The ocean cleanup reached a historic milestone in 2025 thanks to the Dutch NGO The Ocean Cleanup.
In its year-end summary, the globally operating entity reported that it removed more than 25 million kilos of plastic waste in 2025 alone.
This new data raises its cumulative capture to more than 45 million kilos since the start of operations.
The figure represents a significant scale change in a field where results are often modest and scattered. However, it also highlights the true size of the problem.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that 11 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year.
A strategy focused on intercepting plastic before it reaches the sea
Last year, the Dutch organization concentrated its efforts on a clear technical premise that changed and improved its approach to ocean cleanup.
They assumed that if plastic reaches the sea mainly from land, the most effective lever is upstream, in the rivers.
According to research released by The Ocean Cleanup and published in Science Advances, 1000 rivers account for nearly 80% of the global emissions of plastic waste transported to the ocean.
This proportion is equivalent to about 1% of the planet’s river courses.
These data are key for the NGO’s deployment of river interceptors, devices designed to capture waste before it reaches the mouth.
The ocean cleanup is thus complemented by preventive actions in continental aquatic environments.
In this regard, The Ocean Cleanup highlighted in its annual report that this record was the result of “years of research, data-driven decision-making, and commitment to implementing responsible solutions adapted to local contexts.”
The challenge remains: ocean cleanup is not enough to stop the flow
The 45 million kilograms of plastic removed from the oceans during the cleanups equate to 45,000 tons, an impressive amount in operational terms.
However, the figure pales in comparison to the millions of tons that continue to enter the ocean each year, according to United Nations estimates.
Therefore, although the ocean cleanup carried out by the entity represents a useful piece of the puzzle, it does not replace the necessary prevention policies.
Reducing the global flow of plastic waste requires redesigning packaging, improving waste collection and treatment programs, and better control of dumping.
Due to these challenges, UNEP places the debate in terms of global governance.
Today, only a fraction of plastic is recycled, while most accumulates in landfills or leaks into the natural environment, with persistent effects and fragmentation into microplastics.
30 Cities Program: the next step towards 2040
The official ambition of The Ocean Cleanup is to eliminate 90% of floating plastic from the ocean by 2040.
To this end, the organization announced at the United Nations Ocean Conference, held in Nice, the launch of the 30 Cities Program.
This initiative aims to address up to a third of all plastic pollution entering the ocean from some of the world’s most polluting urban areas.
The ocean cleanup requires continuity, funding, local permits, and a subsequent waste management chain.
Therefore, The Ocean Cleanup works closely with local authorities, partners, and communities in the countries where it operates to create a lasting impact.
The discussion of the next decade will unfold on two parallel tracks. The first is technological and operational, with increasingly efficient deployments in ocean cleanup.
The second is regulatory and economic, aimed at preventing plastic from reaching the water from its source.
