The Ocean Cleanup
The Ocean Cleanup is a Netherlands-based non-profit that develops passive floating barriers and solar-powered Interceptor systems to remove and intercept plastic pollution in oceans and rivers worldwide, serving governments, individual donors, and corporate partners across 10 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersRotterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Ocean Cleanup does
The Ocean Cleanup is a Netherlands-headquartered non-profit foundation (Stichting The Ocean Cleanup, founded 2013) that develops and deploys technologies to remove and intercept plastic pollution in oceans and rivers. It operates two complementary technology platforms: passive floating barrier systems deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (System 002, 002/C, and the latest third-generation System 003), and solar-powered river Interceptors installed in waterways to capture plastic before it reaches the ocean. Supporting technologies include the Smart River Survey (drones, AI-enhanced remote-sensing cameras, GPS drifters, and global data registries for site selection) and a citizen science mobile app that crowdsources pollution observations worldwide.
The organization serves three primary customer groups: municipal and national governments (e.g., Philippines DENR under a five-year agreement, Malaysia, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, LA County), individual donors globally (processed through the Dutch Stichting and US 501(c)(3) American Friends of The Ocean Cleanup Foundation), and corporate partners (Kia, Deloitte, Hyundai Glovis, Maersk, Société Générale Foundation) providing funding, logistics, and co-branded products. As of 2026 it operates 21 Interceptor systems across 10 countries, has removed more than 15 million kilograms of plastic cumulatively, and has produced over 100 scientific publications.
Revenue is generated entirely through donations, grants, corporate partnerships, and merchandise rather than priced services, with the 30 Cities Program launched in 2025 positioned as the primary scaling vehicle targeting one-third of global riverine plastic pollution by 2030. Strategic technology and policy partnerships with AWS (AI/cloud, July 2025) and UNDP (February 2023) anchor a forward push into data-driven deployment and international regulatory advocacy.
The Ocean Cleanup firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Ocean Cleanup
- Legal name
- Stichting The Ocean Cleanup
- Website
- https://theoceancleanup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Ocean Cleanup is a Netherlands-based non-profit that develops passive floating barriers and solar-powered Interceptor systems to remove and intercept plastic pollution in oceans and rivers worldwide, serving governments, individual donors, and corporate partners across 10 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Ocean Cleanup industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Environmental Cleanup Services
- NAICS
- Remediation Services (562910), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emergency Spill Response & Environmental Cleanup (Oil/Chemical Spills) (BPALAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH), Environmental Disaster Response & Debris Management (Floods, Hurricanes, Wildfires) (EUAIAMAF)
Keywords
Where The Ocean Cleanup is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Ocean Cleanup business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: The primary revenue stream comes from individual donors worldwide who make one-time or recurring monthly donations through the website. Donations fund plastic removal missions, technology development, and operational expansion. Tax-efficient giving options available through US (501c3) and Dutch (ANBI) foundations.
- Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations provide funding, in-kind support, and co-marketing opportunities. Partners include Kia, Hyundai Glovis, Deloitte, Government of the Netherlands, and Société Générale Foundation. Partnerships may include product collaborations (e.g., Kia car accessory made from GPGP plastic).
- Government Grants and Agreements: Multi-year agreements with governments (e.g., five-year agreement with Philippines DENR) and international organizations (UNDP partnership) provide funding for specific cleanup deployments and research initiatives.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including apparel and accessories through the website. Some products incorporate recycled plastic from cleanup operations (e.g., merchandise made from extracted river plastic).
- Employee Matching Programs: Corporate employee donation matching programs where employers match employee donations, amplifying individual contribution impact. Powered through Double-the-Donation platform for US employees.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Ocean Cleanup product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ocean Cleanup designs, builds, and operates proprietary passive cleanup systems to remove plastic pollution from oceans and rivers. Its river Interceptors use solar-powered floating barriers to intercept plastic before it reaches the ocean, while ocean Systems 002 and 003 concentrate plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for extraction. The organization supports deployments with the Smart River Survey mapping platform, citizen science mobile app, and the 30 Cities Program scaling initiative, delivered through partnerships with municipal and national governments.
