The Ocean Cleanup

For the first time, we can put a price tag on cleaning up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. We now call upon the world - governments, companies, individuals - to make this cleanup happen.

This year, we made a significant step forward in our mission to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Our total global trash catch in 2024 amounted to over 11 million kilograms—more than all previous years combined. Here’s how we got here: - Optimized Ocean Operations: We refined System 03 in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, completing 112 extractions to date... - ... and declared that we now have the tools to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch — at a cost of just $7.5 billion. - Expanded River Operations: We deployed new Interceptors in Thailand, Jamaica, and Guatemala, including Interceptor 021 at the mouth of the Rio Motagua, helping protect coral reefs in the Gulf of Honduras. - Protecting Ecosystems & Livelihoods: Beyond intercepting plastic, we’re actively protecting ecosystems and improving local livelihoods with the support of our partners. But as a non-profit organization, we can only do this work thanks to your support, donations, and spreading awareness, which brings us all closer to clean oceans. Stay tuned for 2025 as we work on solving this planet-sized problem together.

NOW HIRING: River Operations Manager With a number of Interceptors already installed, the Rivers team is now working on new projects. To prepare for scaling up to tens and hundreds of rivers, it is important to track and incorporate the lessons from our current operations. We are looking for an operations manager with a connection to water bodies who wants to take on the challenge of bringing operational excellence to a still-new territory. Learn more and apply on our website:

World-leading band Coldplay joined the largest cleanup in history in 2021 and has supported our mission in various ways since. They've provided funding for our operations to remove plastic from oceans and rivers, sponsored two Interceptors, and spread awareness by showing footage of our cleanup operations at their live shows. The most recent step in our global partnership is a limited 'Notebook Edition' LP release of Coldplay's latest album, "Moon Music," made using river plastic we intercepted in the Rio Las Vacas in Guatemala. How did trash that was once polluting Guatemala become Coldplay's latest LP? Watch the full story on our YouTube channel: https://lnkd.in/eqFF82FP

It took us 11 years to collect the first 10,000,000 kg of trash from the world's oceans and rivers. Just seven months later, we reached a new milestone: over 20,000,000 kg (44 million lb) of trash removed. 🚀 Our ocean cleanup systems have proven successful in tackling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but this cannot be a long-term strategy. Preventing further leakage into our oceans is paramount; we have deployed 18 Interceptors in 8 countries to intercept trash in rivers before it enters the oceans. Solving plastic pollution is a momentous task, and we can't do it alone; it requires robust policies, partnerships, and funding. Learn how you can get involved in the cleanup as an individual, company, or partner: https://lnkd.in/eQasyiZA

Last week, we attended INC-5 in Busan, Korea, where, following a week of intense negotiations involving nearly 200 countries, no agreement was reached to deliver a landmark international Global Plastics Treaty. "I urge us all to recognize there is no time to waste to address the growing plastic pollution crisis." - Monty Simus, Global Director of Public Affairs, Policy, and Blue Finance, The Ocean Cleanup. Learn about our takeaways from INC-5 and the next steps:

Impact update: we have now removed over 20 million kg (over 44 million lb) of trash from oceans and rivers worldwide.🌊 As a non-profit, every individual, foundation, and corporate ally who joins our cause helps us move closer to a cleaner future for our oceans. Do you want to contribute to the largest cleanup in history? You can make a donation or give the gift of impact this holiday season by donating on behalf of someone else, such as friends, family, or employees, and receive a gift certificate: https://lnkd.in/d27Unyw.

BREAKING: Our latest research shows that the mass of plastic fragments in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has increased almost 5x in just seven years, highlighting the urgency of the situation. This latest research is based on data we gathered during over 50 expeditions to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch between 2015 and 2022 (see map below). Learn more about our latest findings: https://lnkd.in/e399cADG.

Deploying technologies to combat plastic pollution is just one aspect of our operations. Our goal is to create a positive impact, not only in terms of intercepted trash but also by protecting and restoring oceanic, coastal, and riverine environments and benefitting local communities. In Kingston, Jamaica, we are tackling plastic pollution from multiple angles - deploying Interceptors to stop trash from entering the Caribbean Sea and, with our local partners, educating and involving local communities to restore the coastal and riverine environments. Last Saturday, local communities around Kingston came together to tackle plastic pollution in Kingston’s mangroves; here’s the whole story:

Last Saturday, we took part in the Great Mangrove Cleanup in Kingston, Jamaica, organized by our local partners - Clean Harbours Jamaica and Grace Kennedy Foundation. 🇯🇲 Plastic pollution is a pressing problem that must be tackled from multiple angles. We currently have 8 Interceptor deployments in Kingston; while we supply the technology, our local partners manage operations, waste handling, and local community engagement and education. The Great Mangrove Cleanup last Saturday brought together communities around Kingston around a common goal to clean up legacy plastic in Kingston's mangroves. In just over three hours, 8238 kg / 18,164 lb of waste was removed and is no longer harming the vital ecosystems of Kingston’s mangroves.