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SYSTEM PROCESSING...
Posted: 2025-04-07 14:14:10 UTC
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We use a score to evaluate content reliability. This article's score is high enough, and there are no largely false claims identified in this rollup.
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2025-04-07 14:46:57 UTC
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Boyan Slat, at 16, was struck by the amount of plastic in the ocean while diving in Greece. Frustrated, he wondered why it couldn't be cleaned up. By 18, he dropped out of university with only €300 and an ambitious idea: to remove 90% of ocean plastic by 2040. Despite facing laughter and rejection, he founded The Ocean Cleanup and built machines that eat trash. His initial robot failed, but he persevered, creating System 002 (Jenny), which successfully removed 100,000 kg of plastic. He then developed The Interceptor, a river robot, and System 03, a massive cleanup system. By 2024, his efforts had removed 11.5 million kg of plastic. Despite seasickness and numerous rejections, Slat became the youngest UN "Champion of the Earth," proving that machines can efficiently clean up human-caused pollution.
A 16-year-old's vision to clean up ocean plastic.
Development of robots that eat trash to save the oceans.
The Ocean Cleanup's successful removal of millions of kilograms of plastic.
Boyan Slat's journey from a rejected idea to becoming a UN Champion of the Earth.
Machines are now cleaning what humans ignored.
Initial lack of experience, connections, and funding.
Skepticism and laughter from others.
Failure of the first robot prototype (System 001).
Securing backing from governments and corporations.