Rodrigo Vega Virgili

Every year, millions of tons of plastic pollute marine ecosystems, harming their biodiversity. This situation threatens marine life and has a negative impact on our biosphere and health. A large portion of plastic waste (bottles, bags, packaging...) in the oceans originates from land-based activities. Its decomposition can take decades or even centuries. During that time, factors like wave action, photodegradation, wind and weather fragment and transform these materials into microplastics. Impact of microplastics on human health Microplastics are tiny plastic particles resulting from the degradation of larger plastic products, whether on land or directly in the sea, as well as from intentional manufacturing for cosmetics and industrial goods. These particles can evade water treatment systems and infiltrate ecosystems and the food chain. Their presence in water, fish and agricultural products, among many others, has raised growing concern about their potential impact on human health, although their long-term effects remain largely unknown. This issue challenges us to rethink how we produce and consume. But through design, technology, chemistry and biology, we are generating innovative solutions. Biodesign: a more sustainable reality In this context, biodesign is becoming increasingly relevant in how we perceive, feel and experience our future. While we’re already beginning to see this shift, its full impact will become more evident over time. As a leading voice in biodesign once said: It's about enabling the generation of materials and structures designed to interact, adapt and respond to the natural environment. ―Neri Oxman. It’s hard to summarize who Neri Oxman is without understating her work: architect, designer, researcher and professor at the MIT. She is known for her vision of how nature should be integrated with design and technology to forge a new relationship between them. Image from TED Conferences, LLC. Design at the intersection of technology and biology. One of her major contributions is the creation of Oxman, a multidisciplinary studio that goes beyond traditional design. From the outset, the studio has aimed to merge design, technology and biology in its projects. Today, we can say it has succeeded, developing initiatives focused on providing sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. Biodesign fuses design, technology and biology to create sustainable materials that interact with ecological cycles. Aguahoja: biocompatible and biodegradable materials One of the most renowned projects that reflects the philosophy and work of Neri Oxman is Aguahoja, developed by The Mediated Matter Group, which she founded and led at the MIT Media Lab. Neri Oxman, Aguahoja, exhibited at SFMOMA. Image: Neri Oxman and The Mediated Matter Group. This project proposes alternative materials to plastic derived from natural biopolymers, such as cellulose from tree leaves, chitin from crustaceans and pectin from fruits. Additive manufacturing and biological synthesis of biomaterials were key in its development. Using robotic arms to deposit the material (like a 3D bioprinter) and parametric design, they created bio-structures with programmed behavior to decompose under specific conditions, enabling their integration into ecological cycles and avoiding pollution. Additive manufacturing and biomaterials. Image: Oxman website. The Aguahoja project uses biopolymers like cellulose and chitin to create biodegradable materials that integrate into ecological cycles. Exploring her work reveals that one sector paving the way in biodesign is fashion. Take for example Oxman’s most recent project: Project O°, which explores new ways to create textiles and footwear from PHA, a bioplastic produced and degraded by bacteria, representing a revolution in the industry. Let’s not forget that every year, millions of unsold garments are incinerated, aggravating the fashion industry's environmental problem. Oxman's O° and the future of 100% biodegradable fashion. Innovation in biodesign This approach offers a real alternative to plastics and opens the door to products that disappear without environmental impact, like the academic project by student Ari Jónsson. His results enabled the development of an alternative to PET, a thermoplastic widely used for containers like bottles due to its mechanical properties and chemical inertia. Jónsson created a biomaterial from algae powder that, when mixed with water, became gelatinous and could be molded into a bottle. Ari Jónsson, biodegradable bottle, made from algae material. In addition to being biodegradable, what makes it remarkable is that its purpose defines its lifecycle. Because it’s made from algae, the water (contained in the bottle) keeps the material stable by maintaining its moisture. But once empty, the bottle begins to degrade without harming the environment. It's essential to remove waste from the sea and give it a second life, rather than just moving the problem from point A to point B. The challenge of marine waste At this point, one key question arises: what happens with the waste already in the ocean? We've talked about advances in biodesign, but even if we stopped using plastic, the existing waste would remain. This is where product design and technology, even IoT, come into play, enabling the development of smart solutions for real-time detection, collection and monitoring of waste. Precious Plastic: a new way of understanding sustainability Who would have thought that in 2013 a “simple” final year project would make its way around the world, gaining popularity in the design community and still thriving today? Dave Hakkens created Precious Plastic, a movement that makes knowledge and tools accessible for local plastic recycling, promoting circular economy and giving waste a second life. But what exactly is this project and what makes it special? Precious Plastic is more than a project or initiative; it’s a global community of conscious individuals who want to be part of the solution —and help others join too. Precious Plastic Universe: a big bang for plastic recycling. They develop and share free blueprints, guides and tutorials for building plastic recycling machines (shredding, melting, molding, extruding), enabling anyone, individuals, workshops, schools or small businesses, to set up their own fablab. They also offer materials, tools and equipment for sale. This allows the creation of new products from what was destined to “die,” and everything can be found on their website: A Big Bang for Plastic Recycling. Precious Plastic democratizes a complex industrial process, making it possible for everyone to be part of the change. Sustainable IoT: a future already within reach Technology is a key pillar in how we tackle the challenge of marine pollution. At Telefónica Tech, we ask ourselves: how can IoT be part of the solution? At Telefónica Tech, we’ve been addressing the daily challenges of hundreds of companies through our capabilities in IoT and telecommunications technologies. Our commitment to sustainability drives us to embrace devices that are part of the solution. Aquatic drones: automating waste collection in water Aquatic drones are a great example of how innovation can make a difference. With integrated software platforms that leverage satellite imagery to preconfigure routes, these drones can autonomously navigate the water’s surface. This provides greater autonomy and automation in the process, collecting waste and plastics along the way. They can collect up to 500 kg of waste per day and operate for up to 8 hours on a single battery charge. Larger drones can achieve even higher capacities. Aquatic drone for plastic collection, AI-generated model. With LIDAR sensors onboard, which measure distances using laser pulses, drones can detect nearby objects, avoid obstacles and ensure their own safety. In addition, their functions can be significantly enhanced. For example, they could collect and classify waste to gather data on the types of debris collected. Aquatic drones not only simplify ocean cleanup, they redefine how we tackle this environmental challenge. In this context, we could rely on cameras and computer vision technologies that, powered by machine learning, detect and group floating debris based on contextual needs. Data transmission and complementary technologies These drones are equipped with sensors to measure key water quality parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, contaminants, chlorophyll and conductivity. With 5G connectivity, this data is transmitted in real time to cloud platforms, enabling continuous monitoring and rapid response. Blockchain could also be used to ensure data integrity and transparency —but that’s a topic for another post. These capabilities could even allow integration with EEA (European Environment Agency) systems and applications, enhancing environmental monitoring, data collection and marine management. We must understand that the search for solutions is ongoing, and new ideas continue to emerge. At Telefónica Tech, we are committed to being part of this change and tackling both today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Header image: Freepik.