The ocean is closer than you think
The ocean connection
How far are you from the ocean?
1 mile?
Too far?
You can be thousands of miles away from the ocean and still be very close to it.
The ocean is connected to the products we buy, the food we eat, the materials we use, the way goods move around the world and the technology we depend on. It is also a source of inspiration for new ideas and innovations, many are already reimagining our daily lives.
More than one way to measure
0 miles from the ocean
You are at the beach, maybe surfing
You got your swimsuit, flip-flops, sunglasses
You brought blankets, snacks, drinks
Everyone is having a great day
Very close to the products that make your beach day great - and the systems that create them
Your swimsuit is made from synthetic materials
Sunscreen washes into the ocean, some chemicals harm coral
Flip-flops and your dog's toys are made from plastic, shed microplastics and often end up in landfills, which can affect the ocean
900 miles from the ocean
You are in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, getting your teeth cleaned. The ocean is 900 miles away. There isn't even a picture of the ocean on the wall to ease the stress
How far are you from the ocean?
Closer than you think
The gloves, tools and packaging will become waste that may reach the ocean
The water system is connected to rivers that flow to the ocean
The materials used in the building were shipped across oceans
The shoes you wear there shed tiny plastic fibers that can end up in rivers and eventually the ocean
Your ride to the dentist, by car, bus or bike, also has an ocean connection
The flip-flop connection
Choose any product you use daily, your flip-flops, your toothbrush or your water bottle Every product has a journey, from being manufactured to getting used and then discarded
The ocean is part of every step of that journey
Direct and indirect connections
Some connections to the ocean are easy to see
others are in the background - all are significant
Activities with a direct connection to the ocean:
Fishing
Shipping
Offshore energy
Coastal tourism
Marine research
Many of the biggest impacts on the ocean are indirect:
The materials used in the products we buy
The energy used to make and transport them
The waste we create
The microplastics from clothing and shoes
The fertilizers that run off into rivers and eventually the ocean
The global transportation systems that rely heavily on ocean shipping
A two-way journey: impact and innovation
The ocean is in the products we use
and it also inspires innovation to reimagine them
Ocean innovation is happening everywhere
From beaches and boats to research labs, design studios, offices, classrooms and even garages and kitchens
Scientists studying microplastics and ocean health
Researchers studying supply chains and materials
Engineers developing new materials, better recycling systems and cleaner energy
Designers rethinking products and packaging
Artists changing how we see waste, materials and the ocean
Leaders building companies, policies and movements
The ocean is a place and a system that we are all part of - even in Nebraska, the U.S. state farthest from the Pacific Ocean
Innovation is everywhere
and starts anywhere
Where does ocean innovation happen?
Explore the Map of ocean innovation
and take a quick, fun quiz to discover your innovator superpower