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Blue Odyssey Initiative
François-Alexandre Bertrand holding a PolluSub interception net on the shore

ACT · POLLUSUB

Turning environmental understanding into practical action.

PolluSub

PolluSub is the do-tank expression of Blue Odyssey:

a research-action project developed to address submerged macro-waste that can move along riverbeds, seabeds, ports and shallow coastal waters beyond the reach of systems focused mainly on beaches and floating litter.

Propose a Pilot Site
  • Submerged macro-waste
  • Ports and rivers
  • Underwater interception
  • Pilot deployment
  • Environmental data

The problem

Submerged macro-waste is often missed by surface-focused systems.

Macro-waste lying on the seabed

Surface-focused systems

Beaches and floating litter

Surface-focused systems

PolluSub

Submerged macro-waste

Where waste moves

Riverbeds, ports, seabeds and shallow coastal corridors.

Riverbeds

Ports

Seabeds

Shallow coastal corridors

How sites are identified and validated

The project identifies strategic underwater waste corridors — choke points — through scientific data, local field knowledge and direct observation.

  1. 01Scientific data
  2. 02Local field knowledge
  3. 03Direct observation
  4. 04Choke point

How the passive interception concept works

Once a site is validated, a passive seabed interception system can be deployed to capture macro-waste using natural water movement.

Illustration of a PolluSub interception net across a clear-water river
Concept illustration
Illustration of passive interception modules on a shallow seabed
Concept illustration

Retrieval, sorting and documentation

Recovered plastic bottles and waste sorted in the workshop
The PolluSub team discussing a prototype net in the workshop
  1. 01Retrieved
  2. 02Sorted
  3. 03Documented

Collected material is retrieved, sorted and documented, generating practical evidence that can support future deployment in ports, river mouths, bays and other shallow coastal environments.

Field validation

Prototype developmentField validation

PolluSub is currently progressing from prototype development toward field validation,

with the objective of measuring capture performance, ecological interactions, retrieval requirements and operating costs in real conditions.

PolluSub interception prototype deployed in the workshop
Three members of the PolluSub team on the shore

We do not want to stop at understanding environmental problems. We want to build, test and deploy solutions.

Recognition and partners

Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label certificate awarded to PolluSub

July 2026

PolluSub, a Solar Impulse-labelled solution

PolluSub holds the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label, awarded by the Solar Impulse Foundation.

The label recognises innovative solutions that address environmental challenges while showing potential for economic viability.

For PolluSub, this recognition highlights the relevance of our approach to tackling plastic pollution in aquatic environments. It also reflects the concrete, innovative and deployable nature of the solution developed by Blue Odyssey Initiative (BOI).

The PolluSub Land Rover Defender, Defender Awards 2025 — Worldwide Winner

  • Defender Awards 2025 — Worldwide Winner

    Selected from 700 entries worldwide.

  • Blue Mission Med Prize — UNOC 2025

    Awarded at the United Nations Ocean Conference 2025.

  • Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label

    Awarded by the Solar Impulse Foundation.

PolluSub

Turning environmental understanding into practical action.

Propose a Pilot SiteDiscuss a Partnership