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Evaluating the environmental impact of cleaning the North Pacific Garbage Patch
Egger, M.; Booth, A.M.; Bosker, T.; Everaert, G.; Garrard, S.L.; Havas, V.; Huntley, H.S.; Koelmans, A.A.; Kvale, K.; Lebreton, L.; Niemann, H.; Pang, P.; Proietti, M.; Puskic, P.; Richon, C.; Royer, S.-J.; Savoca, M.S.; Tjallema, A.; van Vulpen, M.; Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Z.; Mitrano, D.M. (2025). Evaluating the environmental impact of cleaning the North Pacific Garbage Patch. NPG Scientific Reports 15(1): 16736. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00619-w
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 413833 [ download pdf ]
Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Marine debris, Ocean plastic pollution, Legacy oceanic plastic pollution, Open-ocean cleanup, Net environmental benefit analysis
Authors  Top 
  • Egger, M.
  • Booth, A.M.
  • Bosker, T.
  • Everaert, G.
  • Garrard, S.L.
  • Havas, V.
  • Huntley, H.S.
  • Koelmans, A.A.
  • Kvale, K.
  • Lebreton, L.
  • Niemann, H.
  • Pang, P.
  • Proietti, M.
  • Puskic, P.
  • Richon, C.
  • Royer, S.-J.
  • Savoca, M.S.
  • Tjallema, A.
  • van Vulpen, M.
  • Zhang, Y.
  • Zhang, Z.
  • Mitrano, D.M.
Abstract
    Cleanup of existing plastic pollution is crucial to mitigate its impact on marine ecosystems, but such efforts must ensure benefits outweigh potential environmental damage caused by the cleanup. Here, we present an impact assessment framework and apply it to evaluate whether cleaning the North Pacific Garbage Patch (NPGP) benefits marine life and carbon cycling, using The Ocean Cleanup as a case study. Our findings indicate that marine life is more vulnerable to plastic pollution than to macroplastic cleanup, with average vulnerability scores (1 = low, 3 = high) of 2.3 for macroplastics, 1.9 for microplastics, and 1.8 for cleanup, suggesting a net positive impact. An 80% cleanup could reduce macroplastic concentrations to within reported safe levels for marine mammals and sea turtles. Estimated cleanup-related carbon emissions [0.4–2.9 million metric tons (Mt) in total] are significantly lower than potential long-term microplastics impacts on ocean carbon sequestration (15–30 Mt C per year). However, uncertainties remain regarding effects on air-sea carbon exchange. Our framework serves as a critical tool for assessing trade-offs between plastic pollution and remediation impacts. It demonstrates the environmental net benefits of the proposed NPGP cleanup and can be adapted to similarly evaluate other remediation plans.
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