Technology

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Can be Cleaned for $7.5 billion

Published

2 years ago

September 6, 2024

After 6 years of development and three years of extraction operations, The Ocean Cleanup declares the Great Pacific Garbage Patch can be eliminatedOcean Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent problems our oceans face today, costing the world up to $2.5 trillion per year in damage to economies, industries and the environmentThe Ocean Cleanup’s operations demonstrate that the elimination of the GPGP can be done at today’s level of performance in 10 years at a cost of $7.5bn*Data and modelling indicate that the removal of the GPGP could be achieved in 5 years at a cost of $4bn*Today we call upon the world to join us in a time for action – the cost of inaction is catastrophic to marine ecosystems, human health, and the environment**

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Ocean Cleanup today declared the eradication of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) achievable within a decade and an ambition to make the cleanup happen faster and more cost effectively. Today’s announcement is the first time both a cost and a timeline has been placed on ridding the Pacific Ocean of the environmental hazard presented by the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Cleanup technology validated and ready for scale-up

Six years after sailing out of San Francisco with the ambition of developing the technology to rid the world’s oceans of plastic, The Ocean Cleanup returned to San Francisco with the knowledge and know-how to relegate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the history books.

Arriving in San Francisco with System 03, the technology created by The Ocean Cleanup to extract plastic from ocean gyres, the organization showcased the results of their most recent extraction operations in the GPGP. Over the past three years, The Ocean Cleanup has removed more than one million pounds of trash from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, or 0.5% of the total accumulated trash. The data and modelling of these and future operations conclusively proves that the problem is solvable within a decade and could be done in 5 years at a cost of $4bn.

Time for action

The Ocean Cleanup calls upon the world, governments, corporations, individuals, and foundations to prioritize the resolution of this important marine environment and ensure that the cleaning of the ocean becomes a global priority.

In 2025 The Ocean Cleanup will take a one-year operational hiatus to deploy a new hotspot hunting initiative designed to map the “hotspots”, or areas of intense plastic accumulation in the GPGP, making extractions more impactful.

Commenting on the announcement, Boyan Slat, Founder and CEO of The Ocean Cleanup said: “Today’s announcement is clear, clean oceans can be achieved in a manageable time and for a clear cost. Through the hard work of the past 10 years, humanity has the tools needed to clean up the ocean. We have shown the world that the impossible is now possible. The only missing thing is who will ensure this job gets done. We call upon the world to relegate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to the history books. This environmental catastrophe has been allowed to exist, unresolved, for too long and for the first time we can tell the world what it costs, what is needed and how long it could take. It is time for action.”

For further information please contact:

Niels Broekhof: CFF Communications
niels.broekhof@cffcommunications.nl, +31(0)630374930Alan Dunton: SHIFT Communications
adunton@shiftcomm.com, 415-290-8219

Video assets: https://app.frame.io/reviews/bd4d208e-c479-491e-aa31-2a0ae5ecf609

Note to media:

*Putting the cost of clean oceans in context:

Annual spend in the US on Halloween
decorations

$10.6bn

US pet food spending in 2024

$66.9 bn

Combined net worth of the top 10 richest
people

$1.66tn

1% of the annual revenues of the world’s
plastic producers

$7.2bn

Cost to the world’ economies, industries
and the environment caused by plastic
pollution

$2.5 trillion

**Understanding the environmental impact of cleanup operations:

While prevention of further pollution is critical, measures to reduce future plastic emissions do not address impacts of plastics that have already accumulated in the ocean. Without any action, this legacy plastic pollution will continue to reside in and impact marine ecosystems for decades or centuries to come. Therefore, cleanup of existing plastic pollution in our oceans is needed to reduce identified risks to marine ecosystem (Richon et al., 2023).

To ensure that the harm reduction achieved by removing plastic pollution exceeds potential environmental damage caused by the cleanup, The Ocean Cleanup follows a comprehensive environmental management plan in line with recommendations by independent scientists (Falk-Andersson et al., 2023). The approach consists of environmental impact assessments prior to deployment of cleanup technology, a series of mitigation measures to minimize identified risks, as well as monitoring of interactions with marine life and reporting thereof.

The extensive data collected throughout the past years now allows us to start assessing the net environmental benefit of cleaning the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP). Together with independent and renowned scientists we developed a plastic pollution impact assessment framework and applied it to evaluate whether cleaning the GPGP provides a net benefit to marine life and regional carbon cycling. This work is currently undergoing peer review and will be made publicly available upon publication.

