RACING FOR OUR OCEANS

DID YOU KNOW

At the going rate, the plastic in our oceans will outweigh fish by 2050
Each year, an estimated 8 million more metric tons of plastics end up in our oceans
Our global economy is just 7% circular

PROMOTING MARINE SCIENCE

MARINE RESEARCH

As we raced around the globe our team collected water and air samples, from edges of the world where no-one goes, collecting data that was shared with the World Meteorological Organization to advance climate science and global weather forecasting. We are proud to have contributed scientific data to the largest ever marine science program during a sports event.

DISCOVER MORE

COLLECTING DATA TO HELP SCIENCE

The data that Team Holcim-PRB and the other crews collected provided the world’s leading science organizations with valuable information, in real-time, to paint a more accurate picture of what is happening to the ocean and the important role it plays in maintaining a healthy planet. This vital data is helping scientists get more information that is currently lacking on two of the biggest threats to the health of the seas: the impact of climate change and plastic pollution.

HOW THE DATA IS USED

The collected data is open-source and shared with The Ocean Race’s science partners – organizations that are examining the impact of human activity on the ocean. They use it in reports that inform and influence governments across the world. This includes reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) along with databases such as the Surface Ocean Carbon Dioxide Atlas, which provides data for the Global Carbon Budget, a yearly assessment of carbon dioxide that informs targets and predictions for carbon reduction.

Part of the data gathering also supports efforts by international organizations who work together as part of the Global Ocean Observing System, a network aimed at improving understanding of our one ocean.

Credit: The Ocean Race

HOW CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO A CLEANER OCEAN

Circular Explorer

In partnership with One Earth One Ocean, Holcim launched the Circular Explorer, a first-of-its-kind 100% solar powered catamaran designed to preserve vital marine ecosystems in a sustainable way. It can recover up to four tons of plastic waste per day.

The Circular Explorer includes an education program to empower students and local communities as change makers to lead the shift toward circular living.

Taking a science-driven approach for more impact, the Circular Explorer partners with the University of the Philippines Marine Institute to advance ocean research. With built-in sensors and micro-plastic collectors on board, it drives live data mapping along its journey to fuel the faculty’s research programs.

HOW CAN WE LEAD THE SHIFT TO CIRCULAR LIVING

Circular Cities Barometer

We expect 70% of the world population to be living in cities by 2050, adding 2.5 billion people. Cities will play a critical role in shifting from a linear “take-make-waste” economy to a circular “reduce-regenerate-recycle” one.

To show how cities around the world can make this transition, we launched the Circular Cities Barometer. The Barometer gives us unique insights into what the most innovative circular cities around the world are doing to accelerate this shift. As the Barometer shows, circular cities are many things. Their residents live and work in smart buildings while commuting by green forms of mobility. Circular cities use renewable energy and offer recycling hubs to keep materials in use a long as possible. Circular cities offer significant green space for people and nature to thrive.