Product overview
The Ocean Cleanup develops and deploys a portfolio of cleanup technologies organized into two main categories: ocean-based systems (System 002, System 002/C, and System 003) for removing legacy plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and river-based Interceptor systems (Interceptor, Interceptor Barricade) for stopping plastic at its source before it reaches the ocean. Supporting these core products is the Smart River Survey technology platform using drones, AI cameras, and GPS drifters to identify optimal deployment locations, and the Citizen Science mobile app enabling global volunteer data collection. The organization also runs the 30 Cities Program as a scaling initiative to deploy river interceptors across 30 global cities and offers an Impact Dashboard for tracking operations. The product architecture combines passive ocean systems, active river barriers, AI-powered surveying tools, and crowd-sourced data collection into an integrated cleanup ecosystem.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- System 002: Ocean cleanup system deployed in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- System 03
- Interceptor
- 30 Cities Program
- Smart River Survey
Products and services
- Interceptor
Quantifiable outcome
- 143,710 pounds of trash removed from Ballona Creek in 2025 alone
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use The Ocean Cleanup
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Ocean Cleanup technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability6 records
Feature5 records
The Ocean Cleanup partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, exploring, strategic and flagship.
- Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)coreFive-year agreement to address plastic pollution in Pasig River and Manila Bay region. Part of The Ocean Cleanup's 30 Cities Program aiming to eliminate up to one-third of plastic flowing from rivers to oceans worldwide before 2030.
- Government of FijiexploringInternational non-profit The Ocean Cleanup is exploring partnerships with Fiji to address plastic pollution affecting the country's waterways and beaches. Director of Development APAC Charlotte De Jong stated that Pacific Island countries are disproportionately affected by plastic pollution.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)strategicTechnology partnership announced in July 2025 to accelerate ocean plastic removal using AI. AWS provides cloud computing, AI/ML capabilities, and technical expertise to enhance The Ocean Cleanup's operations and data analysis.
- KiaflagshipAutomotive partnership including collaboration on ocean plastic removal. Kia launched first-ever car accessory made using plastic extracted from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Kia's community-focused social impact initiatives include collaboration with The Ocean Cleanup as part of their regional Latin America strategy.
- ColdplayflagshipMusic partnership where Coldplay created an LP record using plastic intercepted from Guatemala's Rio Las Vacas river. Coldplay refers to their Interceptor 005 as 'Neon Moon 1' and expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration.
- DeloittecoreProfessional services partnership providing in-kind support and funding to help The Ocean Cleanup scale operations and improve organizational efficiency.
- Hyundai GloviscoreLogistics partnership announced in July 2023 for transportation and logistics support of cleanup operations and equipment deployment.
- Maersk Supply ServicecoreMaritime logistics partner providing vessel support for ocean cleanup operations. Extended their support to The Ocean Cleanup including vessels for System 002 operations in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)flagshipFormalized partnership signed at UN Headquarters in New York in February 2023. Collaborative effort to address ocean plastic pollution globally through combined advocacy and technical cooperation.
- GraceKennedy FoundationcoreFunding partner for Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project in Jamaica, implemented in partnership with Clean Harbours Jamaica. The project has prevented nearly 13 million pounds of plastic from entering the harbour over five years.
- Clean Harbours JamaicacoreLocal implementation partner executing the Kingston Harbour Cleanup Project on the ground in Jamaica, with funding from The Ocean Cleanup and GraceKennedy Foundation.
- Bharat Clean Rivers FoundationcoreIndian nonprofit partner working with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to install floating waste barriers and intercept plastic before it reaches the Arabian Sea.
- Malaysia GovernmentcoreExtended cooperation agreement with Malaysia for Interceptor deployments. Interceptor 002 operates in the Klang River, Selangor, Malaysia, and Interceptor 020 deployed in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Ocean Cleanup competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- 4ocean: 4ocean operates a for-profit plastic cleanup business funding ocean and coastal cleanup via a bracelet product. Directly comparable as a plastic-removal organization relying on consumer and corporate support, but uses a different funding mechanism (product sales) and focuses on coastal versus deep-ocean operations.
