Students built giant beach vacuum for microplastics

Hoola One is a beach vacuum cleaner that sucks microplastics and returns the sand to the beach.

A team of 12 students from Quebec, Canada's University of Sherbrooke built a machine that contains a large hose and a big water tank. Both microplastics and the sand are sucked into the hose, but in a water tank sand sinks, leaving the microplastics to float.

The beach vacuum cleaner was tested on Kamilo Beach in Hawaii, which is known to be one of the dirtiest beaches in the world. After the testing proved to be successful, the team donated the machine to the island.

It is estimated that 34% of all microplastics on our beaches come from our polyester, elastane and acrylic clothes. Vacuum cleaning it is a good solution, but stopping it from happening is much better. Polluted beach and polluted water is a consequence of unsustainable fashion practices. To demonstrate ethical, and sustainable fashion behavior, simply don't wash plastic clothes.