Clean Oceans International, originally The Clean Oceans Project, is an ocean-oriented
environmental organization founded in 2009 as an IRS 501c3
public benefit corporation. Clean Oceans International seeks to reduce
plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g. plastic bottles, bags and microbeads) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. Plastics that act as pollutants are catego ...
in the oceans through a comprehensive global approach that includes research, technical innovation, public awareness, and efficient
plastic waste management.
COI is based in
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz (Spanish language, Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County, California, Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city population ...
on the
Santa Cruz Harbor, gateway to the
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Plastic-to-fuel conversion strategy
Approximately 80 percent of
marine plastic pollution is generated from single-use
polymer
A polymer () is a chemical substance, substance or material that consists of very large molecules, or macromolecules, that are constituted by many repeat unit, repeating subunits derived from one or more species of monomers. Due to their br ...
products that originate from land-based sources. Clean Oceans International (COI) promotes conversion of the plastic waste into valuable liquid fuels, including
gasoline
Gasoline ( North American English) or petrol ( Commonwealth English) is a petrochemical product characterized as a transparent, yellowish, and flammable liquid normally used as a fuel for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. When for ...
,
diesel, and
kerosene
Kerosene, or paraffin, is a combustibility, combustible hydrocarbon liquid which is derived from petroleum. It is widely used as a fuel in Aviation fuel, aviation as well as households. Its name derives from the Greek (''kērós'') meaning " ...
, using plastic-to-fuel conversion technology.
environmental engineering
Environmental engineering is a professional engineering Academic discipline, discipline related to environmental science. It encompasses broad Science, scientific topics like chemistry, biology, ecology, geology, hydraulics, hydrology, microbiolo ...
company.
COI plans to educate local communities and create a financial
incentive
In general, incentives are anything that persuade a person or organization to alter their behavior to produce the desired outcome. The laws of economists and of behavior state that higher incentives amount to greater levels of effort and therefo ...
for them to
recycle
ReCycle is a music loop editor designed and developed by Sweden, Swedish software developers Propellerhead Software. It runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh based Personal Computer, PCs. The software debuted in 1994.
The principal idea ...
plastic, keep their shorelines clean, and minimize plastic waste.
[
]
Research efforts
COI is conducting research with nonprofit, academic, and government organizations including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA ) is an American scientific and regulatory agency charged with Weather forecasting, forecasting weather, monitoring oceanic and atmospheric conditions, Hydrography, charting the seas, ...
and the Turtle Island Restoration Network.
Education
COI is also working in collaboration with the Cabrillo Community College science department on an ocean debris survey pilot program.
References
External links
* {{Official website, cleanoceansinternational.org
501(c)(3) organizations
Environmental organizations based in California
Environmental organizations established in 2009
Non-profit organizations based in California