Every minute, around 20 tonnes of plastic waste end up in the ocean. Most of this plastic comes from land, through rivers, drains, and landfills, and once it reaches the sea, it breaks down into tiny fragments. These microplastics harm fish and marine animals, disturb entire ecosystems, and even enter our food and water.

Shockingly, only about one percent of all plastic in the ocean is visible on the surface. The rest sinks, becomes invisible, and continues causing damage out of sight. But a rare initiative is tackling the problem not in the ocean, but on land, which is the source.

Plastic Odyssey: A floating lab with a strong purpose

Launched from Marseilles, France, on 1 October 2022, Plastic Odyssey is a 40-metre-long ship designed as a floating laboratory. This vessel is on a three-and-a-half-year global expedition to find, test, and share practical and low-cost solutions to plastic waste. Unlike other ships, it does not explore the deep seas, it helps communities prevent plastic from ever getting there.

Now docked at Chennai Port, its 31st stop and only visit to India, the floating laboratory is run by a crew of 20 people, including researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and nine professional sailors. Their aim is to show how plastic waste can be turned into useful........

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