AkzoNobel, the parent company of Interpon Powder Coatings, has partnered with The Ocean Cleanup organisation on a major endeavour to completely remove plastic from the world’s oceans. AkzoNobel will provide advanced, biocide-free coatings technology for all the devices and equipment used by The Ocean Cleanup for the purpose over the next five years. Representing a major contribution to the environmental organisation’s landmark efforts to clear plastic from the oceans, this partnership is expected to help turn the tide on marine pollution.

Describing ocean pollution as a serious global issue impacting the planet’s future, AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner said their position as a world leader in the marine coatings industry enables them to make a meaningful contribution to The Ocean Cleanup project.

AkzoNobel’s coatings will be mainly used on the floating clean-up system specially designed to collect waste plastic from the ocean. These biocide-free Intersleek coatings are already being used widely in the shipping industry to reduce fuel consumption, cut emissions and lower the costs of operation.

Boyan Slat, CEO and founder of The Ocean Cleanup says the partnership with a true global force in sustainable coatings technology will ensure that their systems remain protected, even under the most extreme conditions. He adds that AkzoNobel’s involvement in the Volvo Ocean Race will also help increase global awareness of the urgent need to remove plastic from aquatic ecosystems.

The collaboration is being viewed as a perfect fit with AkzoNobel’s Planet Possible sustainability strategy, and follows on from the appointment of the company as an official sustainability partner of the next Volvo Ocean Race. In this role, AkzoNobel will be involved in organising a series of Ocean Summits focused on bringing science, politics, government and sport together in an effort to act positively on the issue of marine litter.

Founded in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup organisation aims to remove half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in just five years. Floating plastic in the ocean is channelled to a central point using U-shaped screens, following which the concentrated plastic waste is extracted and shipped to shore for recycling into durable products.

The cleaning is due to begin in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the next 12 months.