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A startup from Asturias is transforming perceptions about ocean health by integrating beach cleanup data into the digital infrastructure of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Universal Plastic, recognized as the best European Blue Economy startup in 2025 in Brussels, has reached a significant milestone by connecting to the ODIS system, which links ocean information from member countries.
According to Álvaro Bravo, CEO of Universal Plastic, this collaboration allows the efforts of the “Ocean Defenders,” which include various individuals and organizations conducting beach cleanups worldwide, to gain visibility on a global scale. This visibility not only provides recognition but also establishes a bridge between local communities and potential funders or international projects.
Universal Plastic’s application enables any user to document cleanups using geolocation and photographs. Each intervention becomes a digital asset, known as ONDA (Ocean Notarized Digital Asset), that captures the real impact of each collection. Thanks to its integration into ODIS, this data contributes to the global scientific ecosystem, offering researchers, governments, and companies the ability to accurately identify plastic cleanup areas in the oceans.
This system enhances the blue economy and ocean resilience by providing data-driven tools for governments and businesses to design effective policies and assess outcomes in a verifiable manner. Dr. Pier Luigi Buttigieg, president of ODIS/UNESCO-IOC, emphasized that every local effort against plastic pollution deserves to be part of the ocean’s digital ecosystem.
This advancement places Spain at the forefront of ocean data spaces, backed by the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence. Universal Plastic serves as an example of how national technology can contribute to global knowledge through collaboration with the United Nations.
“With our role in ODIS, the data and impact of our cleanups reach further,” expressed Bravo, highlighting the creation of a shared intelligence system that merges technology, science, and action. Founded in Gijón, Universal Plastic has a clear goal: to regenerate the ocean through science, technology, and collective action. Its motto, “Become Blue,” aims to help companies incorporate the blue economy into their corporate social responsibility strategies, transforming pollution into knowledge and social actions into global impacts.
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Referrer: MiMub in Spanish