The River HIPPO is a solar-powered plastic interception vessel designed to tackle plastic pollution in river systems, preventing it from reaching the ocean. Positioned strategically in high-pollution waterways, such as the Chao Phraya River in Thailand, the HIPPO utilizes floating booms to guide debris towards a conveyor belt onboard the vessel. This conveyor belt lifts plastic waste from the water, where crews manually unload it for sorting at local materials recovery facilities.

Engineered for maximum efficiency and community engagement, the HIPPO operates in all weather conditions and is entirely powered by renewable energy sources. It forms part of a comprehensive intervention strategy that focuses on both waste collection and prevention. Through continuous deployment, Seven Clean Seas, the organization behind the HIPPO, ensures the removal of thousands of kilograms of plastic annually while providing formal, paid employment opportunities to coastal communities.

Transparency is a key feature of the HIPPO solution, with each deployment tracked through Periscope impact dashboards. These dashboards provide real-time metrics on the amount of plastic removed, social outcomes, and environmental performance. As a circular impact solution, the HIPPO plays a central role in transforming plastic pollution into locally repurposed building materials, contributing to ecosystem health and supporting community-led sustainable livelihoods.

• Solar-powered vessel designed to intercept plastic waste in river systems.
• Utilizes floating booms and a conveyor belt to collect plastic debris efficiently.
• Operates in all weather conditions and powered entirely by renewable energy sources.
• Provides formal, paid employment to coastal communities through waste collection activities.
• Transparent tracking of each deployment's impact through Periscope dashboards.
• Contributes to ecosystem health by transforming plastic waste into repurposed building materials.
• Part of a holistic intervention strategy targeting both waste collection and prevention.