Coca-Cola partners with nonprofit to protect oceans by intercepting river trash

Coca-Cola has become the first "global implementation partner" for The Ocean Cleanup, which places garbage collection interceptors at the mouths of major rivers to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean
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Coca-Cola will help the Rotterdam, Netherlands-based nonprofit deploy cleaning systems on 15 rivers over the next 18 months
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The plan will include a new semi-autonomous, solar-powered system developed by The Ocean Cleanup for its technology brand Interceptor
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The system uses floating barriers to direct river waste to a conveyor belt, which transports it to bins on separate barges
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When the bins fill up with plastic, the barge hauls it ashore for recycling
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The Ocean Cleanup has installed 2 of the 15 interceptors in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Can Tho, Vietnam
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The partners also plan to engage industries and individuals around the world to address plastic pollution entering the ocean and support ecosystems, species and water resources
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Boyan Slat, founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup, said in a news release: “With nearly 80% of the 1,000 rivers bringing plastic into the ocean, the problem is growing, so we’re always looking to accelerate our progress
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In the waste collected with the cleaning system, we found many plastic bottles, including Coca-Cola packaging, so I am delighted that they are the first in the industry to join us
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Slat also said he looks forward to learning about the implementation of the global system from this partnership, which he hopes will continue to grow
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Slat added: "Our clear intention is to gain experience from this partnership
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The partnership is currently focused on treating 15 of the world's most polluted rivers by the end of 2022 using The Ocean Cleanup's third-generation interceptor, currently operated by Finland's Konecranes Oyj at the MHE Demag facility in Klang, Malaysia build
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The interceptor is similar to a catamaran and has a low center of gravity, so it is stable and can stay upright
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The boat is anchored to the river bed, while floating barriers transport waste to openings in the collection system
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Interceptors are powered by solar energy and lithium-ion batteries, so sensors, lights, conveyor belts, shuttles and data transmission can operate day, night and winter
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As an implementing partner, The Coca-Cola Company will receive licensing support; deploy river monitoring camera systems to further analyze river pollution; engage communities deploying interceptors; and help dispose of collected plastic for a circular economy by sharing waste management expertise
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James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola, said in a press release: "As a global business, we are working hard to ensure that all materials used in our packaging can be collected or recycled
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We very much identify with The Ocean Cleanup team and their technology, they are protecting not only our waterways, but marine ecosystems at the same time
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