Future Island-Island Impact Cards: 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.