Sustainable Edge Sustainable Edge: Ocean innovation & the art of doing hard things – with Florian Dirkse, co-founder of The Ocean Cleanup
Florian shares the story behind The Ocean Cleanup’s rise — from early setbacks and viral breakthroughs to the partnerships, persistence, and purpose driving one of the world’s most iconic environmental missions.
Learn about:
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The real story behind The Ocean Cleanup: How a global sailing expedition led Florian to co-founding a non-profit tackling plastic pollution at scale.
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Failure as fuel: How trial and error became The Ocean Cleanup’s greatest advantage — and why Florian embraces iteration over perfection to make impact scalable.
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From awareness to action: How the team moved from visibility to measurable, system-changing impact.
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Scaling ambition: The role of business, capital, and storytelling in turning a grassroots project into a global operation.
Florian Dirkse is a Dutch entrepreneur, sailor, and co-founder of The Ocean Cleanup. After circumnavigating the globe by sailboat, he joined forces with Boyan Slat to launch a global effort to eliminate ocean plastic. Today, Florian is a sought-after speaker and a vocal advocate for taking bold action in service of environmental change.