Nets for New Beginnings | Reducing plastic pollution to save marine life

What is the problem you found?

How might we reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean to save our marine life?

Customer / Problem

Between 4.8 and 12.7 million tones of plastic enter the ocean each year. As a result, 100,000 marine animals die every year from plastic pollution.

What Is Your Solution?

Taking inspiration from innovative techniques used by communities in developing countries, our solution is to recycle old fishing nets to prevent plastic from entering our waterways. Currently, fishing nets account for 40% of all the plastic polluting our oceans, but we want to turn the problem on its head by using old nets to catch plastic instead. The nets would be installed over stormwater drains, allowing water to drain through while keeping most plastic out of our oceans and rivers. This initiative would also provide employment for those responsible for emptying the plastic build up into recycling receptacles.