Our Mission

Plastic Sentinel addresses one of the world’s most urgent environmental crises — plastic contamination in oceans and rivers — using space-based technologies combined with advanced, state of the art AI and IoT technologies.

Each year, over 11 million tons of plastic enter the oceans (UNEP, 2023), endangering more than 700 species and killing an estimated 1 million marine animals annually. Microplastics are now found in 100% of ocean surface samples and even in human bloodstreams. Meanwhile, crucial oceanic microorganisms such as Prochlorococcus, which generate 10% of the planet’s oxygen, are directly threatened by plastic-borne toxins. Despite growing cleanup initiatives, most interventions remain reactive — focusing on beach and coastal removal. Plastic Sentinel aims to shift the paradigm toward prevention through early detection, verification, and targeted alerts.

Leveraging Copernicus Sentinels satellites imagery, the system detects and maps plastic accumulations in real time. It integrates with smart navigational buoys — equipped with hyperreflective identity sensors — to validate findings, track plastic movement, and provide precise geolocation data. The platform’s early alert system enables local authorities, cleanup operations, and tourism sectors to act on accurate and descriptive data before pollution reaches critical locations.