- Plastic Bank: Plastic Bank operates collection networks in coastal communities that intercept plastic before it reaches the ocean and exchanges it for verified recycled feedstock credits. Highly comparable in mission (preventing ocean-bound plastic) and uses a similar data-verified social enterprise model that bridges cleanup with corporate sustainability spend.
- Seabin Project: Seabin manufactures floating marine debris collection devices deployed in marinas, harbors, and waterways. Comparable as a company building proprietary plastic-collection hardware for marine environments, though operates at smaller scale and focuses on still water rather than riverine flow.
- Clear Rivers: Clear Rivers (formerly Plastic Whale) develops river-cleanup systems and floating barriers to intercept plastic in European waterways. Direct competitor in the river-interceptor product category with similar passive barrier technology.
- River Cleanup: Belgian nonprofit organizing river cleanup events and developing barriers across European rivers. Directly comparable mission focused on riverine plastic pollution with both volunteer mobilization and infrastructure deployment.
Broad incumbents
- Veolia Environmental Services: Veolia operates one of the world's largest environmental services portfolios including water, waste, and energy. While not focused on ocean plastic, it represents the incumbent scale player in environmental remediation that governments and municipalities rely on for waste management contracts.
- Waste Management Inc. North America's largest waste services company, providing collection, recycling, and disposal across municipal and industrial customers. Adjacent incumbent in waste management infrastructure with potential municipal relationships that intersect with Ocean Cleanup's city-government segment.
Emerging players
- Parley for the Oceans: Parley is an ocean advocacy organization and material innovation network converting recovered marine plastic into consumer products (especially through Adidas partnerships). Overlapping mission in marine plastic awareness and recycled-content supply chains, though primarily a brand/network rather than a tech operator.
- Mr. Trash Wheel: A family of solar- and hydro-powered trash interceptors operated in Baltimore's harbor (Inner Harbor, Jones Falls, Gwynns Falls). Comparable autonomous waterway cleanup technology with municipal-government deployment model, but operates only in Maryland waterways.
- CleanHub: CleanHub connects brands to plastic collection in coastal regions through a plastic-offset marketplace. Comparable in funding ocean plastic recovery via corporate sustainability budgets, though focused on collection rather than proprietary technology deployment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Ocean Cleanup social profiles
Digital presenceThe Ocean Cleanup compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
The Ocean Cleanup financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Ocean Cleanup leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Ocean Cleanup subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
The Ocean Cleanup funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Ocean Cleanup M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Ocean Cleanup
What does The Ocean Cleanup do?
The Ocean Cleanup designs, builds, and operates proprietary passive cleanup systems to remove plastic pollution from oceans and rivers. Its river Interceptors use solar-powered floating barriers to intercept plastic before it reaches the ocean, while ocean Systems 002 and 003 concentrate plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch for extraction. The organization supports deployments with the Smart River Survey mapping platform, citizen science mobile app, and the 30 Cities Program scaling initiative, delivered through partnerships with municipal and national governments.
Is The Ocean Cleanup a public or private company?
The Ocean Cleanup is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Ocean Cleanup founded?
The Ocean Cleanup was founded in 2013. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Ocean Cleanup based?
The Ocean Cleanup is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does The Ocean Cleanup make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, government Grants and Agreements, merchandise Sales and employee Matching Programs.
Who are The Ocean Cleanup's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are 4ocean, Plastic Bank, Seabin Project, Clear Rivers and River Cleanup. Broad incumbents are Veolia Environmental Services and Waste Management Inc.. Emerging players are Parley for the Oceans, Mr. Trash Wheel and CleanHub.
Does The Ocean Cleanup have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Ocean Cleanup.
What industry is The Ocean Cleanup in?
The Ocean Cleanup's product category is Marine Environmental Cleanup Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPALAKAM, Emergency Spill Response & Environmental Cleanup (Oil/Chemical Spills), with a secondary code of TLAHAIAH, Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup). Its NAICS code is 562910 and its SIC code is 4953.