TeamSeas Will Not Solve the Global Plastic Problem... But it can be Part of the Solution
There is a lot of plastic in the oceans, and the facts are a lot more dire than we think it is. But working to curb plastic pollution is still a viable goal to strive for!
For those of you who may not know, #TeamSeas is a cleanup project promoted by Mr. Beast and Mark Rober in partnership with the Ocean Cleanup. This project is projected to take 30 million pounds of trash out of the oceans by January 2021.
They are funding this effort the same way 4Ocean does, by cleaning up 1 pound of ocean plastic per $1 USD donated to the cause (well, 4Oceans states that 20 lbs per 20$ bracelet bought, but same difference). Granted, I am not a fan of 4Ocean, and this video by another YouTuber explains why. I have other issues with The Ocean Cleanup that I will address later.
Personally, I think working to clean beaches and taking trash out of the oceans is a fantastic idea, and I think more people and especially companies and the government, should focus on it more. Sadly, we put more of the onus on individuals than on the companies making the pollution and governments allowing it to happen.
I also think that fundraisers like this are a great way for a lot of people who may feel powerless due to age, socioeconomic factors, disability, and more to be able to feel like they have some power. Particularly when it comes to making the world a better place, and that cannot be overstated.
Not everyone has the ability, time, energy, etc to go to a beach cleanup. Especially if you live in most of the world that is not even close to a beach to clean. So being able to spread the word or donate 5 bucks is a good way to feel like you are doing your part.
But why would I be wary of supporting as project like this? Well, let's look at potential issues with TeamSeas, and see if there are ways in which we can be more effective in stopping plastic pollution and cleaning it.
The issue with plastic collection
In 2016, it was estimated that there were 150 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans that were growing at a rate of about 11 million metric tons annually. So we can assume there are at least 200 metric tons of plastic in the oceans, if not more.
That is 441 billion pounds of trash. This means that 30 million pounds of trash being picked up is only about 0.06% of the total plastic waste currently in the ocean.
There are other issues as well, such as the focus on buoyant plastics. The video by Mark Rober shows trash leaving a river and floating to the machine that collects it.
While I agree that mechanisms like this are great because they pick up the trash before making it into the oceans, it only picks up the trash that happens to float to it. Something that can also be done without the need for a large machine.
The issue with focusing on floating plastics is that most aren't floating at the surface. It is estimated that between 94%and 99%of all plastics that have entered the oceans have fallen to the ocean floor. That means that they cannot be picked up by these machines.
On top of that, about 11% of all plastic in the oceans is microplastics and is often too small to be picked up by these machines. Most microplastics are also fairly dense, meaning that they do not float either.
While 60% of all plastic produced is considered to be buoyant, many factors come into play that cause them to sink over time. These include degradation as well as waves that can pull down plastic which then stays on the ocean floor due to water pressure.
This project seems to be marred by similar problems seen with Team Trees, which is another project Mr. Beast and Mark Rober did 2 years ago with planting 20 million trees. Lack of foresought in the fundraiser did very little to help the environment overall, and Mr. Beast was criticized after this video due to the wasteful habits in his videos.
But what about the organization itself? What about The Ocean Cleanup?
The problem with The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is an organization that has been criticized for various things dating back years.
many of their ocean cleanup machines use a decent amount of unnecessary fuel. Something they themselves admit on their own website. This means they are putting more carbon and other toxins into the air for the act of cleaning a relatively small amount of trash from the oceans.
The interceptors, which are the ones that are at the base of the river, are claimed to run on 100% solar energy. This is a good thing, but it is just a fraction of the overall issue.
On top of this, The Ocean Cleanup seems to be funded in part by the very companies that are making the plastic packaging going into the oceans, like Coca-Cola. Coca-cola seems to be using this as a shield to hide behind their continued creation of plastic bottles, which they refuse to stop making.
I guess it is more profitable to back an organization scooping their trash out of the oceans than it is for Coca-Cola to just stop manufacturing plastic bottles, or at least create massive infrastructure designed to take accountability for their pollution. Like bottle take-back programs.
The founder of the group, Boyan Slat, also seems to be a bit of a misogynist. He seems to like to dismiss female experts who mention that the design for his vessels was likely to capsize, calling them "emotive" in 2019.
The Ocean Cleanup also seems to have a major issue when it comes to trapping hundreds of animals in their nets when catching plastic at sea. There seems to be no oversight to ensure that they do not harm marine animals in their pursuit to clean the oceans.
Rebecca Helm, who points out the concerns of trapped animals in the article I linked to above, also revamps here issues in a Twitter thread at the start of this campaign. She, as a woman, also seemed to have been ignored over the past couple of years.
I hope that everything has changed, and that there are no issues when it comes to this project. The fact that Ocean Conservancy is supporting it makes me feel a little bit better about the organization and project as a whole.
Doing what we can to help, and holding those in power accountable
So while this can help people to feel better about donating, I also think that acting as if this is going to solve major issues with ocean trash is a little reaching. The Ocean Cleanup claims it will clean up 90% of the world's floating ocean plastic pollution, but their hopes of cleaning 20,000 tons of trash a year pails in comparison to the 8 million tons of new plastic trash littering our oceans annually.
Helping to clean the oceans is fine, but this organization is not going to solve the problem. It will never clean 90% of the 1-6% of ocean plastic that floats. But as someone who is trying to help clean the oceans, I respect the organization for that. It will take millions of people and many years to help clean the mess that companies have created.
While I applaud Mr. Beast and Mark Rober for trying to do what they can as influencers to help, and bringing the issue of ocean plastic to light, I think the project itself toots its own horn too much.
Beach cleanups and working to find ways to make the earth a better place within your power is a great thing to do! We all have our own abilities and skills that we can bring to the table, and they should all be used to benefit each other and the planet. However, we should be pressuring the government and corporations to fix this problem, as they are the ones who made it in the first place.
Fundraisers for beach cleanup is great and all, but it will never be sustainable without laws and policies to clean the pollution and prevent it from being an issue in the first place. Lobby your government if you can.
This is also why I focus on donating to 350.org, as it is an intersectional organization that helps to pressure government and corporations into enacting policy and law that benefits the environment as well as the people who live in it.
But more importantly, VOTE. Write to your representatives. Vote for people in state, federal, and local elections that will have your best interests and the interests of the environment in mind. Demand to be represented by the people you vote into office. Make sure that your voice is heard, and that your demands are clear.
It is not up to us to fix this mess, but we have no other choice than to work hard. We need to force governments and corporations to fix the mess they made in the pursuit of profits.
If you like what you have read and want to support me, you can by using the shop links below! But only buy if you need more reclaimed crafting supplies, used clothes, etc. Don't buy just for the sake of buying.
Upcycleability- My Etsy shop where I sell my upcycled crafts and salvaged/reclaimed craft supplies. This includes fabric, yarn, beads, ribbons, leather, buckles, scraps, and more!
UpcycledLucy– My Poshmark to buy used clothing that I salvage from being thrown out. Often sneakers and other shoes, but also shirts, jeans, pants, and dresses of all genders and sizes.
Lucienes– My eBay shop where I sell everything else that I salvage, such as books, games, boxes, and more
5-10% of all sales from the above links go towards 350 dot org, an intersectional activist organization working to fight climate change and get climate justice.
