Innovation

Imagine our future generations enjoying and benefiting from pollution free oceans. The founders of the Seabin Project have dedicated their lives to help accomplish that goal. In its simplicity, Seabin is a collector of floating waste. What seems like a simple idea has a profound impact to our livelihood. This innovative product is designed for Marinas, Ports, and Yacht Clubs around the world. The Seabin is immersed in the water and collects floating waste and hydrocarbons. A separator adds the water back into the ocean while keeping the garbage. Once the bag is full, it is simply emptied and placed back into the water. In addition to collecting waste, Seabins are made of the reusable plastic that it collects. Even the bag within the Seabin is composed of natural fibers.

Inspiration

No one may be more sensitive and aware of the impact our waste has on oceans than surfers. Being a surfer from 9 years old, Pete has been all around the world and recognizes that “every island is suffering from world’s waste and pollution.” The Seabin project emerged from a conversation during a yacht race between Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski. Andrew and Pete were friends and surfers. They would frequently discuss the volume of waste they dealt with while on boats and their surf boards. Then one day, Andrew shared an idea with Pete. As Pete recalls, “Andrew made a comment about having a rubbish bin in the water and started sharing his idea with me. It was a moment where I couldn’t stop listening and I suddenly saw a fit for me.”

Pete’s background was in product design where he acquired the necessary skills in proto-typing, marketing, dealing with factories, and using commercial products (just to name a few). With such valuable background, Pete assisted in launching Andrew’s ideas and concept, and turn them into a reality. What started as a conversation is now their mission to clean our waters and increase our awareness through innovative technologies and educational activities. When asked about where the focus on doing good for the world came from, Pete replied, "from a great upbringing by our parents and simply having a solution to a global problem." The solution was so clear in his mind that the idea became impossible to ignore. The desire to focus on the Seabin grew stronger and stronger every day.

Overall impact

In my interview, Pete states, “The development and advancement of plastics is one of the greatest things ever done. We wouldn’t have the modern developments in technology and medicine if it weren’t for plastics. But we are just learning about the negative effects of what we have created.” From Pete’s perspective, it makes sense to use the same model for collecting waste on land within our oceans. The Seabin will allow us to clean our waters so future generations and the life that inhabits it can benefit.

Business benefit

The Seabin Project targets Marinas, Ports, and Yacht Clubs. These are perfect locations for the Seabin. In this controlled environment, the designers do not have to worry about massive ocean storms. Instead, the Seabin can be placed anywhere and it immediately begins to catch various waste in the water (e.g., plastic bottles, paper, etc.). In fact, the newest model is capable of catching micro-plastics up to 2mm in size, as well as oil and gasoline. Not only is the Seabin able to successfully gather waste of all shapes and sizes, it can also do it with the ease of advance technology for minimal product maintenance. Pete then states, “Only one person needs to check the Seabin once or twice a day.”

Additionally, the Seabin targets high traffic areas that allow increased awareness for what is being collected. This provides the opportunity for people to see and learn what the various types of waste that fills our waters. Education surrounding this issue is important because it is in our human decisions of how we throw waste away that impacts the pollution in our oceans. Seabins will be installed in pilot ports this year and tested for 3 months before full productions starts. Between the financial support from La Grande Motte (Seabins first pilot port), crowdfunding, and Poralu Marine, Seabin production is ready for life. The purpose of the pilot is to ensure a perfect product is being sold. Pete and Andrew are estimating to sell 400 units within the first year and have a total of 2000-3000 units sold within the next three years.

Social and environmental benefit

The goal of the Seabin is to make our oceans pollution free. According to a recent press release posted on the Seabin Project’s website:

Data vary depending on continents and studies but the reported numbers are still staggering. Given estimation, around 300 000 million [tons] of plastic are discarded each year in aquatic environments; more than 5 trillion of all sized particles floating in our oceans; it takes between one century and one millennium to degrade these components; 1 million of marine animals including 200 thousand mammals die each year due to plastic pollution; microscopic compounds from degradation are ingested by marine life that we find on our plates.

The Seabin is designed and already removing that waste from our oceans. Andrew and Pete know that this is only the beginning. Their innovation may be seen as only a product that is being placed in our waters to collect waste. Through the use of that product, they are implementing ideas and clubs to help educate our kids. It is through education that we will each be more responsible with the products we purchase and how we decide to get rid of them. Pete is so dedicated to this cause that he hopes one day oceans no longer need Seabins. Pete discussed his ultimate dream: “When I wake up, all the trillion tons of plastic waste we already own are being used. There is no need for new plastics because we are reusing the ones we already have.” With this mission, product, and education, the Seabin Project is directly dedicated to assisting UN’s goal of clean water and sanitation and life below water.

Interview

Pete Ceglinski, Co-Founder / Industrial Designer