
https://youtu.be/LIfH0mVMWso And maybe stop dumping in the damn ocean in the first place and Heres why!
Kahna Wanna 6 years ago
Please don't think me vulgar; This young man needs to donate a lot of sperm and populate the future of our planet with as many like minds as he possibly can.
KT Trondsen 6 years ago
This should be in the main news streams, asking for donations to continue their amazing work. We also need to start eliminating all the plastics being used for everything :/
Linda Matheny 6 years ago
You are brilliant! What about garbage continuing to be dumped in the ocean.
We Were On A Break! 6 years ago
There some amazing people out there. A genius such as that can steer his abilities to many profitable and individualistic paths (which is totally ok) but to also use it for the greater good of others as well as nature itself, is amazing in my book. He put a lot of efforts to that and created very good solutions!
Stef Bollen 6 years ago
If he can make it work without destroying other life in the sea, he most likely will
Load More Replies... Amanda Ferraz 6 years ago
Freaked out to realize that 8% of the mass represents 94% of the total ammount...
Susanna Vesna 6 years ago
I am moved and shattered at the same time. Thank God there are people who are willing to go to such lengths to save our planet! But also - how horrible are the companies who dumb the trash into the ocean! I didnt even imagine the scale of this thing! F*****g hell! Went and made a donation to these guys. The least i can do! :(
Jaded Queen 6 years ago
Here's an idea that will help alot of problems like this. DON'T BREED LIKE RABBITS. And take care of your environment before u rampage on it for your selfish and ridiculous needs. Just take care of environment for your own selfish reasons, coz otherwise the human species is just too much of an moron to even see that.
Full Name 6 years ago
Too many humans? Show us the way to reduce the number of them. I assume you'll start with yourself?
Load More Replies... 7j6eqi 6 years ago
So you are saying it is a bad thing that some people 'steal' the waste and transport it to land free of charge? I think the project leaders would be delighted by that tbh.
Load More Replies... Caitlin Smith 6 years ago
No, he didn't "invent a net." https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/ It's a very unique design and it has done amazing things. Please don't try to talk down something you don't understand.
Load More Replies... Related on Bored Panda
694
102