R2OPlastics Observatory

Est. 2026 · Southeast Asia · River Systems Observatory

From river mouth
to ocean gyre.

We trace the pathways of plastic pollution through Southeast Asian river systems — mapping where waste enters waterways, how it moves, and where intervention can slow the flow with the least harm.

Read the mandate →

What we are

The River-to-Ocean Plastics Observatory exists to illuminate the pathways, sources, and leverage points of plastic pollution flowing from Southeast Asian river systems into marine environments.

We do not advocate for specific policies or assign blame. We map the causal structure — tracking waste streams from generation through transport to ocean accumulation — and identify the least-harm interventions that reduce flow at the highest-impact nodes.

Our scope is observation, modeling, and publication of actionable findings. We do not implement infrastructure, enforce regulation, or operate in the political domain. We are a standing source of clarity on a problem that spans jurisdictions, ecosystems, and generations.

How we work

01

Flow Cartography

We map the physical and economic pathways of plastic waste — from production and consumption through informal collection systems, waterways, and seasonal flood events — into detailed causal models that identify where material enters river systems and at what volumes.

Systems mapping
02

Systems Modeling

We build predictive models of plastic transport dynamics — seasonal variation, monsoon amplification, tributary confluence points, and marine dispersion patterns — to forecast accumulation zones and test intervention scenarios before they are deployed.

Predictive modeling
03

Intervention Analysis

We evaluate existing and proposed interventions — river barriers, collection infrastructure, waste management reforms, behavior change programs — for cost-effectiveness, scalability, and unintended consequences.

Least-harm assessment

Benevolence is the continuous increase of harmony, resilience, and evolutionary potential across the entire system of life.

— The constitution under which this observatory was founded

Publications

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Talk to us

Every message is answered, personally. Write to us about a river you know, a dataset you have, a question you carry — or ask for a live conversation.

Ask for a call and we'll send you a room link if it's the right way to continue.