ABOUT THE OCEAN CLEANUP

The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. They aim to achieve this goal through a dual strategy: intercepting in rivers to stop the flow and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean. For the latter, The Ocean Cleanup develops and deploys large-scale systems to efficiently concentrate the plastic for periodic removal. This plastic is tracked and traced to certify claims of origin when recycling it into new products. To curb the inflow, The Ocean Cleanup has developed Interceptor™ solutions to halt and extract plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean. As of August 2024, the non-profit has collected over 16 million kilograms (35.3 million pounds) of trash from aquatic ecosystems around the world. Founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup now employs a broadly multi-disciplined team of approximately 140. The foundation is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and opened its first regional office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2023.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-great-pacific-garbage-patch-can-be-cleaned-for-7-5-billion-302240839.html

SOURCE The Ocean Cleanup

Technology

139th Canton Fair Phase 3 Advances Toward a Better Life with New and Strengthened Product Zones

Published

47 minutes ago

May 3, 2026

GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 139th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) has rolled out nine newly established product zones. Phase 3 features an expanded and upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone and the inaugural presentation of a Functional & Technical Fabrics zone.

The upgraded Intelligent Healthcare zone brings together 50 companies presenting a full spectrum of intelligent medical solutions, spanning AI-powered diagnostics, surgical robotics, and next‑generation eldercare technologies. Exhibits highlight how medical devices are becoming smaller, more precise, and increasingly non‑invasive. Capsule endoscopy systems demonstrate how gastrointestinal screening can be completed without discomfort, while AI‑enabled traditional Chinese medicine analyzers compress the inspection and inquiry process into minutes. Wearable glucose monitors make chronic disease management easier and more convenient.

Robotic technologies play a prominent role as well. Endoscopic and orthopedic surgical robots showcase enhanced precision through integrated human‑machine coordination, while bionic prosthetic hands use non‑invasive myoelectric sensing to independently control each finger. Intelligent rehabilitation systems, including lower‑limb exoskeletons and hand‑training devices, provide consistent support for patients recovering mobility. Companion‑style eldercare robots, equipped with monitoring and telemedicine functions, signal the rise of integrated home‑based health services.

The debuting Functional & Technical Fabrics zone highlights how the traditional textile industry is moving toward higher-end and smarter products. Exhibitors present materials that combine multi‑layered performance with intelligent responsiveness. Textiles featuring temperature‑regulating fibers, phase‑change materials, and light‑ or heat‑sensitive color‑shifting effects illustrate how fabrics are evolving into adaptive platforms capable of responding to environmental conditions.

Sustainability emerges as a defining theme. Bio‑based fibers, degradable films, recycled polyester, and organic cotton reflect a shift from isolated eco‑products toward full‑chain green manufacturing. High‑performance outdoor and protective applications further shape the narrative. Materials engineered for waterproof breathability, UV resistance, flame retardancy, and long‑term durability address rising demand across sportswear, professional protection, and medical environments. Smart textiles with embedded health‑monitoring modules demonstrate how apparel is beginning to function as a continuous wellness interface.

Both technology‑driven healthcare and advanced textiles are converging around a shared pursuit of a better life. As these advancements continue to evolve, they reflect a manufacturing landscape increasingly shaped by innovation, resilience, and a commitment to improving everyday living.

For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/139th-canton-fair-phase-3-advances-toward-a-better-life-with-new-and-strengthened-product-zones-302760704.html

SOURCE Canton Fair

Technology

CupidFeel Insights Show How Shared Interests Affect Initial Connection Outcomes

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2026

New behavioral insights from CupidFeel offer a carefully considered look at how shared interests influence whether an initial connection on a dating platform is sustained or abandoned in those first critical exchanges.

GIBRALTAR, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The findings by CupidFeel are not dramatic, but they are telling. People who referenced a shared interest — whether a genre of music, a type of cuisine, a sport, a creative practice, or even a shared discomfort with small talk — within the first few exchanges of a new conversation were found to be measurably more likely to continue that conversation beyond the initial contact window. The effect was not uniform across all interest categories; certain types of shared interest appeared to carry more relational weight than others.

It was also observed by CupidFeel that the timing of when shared interests entered a conversation mattered. Connections where common ground was discovered organically — through the natural flow of exchange rather than prompted by a profile field or a direct question — showed stronger indicators of sustained interest. The discovery, in other words, carried more meaning when it felt like something found rather than something declared.

Among the most quietly striking findings in the CupidFeel data was the role of specificity. Broad shared categories — “we both like travel,” “we both enjoy cooking” — were associated with polite, often brief exchanges that rarely extended past pleasantries. But when specificity entered the picture — when one person mentioned a particular documentary that had stayed with them, or a city they had visited and could not stop thinking about — the conversational energy shifted. Something opened up.

In a CupidFeel review of trends in profile engagements, those whose profiles reflected specific, idiosyncratic interests — rather than broadly appealing ones — also showed higher rates of receiving first messages, a finding that runs gently counter to the instinct many people have to present themselves in the most universally appealing terms possible.

