dear designboom reader,

as COP26 comes to an end, we take a look at some recent studies and efforts around ocean awareness and activism. a new research reveals that 193 countries generated more than eight million tons of plastic waste during the coronavirus pandemic, 25,900 tons of which have ended up in our oceans. another one states the world needs to implement drastic measures to stop ocean plastic waste by 2050.

on a more positive note, several organizations are already working to rid the world’s oceans and rivers of plastic debris. PANGEA movement hopes to eliminate 100 rivers from the list of the world’s 1,000 most polluted by 2023. meanwhile, THE 2019 DESIGN PRIZE nominee the ocean cleanup has achieved their largest plastic catch to date and is now certain that cleaning up the great pacific garbage patch is possible.

thanks for reading!
sofia lekka angelopoulou | senior editor