Oslo London Surf Expedition Promoting Deposit Return Systems | Plastic Soup Surfer

Campaign for deposits in European countries

The Oslo-London expedition was the first major campaign through which I'm promoting the expansion of deposits in European countries. Deposits are the best way to prevent litter and enable reuse of materials.

I have a lot of experience with the introduction of such a deposit law and the forces involved. I now bring that knowledge to our neighboring countries. In 2024, I've been surfing from London to Paris.

With high-profile expeditions, we succeed in getting the necessary media attention for this. Attention that helps to get in touch with the responsible politicians and give them a big push in the right direction.

See the item the BBC made on my arrival in London after the 32 day expedition from Oslo to London

English Littered Bottles and the UK Deposit Plan

While completing my second expedition in 2015, I was struck by the amount of plastic waste lining the Scandinavian coast. A closer look at the still legible labels, showed that these bottles, carried by the ocean’s currents and wind, had traveled across the sea all the way from the Netherlands and the UK.

The goal of the 2023 summer expedition was to symbolically bring these bottles home. I've windsurfed 1800 km from Oslo to London on a board made from littered bottles - from the river Thames - and recycled EPS, flaxen and mycelium (very strong biodegradable mushroom thread).

Lessons from Other North Sea Countries

Deposit systems are the most effective way to combat litter at it’s source. The UK government plans to introduce deposits on plastic bottles and cans by October 2025, however a plan has yet to be defined. I know from my own experience how influential the opposition from supermarkets and other corporations can be, so it’s critical that an effective law be written and instituted

To aid the development of the UK law, I gathered lessons learned from the countries that previously introduced DRS. I offered these lessons offered to me by the former ministers of Norway and the Netherlands together with a letters co-signed by Coca Cola and several UK NGO's. In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and Surfers against Sewage, I presented these letters and lessons in Westminster to the MP's and Lords - Read the signed letter here.

Effect of a financial incentive

graph showing the results of the Introduction of deposits in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands each day 200 thousand plastic bottles were littered in our streets, parks and waterways. Untill the summer of 2021. Thats when a deposit return scheme was introduced. First for bottles and 2 years later for cans. This financial incentive, giving an empty bottle or can 15cent value, has reduced litter by over 80% in total for beverage containers.

Furthermore: public trash bins are filled 75% less, resulting in fewer litter problems caused by overflowing bins, wind and birds.

Personal video messages

These are the three personal video messages I have handed over to representatives of political parties on januari 31.

Stientje van Veldhoven (Dutch Minister 2017-2021)
Rauno Raal (Director Deposits Estonia 2008-2018)
Watch the video - 8.55 min
Jeff Angel (Director Boomerang Alliance Australia 2004-now)
Watch the video - 5.00min

Biodegradable Mycelium Surf Board

I build a new surfboard for each of my expeditions. While my previous boards were constructed mostly of littered bottles, when it comes to materials my current focus is on circularity i.e. creating a board made of both recycled and biodegradable materials. The board for this expedition will be constructed of:

Plastic bottles I found in the River Thames
Recycled polystyrene foam (EPS)
Mycelium: Ultra thin mushroom threads that make long connections and grow into a rock-solid degradable layer - this network of mycelium threads holds the bottles and styrofoam together to shape the board
A skin of waterproof bio-based epoxy

Storytelling Power

Interview by Dutch Radio at the start of the North Sea Crossing Expedition 2016

My expedition from Oslo to London, between June 17th to July 19th, was an exciting surf adventure across one of the North Sea’s main plastic soup routes. My journey was challenging as I travelled against the wind and currents to return litter back to it’s source. At night I slept under my sail.

Troughout my expedition, I kept a video diary - which you can see on our Instagram channel. I made podcasts (in Dutch) about the perils and adventures during my expedition.