What seemed to matter most was not the quantity of overlap but whether the overlap that existed was felt — whether it produced a sense of being seen in some particular, non-generic way. A CupidFeel review of early conversation patterns suggests that a single deeply resonant shared interest may be more generative for early connection than a long list of surface-level commonalities that, taken together, feel more like a demographic profile than a person.

About CupidFeel

CupidFeel is an online dating platform built around the belief that meaningful connections begin with emotional honesty and the willingness to let a conversation go somewhere real. It came into being for people who are less interested in the mechanics of dating and more drawn to the possibility of something that feels grounded — exchanges that move at their own pace, guided by genuine curiosity rather than performance.

A CupidFeel review of its own design principles returns consistently to the same question: what does it take for a first message to feel like it might be worth the journey? The platform makes room for the kind of interaction that doesn’t always have a clear destination but feels, from the first exchange, like something real. CupidFeel is a place where the unexpected is not something to be managed, but something to be welcomed.

Media Contact

Timothy Albers, CupidFeel, 1 14845691657, smm@cupidfeel.com, https://cupidfeel.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cupidfeel-insights-show-how-shared-interests-affect-initial-connection-outcomes-302759951.html

SOURCE CupidFeel

Technology

Las Vegas Review-Journal Launches VegasBusiness, a New Multiplatform Business Brand Serving Southern Nevada Leaders

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

LAS VEGAS, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ –The Las Vegas Review Journal today announced the launch of VegasBusiness, a new multiplatform brand designed to deliver authoritative reporting, analysis, and insight to Southern Nevada’s business leaders and decisionmakers.

VegasBusiness debuts with a biweekly print section distributed in the Sunday Las Vegas Review Journal, a new digital hub at VegasBusiness.com, a weekday business email newsletter, and a bi monthly podcast. Together, the platforms create the most comprehensive local business news and intelligence offerings in the Las Vegas market.

Vegas Business, powered by the state’s largest and most experienced business reporting team, focuses on the people, companies, and forces shaping Southern Nevada’s economy, including gaming and hospitality, real estate development, technology, finance, logistics, and small business.

“Las Vegas is one of the fastest evolving business markets in the country, and its leaders need timely, trustworthy intelligence to compete and grow,” Keith Moyer, publisher and editor of the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness expands our business journalism across platforms and delivers deeper insight, greater frequency, and broader reach for Southern Nevada’s decision makers.”

Expanded Business Coverage Across Platforms

VegasBusiness features business coverage designed for how executives consume news today—through print, digital, email, audio, video, and social channels.

Editorial franchises include CSuite Insider, featuring executive interviews; Building Las Vegas, with in depth reporting on major projects and deals; Innovation, spotlighting people and ideas driving change; Price Points, examining data and consumer trends; Small Business, highlighting enterprising local companies; and a curated Calendar of business events and conferences.

“We created this section to provide Las Vegas business leaders with practical, locally grounded intelligence so t hey can make faster, more informed decisions on growth, talent, and regulation,” Erin Edgemon, business editor of the Review Journal, said. “VegasBusiness is designed to help business leaders understand what’s happening in the economy, why it matters, and how it impacts their organizations and communities.”

A Premium Environment for Advertisers

In addition to expanded editorial coverage, VegasBusiness provides a new advertising and sponsorship platform for brands seeking to reach business decision makers in Southern Nevada. The brand offers integrated opportunities across print, digital, newsletters, podcasts, video, social media, and events, supported by advanced audience targeting and measurement.

“VegasBusiness gives advertisers access to the largest concentration of local business decision- makers in the market,” Michael LaBonia, senior vice president of sales for the Las Vegas Review Journal, said. “It’s a high impact, data driven platform that connects brands with influence, intent, and measurable results.”

Availability

VegasBusiness Magazine: Biweekly, Sundays in the Las Vegas Review JournalDigital: 24/7 at VegasBusiness.com**Newscast:** Weekday segment mornings on 7@7 a.m.**Newsletter:** Featured in the weekday Business Brief

Additional information is available at VegasBusiness.com.

Since 1909, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has been Nevada’s comprehensive media leader. Over the years, it has transformed from an award-winning newspaper that delivers local and community news and spans the globe with far-reaching topics and coverage. The Review-Journal has forged into multimedia and digital platforms through its website, Reviewjournal.com, which includes a network of niche publications, breaking news, e-newsletters, customized content, custom printing, a production studio, and more to meet the specific needs of readers and advertisers alike.

Media Contact

Wanda English Blair, Vice President of Marketing
(702) 383-0223
wblair@reviewjournal.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/las-vegas-review-journal-launches-vegasbusiness-a-new-multiplatform-business-brand-serving-southern-nevada-leaders-302760627.html

SOURCE Las Vegas Review-Journal