By Hauwa Ali
In response to the plastic pollution that is degrading the world’s marine ecosystems, the ship Plastic Odyssey have decided to sail on a global mission some countries mostly affected by plastic pollution to raise awareness of sustainable plastic waste management.
The Plastic Odyssey expedition, which will end in 2025, is targeting stormwater systems, rivers and port facilities, where plastic waste is concentrated before being scattered at sea.
At each port of call, the boat’s crew will raise awareness of sustainable plastic waste management. The hope totrain 300 entrepreneurs to turn waste into useful objects such as paving stones or pipe materials.
“The Plastic Odyssey is powered by plastic waste, thanks to a pyrolysis system, and is therefore self-sufficient in energy. On board the ship, visitors from all over the world will be able to observe the machine tools, but also visit a living space without plastic waste,” explains Maïté Abos, the director of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Plastic Odyssey, based in Marseille, France.
Of the 400 million tonnes of plastic produced each year worldwide, about 11 million tonnes ends up in aquatic ecosystems, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This non-biodegradable waste has a strong impact on marine biodiversity. Faced with this situation, some countries are resorting to sustainable initiatives.