At the age of only 17, Boyan Slat established the Dutch non-profit organisation ‘The Ocean Cleanup’ in 2013. It currently employs a staff of 75 and develops technologies for concentrating and extracting plastic debris driven by ocean currents. The aim is to sell the plastic to companies that recycle it and sell it at a premium.

Initially, the idea did not gain traction because it would only clean 5% of the plastic in our oceans. However, after a video with Boyan presenting his ideas at a TEDx conference in 2012 went viral, he attracted thousands of volunteers and has raised more than USD 30 million in funds for the organisation’s cause since then. In 2014, Boyan won the Champions of the ‘Earth Award’ of the United Nations. 

In a recent interview at a Julius Baer Foundation event in London, he talked about his organisation’s work and aims.

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