Case Study: The Ocean Cleanup advances ocean plastic removal with SolidWorks

The Ocean Cleanup - Customer Case Study

The Ocean Cleanup, the nonprofit behind the world’s largest ocean cleanup initiative, set out to design and launch a system to capture plastic pollution in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. To turn this ambitious concept into a workable product, the team needed advanced engineering tools and support for CAD, simulation, visualization, and design guidance. SolidWorks, part of Dassault Systèmes, helped provide the product development foundation for the project.

Using SolidWorks software and the SolidWorks for Entrepreneur Program, The Ocean Cleanup designed and tested the floater and other system components, supported by training and engineering assistance. The result was the launch of System 001, “Wilson” — a 600-meter U-shaped floating barrier with a 3-meter skirt that simulates a coastline to trap plastic for later removal. While the case study does not cite hard performance metrics, it highlights the successful launch of the system and the broader impact of raising global awareness and inspiring further environmental action.

The Ocean Cleanup