Spearheaded by the Onda Azul Institute in partnership with technology company Vivo and creative agency Africa Creative, the project uses Wilson’s imagined 450-year drift through ocean currents as a metaphor for the persistence and impact of plastics in marine environments. The initiative is designed to humanise the science behind ocean degradation by turning complex datasets into an emotionally resonant story.

“This project is about making science human,” said André Luis Esteves, Director at the Onda Azul Institute. “By following the journey of a simple object, we illustrate decades of invisible damage caused by plastic waste, and why it urgently needs global attention.”

The campaign aligns with UNESCO’s scientific frameworks and leverages data from its 2024 State of the Ocean Report, which revealed alarming trends. The report confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record for ocean temperatures, already reaching an average warming of 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, alarmingly close to the 2°C ceiling set by the Paris Agreement. Sea levels have risen by 9cm over the past 30 years, with the pace of rise doubling in that time, due primarily to ocean warming.

Other indicators are equally concerning. Ocean oxygen levels have fallen by 2% since the 1960s, resulting in over 500 coastal “dead zones” where marine life cannot survive. Ocean acidity has increased by 30% since pre-industrial times, with projections of a 170% rise by 2100, severely impacting marine ecosystems and species such as corals and shellfish.

The initiative highlights the “triple threat” facing marine biodiversity: warming temperatures, increasing acidification, and declining oxygen levels. “It’s akin to living in a room that is heating up, with thinning air that’s also turning acidic,” noted the release.

According to UNESCO, between 1.1 and 4.9 million tonnes of plastic are already present in the ocean, primarily from discarded fishing gear and single-use plastics. While ocean mapping has improved, with 25% of the seafloor now mapped, up from 15% in 2019, critical gaps remain in monitoring and international coordination.

Creative development was led by Africa Creative, renowned for impactful, purpose-driven storytelling. “Science alone doesn’t move people, stories do,” said Raphael Vandystadt, VP of Sustainability at Africa Creative. “By turning complex data into a powerful visual journey, we help make the invisible visible. Communication plays a strategic role in mobilising collective action for our oceans.”

The campaign includes an immersive digital platform, a short film, public installations in coastal cities, and live activations during major sports broadcasts. It is also closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

For more information and to experience The 450-Year Odyssey, visit 450yearsatsea.com.