Beach Clean 2.0: Valorisation of Ocean Plastics through People Power

Challenge

Beach cleaning reduces litter and encourages ocean stewardship by increasing participants’ environmental awareness. Plastics, especially, travel globally and persist in the oceans for prolonged periods. Current collection efforts typically focus on removing litter rather than exploring the journey of the materials found and their potential for circular valorisation.

Approach

This investigation was informed by ‘enviro-leisure activism’ (Power, 2021) and ‘Positive Design’ (Desmet & Pohlmeyer, 2013) theories. Through iterative design and usability evaluation, the team devised a citizen beach plastic collection system using colour-coded bags to sort materials by family type. Usability of the process was assessed using the UMUX survey.

Outcomes

On International Coastal Clean-up Day 2024, Beach Clean 2.0 was tested
at seven locations along Ireland’s northern coastline – from the most southeastern part of Northern Ireland (Kilkeel) to the most northwestern in the Republic of Ireland (Moville). During a 1-hour period, ninety-six participants collected 172.3kg of waste, 36.0% being ocean plastics.

Learnings

The post-event UMUX score averaged 74.7, slightly below the 80 target. However, trust (85.4) and value (86.5) scored ‘excellent’, demonstrating the process has significant merit. Feedback highlighted the need for easier equipment carrying and better bag sizes. Service design and circular infrastructure logistics remain essential to improve the system.

Impact

This new citizen collection method gained strong support from national groups, showing its potential to transform beach cleaning behaviours. It demonstrates how waste can be valorised into a plastic retrieval commodity, has potential for circular materials supply chains, and can advance ‘enviro- leisure activism’ through public knowledge, activism and material awareness.