We aim to clean up 90% of floating ocean plastic pollution by 2040

With the support of individuals, corporations, and governments all over the world, we will work towards a future where plastic no longer pollutes our oceans. We do this by cleaning up what is already out there, and stopping plastic on its way to the ocean via rivers. We are currently cleaning up in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, as well as working on more river Interceptor deployments in some of the world’s most polluted rivers.

Cleaning up plastic in oceans and rivers

Highlights resulted from donor support

  • Confirmed proof-of-technology for our ocean cleanup technology in October 2021
  • Launched 10 river Interceptors in 6 countries, with many more in the pipeline
  • Published over 20 peer-reviewed articles to enhance the global plastic pollution knowledge
  • Grew from a team of volunteers to over 130 employees – building on a strong foundation for scale-up in oceans and rivers around the world.
  • Removed over 2 million kilograms (5 million pounds) of trash from the environment

A word from the crew

See what some of the people behind The Ocean Cleanup are working on. As a supporter, you help us work towards cleaner oceans every day.

  • Profile image of Boyan
    Boyan Founder and CEO

    "The power of the crowd is what got The Ocean Cleanup off the ground in the beginning and has been essential to the success of our project ever since – thank you for sharing our goal of clean oceans. "

  • Profile image of Stella
    Stella Catch Management Director

    "My team works on ensuring that the plastic removed from oceans and rivers does not go back into the ocean, either by creating durable new products or processing it otherwise. Thank you for supporting this important pillar of our mission."

  • Profile image of Fedde
    Fedde Project Engineer

    "From insolvable problems to a working solution and proven technology! I'm very proud to have been a part of the full development of our ocean cleanup systems. We are now fine-tuning and upgrading System 002 to further increase the amount of plastics we remove from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. "

  • Profile image of Linda
    Linda HR Coordinator

    "Thanks to your support, we can attract and take care of the best people with the right skills to solve the challenge. Glad to play a role in this meaningful mission."

  • Profile image of Yannick
    Yannick Computational Modeler

    "The efficiency of our ocean operation relies on us targeting plastic “hotspots”, which we find with the help of computational modeling. It’s a great feeling to go from making the model to seeing us remove literally tons of plastic from the middle of the ocean. Thank you for allowing me to contribute to making this crazy dream of clean oceans a reality."

  • Profile image of Praise
    Praise Supply Chain Coordinator

    "To improve value for your money, there is need to plan and spend wisely. I am here to make sure that The Ocean Cleanup is compliant, sustainable, and spending efficiently in order to achieve its mission."

  • Profile image of Chris
    Chris Senior Project Engineer

    "Deploying an Interceptor in a river is an intricate process involving technology selection, operational, environmental, and plastic monitoring plans, stakeholder management, and understanding of legal and regulatory elements. Thank you for helping me and my team with these crucial processes in our River program."

  • Profile image of Helen
    Helen Plastic Lab Scientist

    "To effectively solve this problem, we need to understand its many nuances. Our research is at the forefront of plastic pollution science, and our insights are crucial for our cleanup plans and technology designs. Thank you for helping us solve this problem based on scientific data. "

  • Profile image of Valentina
    Valentina Creative Content Producer

    "We want to take our supporters along for the crazy ride that this mission is. My team documents our knowledge and progress through videos, pictures, and other visual/audio content, allowing our story to be better understood and shared. Thank you for helping spread our progress around the world!"

Other ways to help

  • Give by bank transfer or check

    We also accept donations via check or wire/bank transfer.

  • Tax deductability of your donation

    We are registered as a non-profit organization in the Netherlands and the United States.

  • Raise funds for cleaner oceans

    Rally your network to raise funds towards The Ocean Cleanup mission.

  • Making large donations

    We welcome philanthropists and corporations that would like to donate to make a large in-kind or monetary contribution.

Other questions? Please refer to our FAQ section.

Giving the gift of cleaner oceans

Would you like to give a donation to The Ocean Cleanup in someone’s name? Use our gift templates (available here, or here with space for a personalized message). Print or share this certificate with a friend or loved one who wants to help save the oceans.