{"id":61653,"date":"2025-11-30T09:56:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T08:56:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plasticodyssey.org\/news-november-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-12-30T11:52:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T10:52:26","slug":"news-november-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plasticodyssey.org\/en\/news-november-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"November 2025: News from the Plastic Odyssey expedition"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”center” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” row_negative_margin=”disable_negative_margin” z_index=”” el_class=”headpage_article”][vc_column el_class=”toptobottom”][vc_column_text css=””]Discover the latest adventures of Plastic Odyssey, the expedition sailing the world\u2019s oceans in search of concrete solutions to plastic pollution.[\/vc_column_text]<\/a><\/span>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”grid” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern” z_index=”” anchor=”more” el_class=”article_content” padding_bottom=”40″ padding_top=”20″][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”pb2″]<\/p>\n

Aldabra Mission – October 2025<\/h2>\n

Aldabra: a clean-up mission on an atoll frozen in time<\/h3>\n

Imagine an island where giant tortoises roam freely, where the ocean seems to blend seamlessly into the sky, and where humans have left (almost) no trace. This place truly exists: Aldabra Atoll<\/strong>, a jewel of the Indian Ocean, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and considered one of the most pristine ecosystems on the planet.<\/p>\n

Almost pristine<\/em>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”61645″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767090159231{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt2″]Because even more than 1,000 kilometres from the nearest inhabited island, plastic eventually finds its way ashore, carried by ocean currents and reminding us that nowhere on Earth is spared. Jerrycans, ropes, fishing floats, thousands of flip-flops, bottles, caps, children\u2019s toys: an unlikely collection that tells the story of our dependence on plastic, even in places where no one lives.<\/p>\n

This is where we made a stopover in October, for a slightly crazy mission: to follow in the footsteps of Cousteau and, before him, Darwin, and clean up this almost inaccessible atoll of XXL proportions. Our objective: to carry out an initial reconnaissance mission to support the local teams of the Seychelles Islands Foundation in preparing what could become the largest desert island clean-up ever undertaken; to document the true extent of pollution on the atoll using high-precision drone mapping; and to test new methods for clean-up operations and living in such extreme conditions.[\/vc_column_text]

\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767090210324{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt1″]On the agenda: long walks along the island\u2019s exposed southern coastline, identifying areas to be cleaned, testing the extraction of waste sometimes stranded for years above sharp karst rock barriers, preparing logistics for isolated base camps (water, energy, food, etc.), and a few epic encounters with the local residents (especially the ones with shells).<\/p>\n

The result: a detailed pollution map, promising new extraction techniques, the first prototypes of furniture manufactured directly on the atoll, and one more step toward preparing a large-scale clean-up operation.
And above all, a human adventure that reminds us that even the last remaining paradises are no longer completely untouched, but that action is still possible.<\/p>\n

To dive into the expedition and explore the logbook, photos, and first video episodes, click here: https:\/\/aldabra.plasticodyssey.org\/<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator type=”normal” color=”#EAEBED” up=”40″ down=”0″][vc_column_text css=”” el_class=”pb2″]<\/p>\n

Saint Brandon Mission – November 2025<\/h2>\n

Saint Brandon: when Coco Island caught us off guard<\/h3>\n

We set off feeling confident: a small isolated island off the coast of Mauritius, a few days ahead of us, and a fairly reasonable objective of removing 1 to 2 tonnes of stranded plastic. That was before setting foot on Coco Island, one of the remote islands of the Saint Brandon archipelago.<\/p>\n

Within minutes, reality hits us hard. The beach is not really a beach, but a multicoloured mosaic of plastic waste stretched across square kilometres.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”57039″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”” qode_css_animation=””][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767090270203{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt2″]We start collecting, and by mid-day the figures are already surprising: 1.7 tonnes<\/strong> collected. With 8 people<\/strong>. In a single morning. On less than a tenth<\/strong> of the island.<\/p>\n

It quickly becomes clear that the task far exceeds anything we had imagined. Coco Island (5 km long \/ 1 km wide) is literally covered in plastic. And the bad news is that this plastic is extremely difficult to collect. It breaks down into small fragments and crumbles between our fingers. You can physically feel the urgency of removing this waste as quickly as possible, before it permanently enters the archipelago\u2019s ecosystem in the form of microplastics.<\/p>\n

On board, it is all hands on deck. We shred, extrude and compact the material to fit as much as possible on board without exceeding the critical 7-tonne limit required to keep the Plastic Odyssey stable in increasingly rough seas. The vessel turns into a true ant colony, covered from end to end with waste ready to be processed.[\/vc_column_text]

\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1767090429809{margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”mt1″]Even after collecting 5.3 tonnes<\/strong>, there is likely twice as much waste still stranded on the island. Impossible to remove everything this time. And leaving Coco in this state is not an option. A serious challenge for the years ahead.<\/p>\n

This mission, however, delivered invaluable lessons:<\/p>\n