Fig. 1

Schematic of the impact assessment framework developed in this study to evaluate the net environmental impact of cleaning the North Pacific Garbage Patch (NPGP). Impacts of three anthropogenic stressors (1) macroplastics (> 5 mm), (2) microplastics (1 µm–5 mm), and (3) cleanup on nine ecological guilds (zooplankton, neuston, bony fish, elasmobranchs, sea turtles, seabirds, marine mammals, cephalopods and rafting species) were assessed to evaluate impacts on marine life. Impacts on carbon cycling were assessed by estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from plastics afloat in the NPGP, vessel emissions during cleanup, and potential microplastic impacts on ocean carbon export in the NPGP.