### History and Current Status of the North Pacific Garbage Belt

### History and Current Status of the North Pacific Garbage Belt

#### 1990s: Discovery and Alarm
In 1999, a research group led by Professor Masahisa Kubota of Tokai University's Department of Oceanography discovered the "Garbage Belt," a huge accumulation zone of garbage in the North Pacific Ocean. This belt structure, approximately 1,000 km wide, is concentrated between 20 and 40 degrees north latitude and forms an east-west traverse of the Pacific Ocean. It was found that this refuse belt is formed by plastic, Styrofoam, and other wastes discharged from the west coast of the United States and the coast of Japan, which are moved by tidal currents and winds and accumulate over a period of several months.

Plastics were especially problematic, and it was pointed out that these microscopic microplastics were being taken into the bodies of marine organisms and having a negative impact on the entire ecosystem through the food chain. This discovery provided an opportunity to demonstrate to the international community that marine pollution is an environmental problem of global scale, and since the 2000s, there has been a growing movement among countries to take countermeasures.

---In the 2000s, many countries began to take action to address the problem.

#### 2000s: Building an International Framework
In the 2000s, the issue of marine litter became a full-fledged international agenda item, and in 2004, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the first international report on "Marine Plastic Pollution" and urged governments to take action. Around the same time in Japan, cleanup activities along the shores of Lake Biwa and the Sea of Japan became more active, and local governments and citizen groups began voluntary efforts to reduce marine debris.

In addition, as a corporate initiative, Procter & Gamble (P&G) of the United States attracted international attention in 2008 when it unveiled a shampoo bottle made from recycled ocean plastic. Meanwhile, through the Drifting Debris Project, scientists worked to identify the material composition and sources in the North Pacific garbage belt. This project played an important role in determining the causes of marine pollution and providing basic data for planning countermeasures.

---.

#### 2010s: Expanding Efforts
In the 2010s, international efforts to address the problem of marine plastics grew. The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch non-profit organization, was launched and began developing technologies to collect marine debris. Meanwhile, in Japan, the Ministry of the Environment formulated the "Action Plan for Marine Plastic Litter" and strengthened the framework for public-private partnerships, with local governments and companies engaging in cleanup activities and developing recycling technologies.

Changes were also seen in corporate activities. Japanese companies such as Sekisui Chemical accelerated the development of degradable plastics, and an increasing number of companies actively developed products using recycled materials.

--- (Japanese only)

#### 2020s: Technological Innovation and International Cooperation
In the 2020s, the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" in the North Pacific remains a serious problem. The Dutch "The Ocean Cleanup" has set a goal of removing 90% of floating ocean plastics by 2040, and has improved its collection equipment. To date, more than 19,000 tons of plastic have been removed and collection efficiency has improved.

In Japan, Suzuki Motor Corporation launched the Suzuki Clean Ocean Project in 2020, equipping outboard motors with microplastic recovery devices. In addition, environmentally friendly products are expanding, with Pilot Corporation selling ballpoint pens that utilize marine plastic as recycled resin, and Lixil developing "Revia" made from composite and marine plastics.

---.

#### Future Issues and Prospects
Although technical and economic challenges remain to be solved, the North Pacific garbage belt problem is showing signs of improvement thanks to the cooperation of the international community and corporate innovation. The Netherlands' "The Ocean Cleanup" and Japan's Ministry of the Environment-led initiatives are setting the direction for the next generation of environmental technologies, while waste reduction and recycling technologies need to be promoted.

The history of the North Pacific garbage belt demonstrates the complexity and difficulty of solving environmental problems, while highlighting the potential of human technology and cooperation. Further progress toward a sustainable marine environment is expected in the future.