Press Release
Tuesday 23, February , 2026 | 10:00 AM Dubai or CET
Press Release
Subsea Revolution: Earth05’s Winners Developing Systems to Cut Desalination Energy by 40% and Remove Ocean Microplastics
Abu Dhabi, UAE (February 17, 2026) – Earth05 announced today award recipients of its inaugural honorary Return on Lives (ROL) prize. The winning collaboration between PolyGone and OceanWell, combines OceanWell’s revolutionary submerged technology with PolyGone’s advanced filter media to tackle two of the 21st century’s most urgent challenges: microplastic contamination of the global food chain and the escalating freshwater scarcity and quality crisis. The OceanWell–PolyGone collaboration marks a next-generation approach to environmental restoration. The companies were first recognized at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, where Sophia the Robot (Hanson Robotics) presented the team with Earth05 Phase #1 Co-Creation Recognition.
The grand award was selected from 33 shortlisted initiatives through a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a jury of more than 40 international experts spanning science, technology, policy, and impact investing.
“This collaboration allows our technologies to achieve what neither could accomplish alone,” said Nathaniel Banks. “By combining PolyGone’s filtration systems with OceanWell’s desalination technology, we are turning infrastructure built for industry into a tool for environmental restoration.”
Through Earth05’s global network, the two collaborators will expand access to strategic partnerships in the Middle East, with the award reception scheduled in Dubai from April 13–15.
“PolyGone and OceanWell share the same goal, to ensure high-quality fresh water is available to communities across the globe,” added Jamie Spotswood. “By collaborating, we aim to make aquatic cleanup fast, energy-efficient and scalable for the first time.”
Measuring What Matters: The Return on Lives (ROL) Formula
The ROL metric, Earth05’s proprietary framework, redefines the traditional ROI. As advanced technologies like AI scale at the cost of natural resources, ROL measures their real impact on people and ecosystems. It establishes a new truth: life, not capital, is the ultimate currency.
ROL = (Lives Supported – Lives Displaced) ÷ InvestmentStandardized
“The most powerful breakthroughs are never achieved in isolation,” said Maria Dahrieh, Founder & CEO of Earth05. “The Return on Lives (ROL) framework ensures that innovation is accountable to people, ecosystems, and future generations; Polygone and OceanWell collaboration is life-first innovation at scale.”
About Earth05
Earth05 is the world’s first co-creation honorary prize, curating breakthrough innovations through a global competition that breaks down silos, accelerates innovation, and advances solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Learn more at earth05.org
Media Contact & Interview Availability
Press Kit: High-res prototype imagery, and ROL technical whitepaper available upon request.
Exclusive Interviews available upon request (Zoom or In-Person at AIM Congress Dubai April 13-15):
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Maria A. Dahrieh (Earth05): On the ROL metric and the "Life-First" economy.
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Nathaniel Banks & Jamie Spotswood : On microplastic capture and subsea engineering.