RhinoShield unveiled the first unit of its CircularBlue ocean cleanup project, the "ChangeMaker Wavebreaker." This floating marine waste filtration platform features an intelligent, modular, and low-energy design. It will be deployed off the coast of Tainan's Gold Coast and is expected to begin offshore trial operations this year. Leveraging innovative technology and system integration, it provides a scalable and sustainable offshore waste management solution.
Coastal plastic pollution: The problem is closer than you think
According to statistics, more than 1270 million tons of plastic flow into the ocean every year, 80% of which drift back to the shore within a month. However, this type of "nearshore garbage" is often overlooked and becomes the main source of plastic microparticles.
Rhino Shield's launch of the CircularBlue project is aimed at targeting the blind spot of "offshore marine waste management" and using mechanized, modular and intelligent methods to effectively intercept and subsequently recycle waste.
The ChangeMaker Wavebreaker features a modular design and multi-purpose applications. Its dimensions are 12 x 12 x 9.4 meters, and its empty weight is approximately 62 tons. Its modules consist of an offshore mothership platform, an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, and an unmanned garbage vessel. It utilizes dual-mode recovery, with the unmanned reconnaissance aircraft using AI to analyze images of floating garbage and automatically mark them. The unmanned garbage vessel receives GPS positioning, retrieves the garbage from the target location, and returns. Furthermore, an information integration control room allows for real-time monitoring of each module's operating status (battery, GPS, mileage, etc.).
In addition, the "ChangeMaker" platform also provides water quality and ecological monitoring, as well as educational research purposes, and can be expanded into an ocean observation station or environmental education platform in the future.
A New Solution to the Circular Economy: From "Recycling" to "Application of Recycled Materials"
In recent years, Rhino Shield has prioritized plastic management as a key corporate development strategy. Starting in 2017, it adopted a single-material design for its products, and in 2024, it launched Taiwan's first 100% recycled phone case, CircularNext. Marine waste plastic collected through the CircularBlue platform will also be upcycled into new products such as lanyards, woven watch straps, and phone holders.
The IOC Alliance supports the creation of a sustainable marine ecosystem
Rhino Shield has joined the Marine Waste Recycling Alliance, a nonprofit organization led by the Marine Conservation Administration. The alliance is collaborating with industry, government, and academia to build a cross-industry marine waste recycling system. Rhino Shield CEO Jingfu Wang emphasized, "This isn't just a cleanup operation; it's a commitment to the future of our oceans. We hope this initiative can be replicated in more coastal areas around the world, providing a truly sustainable and scalable new solution for marine sustainability."
