5 Gyres Institute

What 5 Gyres Institute does

5 Gyres Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 by Anna Cummins and Marcus Eriksen, headquartered in Santa Monica, California, and operating with 1-10 staff. Its mission is to end plastic pollution through three integrated pillars: science, advocacy, and community action. The organization has conducted 19 research expeditions covering 50,000 nautical miles across all five subtropical ocean gyres and numerous inland waterways, producing the world's first Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution in 2014 and an updated 2023 estimate documenting more than 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the oceans. Its work contributed to the federal Microbead-Free Waters Act and continues to inform active microplastics and microfiber legislation.

The organization's product surface spans a community science mobile platform, educational content, an industry convening series, and advocacy campaigns. TrashBlitz is a mobile app and community science program that enables volunteers to log plastic pollution data in U.S. national parks and federal lands; Trash Academy is a bilingual (English/Spanish) virtual educational video series; Plastic-Free Parks is a national initiative conducting TrashBlitz events in national parks; Microplastic-Free US is a federal policy campaign; WOVEN is a multi-region symposium series (Los Angeles, Manchester, and beyond) bringing apparel brands, scientists, and innovators together to address microfiber pollution; and the Ambassador Network provides funding and resources to hundreds of community leaders. Supporting technical assets include microplastic and microfiber sampling protocols, the TrashBlitz data collection application, and a growing body of peer-reviewed publications including PLOS ONE.

5 Gyres' business model is donation- and partnership-driven rather than commercial. Revenue comes from individual contributions, the Cause Partner program (corporate partnerships with purpose-driven brands such as Lululemon, Patagonia, Liquid Death, and Grove Collaborative), grants, and membership affiliations including 1% for the Planet. The organization holds UN Economic and Social Council special consultative status (since 2017), GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency (2026), and 1% for the Planet Environmental Partner status (2026). It serves three primary constituencies: government and policy stakeholders seeking science-based inputs to plastic regulation, the fashion and textile industry seeking microfiber solutions, and individual activists and community members contributing through the Ambassador Network and TrashBlitz. Leonardo Viana was appointed Executive Director in May 2026, succeeding the founders.

Name

5 Gyres Institute

Legal name

5 Gyres Institute

Website

https://5gyres.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

5 Gyres Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combats plastic pollution through scientific research, community science platforms, and advocacy, serving policymakers, the textile industry, and grassroots environmental activists across multiple geographies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy and Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics) (BPADALAJ), Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO), Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI)

Keywords

• Plastic pollution research
• Community science platform
• Microfiber solutions
• Ocean conservation advocacy
• Environmental nonprofit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Monica

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies primarily on public donations and contributions from individuals passionate about plastic pollution reduction.
2. Cause Partner Program: Partnerships with conscious companies seeking meaningful environmental partnerships, providing funding and collaborative opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

5 Gyres Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers action against plastic pollution through scientific research, community science tools, advocacy campaigns, and educational programs. Its primary offerings include the TrashBlitz community science mobile app and platform for logging plastic pollution data, the Plastic-Free Parks national initiative, the Microplastic-Free US policy campaign, the WOVEN symposium series for microfiber solutions, the Trash Academy educational series, and an Ambassador Network supporting hundreds of volunteer advocates.

Product overview

The 5 Gyres Institute operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs, platforms, and initiatives focused on ending plastic pollution. Their core offerings include TrashBlitz (a mobile app and community science platform for collecting plastic pollution data), the Plastic-Free Parks initiative, the WOVEN symposium series for microfiber solutions, and Trash Academy educational content. These products work together to advance the organization's mission through science-based research, community engagement, advocacy, and industry collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WOVEN: A symposium series bringing together industry leaders, scientists, brands, and innovators to develop a collective roadmap for reducing microfiber pollution from textiles.
• TrashBlitz
• Microplastic-Free US
• Plastic-Free Parks
• Trash Academy / La Academia de Basura
• Do Less For The Planet

Products and services

• TrashBlitz Community Science Platform A mobile app and community science platform that empowers volunteers to collect and log data on plastic pollution found in national parks and federal lands, supporting research and advocacy efforts.
• Plastic-Free Parks Initiative A national initiative conducting TrashBlitz events in U.S. national parks to identify commonly found plastic items, brands, and materials to inform solutions at federal, local, and individual levels.
• Microplastic-Free US Campaign A campaign to drive policy action on microplastics at the federal level, working with organizations and businesses to advocate for government intervention.
• Trash Academy Educational Series A virtual educational series integrating education, advocacy, and community science into a multi-phase platform available in English and Spanish, featuring video content about plastic pollution.
• WOVEN Symposium Series A symposium series bringing together industry leaders, scientists, brands, and innovators across the textile sector to develop a collective roadmap for reducing microfiber pollution from textiles.
• Ambassador Network
• Science and Research Programs
• Global Estimate of Marine Plastic Pollution Published research providing updated estimates of ocean plastic pollution, revealing over 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in the world's oceans, with analysis of trends from 1979 to 2019.
• Microfiber Resources and Playbook
• Microfiber Expedition San Francisco Bay Research expedition conducted in San Francisco Bay in partnership with Materevolve and other collaborators to study microfiber pollution in a major urban waterway.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global estimate: More than 170 trillion plastic particles afloat in world's oceans
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HATCHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024HATCH hosted the WOVEN North America symposium with 5 Gyres in Los Angeles, California in June 2024, bringing together industry leaders for cross-sector networking and microfiber pollution solutions.
• Manchester UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for WOVEN United Kingdom symposium series, contributing research expertise on textile construction and shedding rates.
• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in WOVEN symposium series, providing research expertise on microfiber pollution and textile solutions.
• University of TorontocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in WOVEN symposium series contributing research on microfiber effects and filtration technology.
• Otis College of Art and DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner contributing creative talent to WOVEN symposium, including student illustrations for event materials.
• MaterevolvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable textiles consultancy with deep expertise in textile science and ocean conservation. Partnered with 5 Gyres for San Francisco Bay microfiber expedition and Ocean Connector Sail.
• Ocean WisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOcean conservation organization and research partner on microfiber study, including research on dryer filter effectiveness showing 80% capture of airborne microfibers.
• Bren School of Environmental Science and ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner contributing to microfiber solutions research alongside industry and NGO collaborators.
• Dalhousie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic research partner contributing expertise to microfiber solutions research and symposium.
• 1% for the PlanetcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental membership organization that connects consumers and businesses to high-impact nonprofits. 5 Gyres is a verified environmental partner receiving member donations.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Plastic Pollution Coalition: A global advocacy alliance focused specifically on ending plastic pollution. Direct peer: shares mission scope, nonprofit advocacy model, and engagement with both corporate partners and policy makers on plastic source reduction.
• Oceana: The largest international advocacy organization focused exclusively on ocean conservation. Direct peer: shares science-to-policy advocacy model, federal legislative engagement, and global ocean-pollution research portfolio.
• Surfrider Foundation: Beach and ocean-focused environmental nonprofit with a strong volunteer chapter network and policy advocacy arm. Direct peer: similar community-driven advocacy, plastic-pollution focus, and grassroots beach cleanup data collection.
• Ocean Conservancy: A leading US-based ocean conservation nonprofit running the International Coastal Cleanup. Direct peer: comparable ocean-pollution mission, federal policy advocacy, and community-science mobilization model.
• Algalita Marine Research Foundation: Long-running marine plastic research foundation co-founded by Marcus Eriksen before 5 Gyres. Direct peer on plastic-pollution research mission; strong overlap in scientific framing and founder network.

Emerging players

• EarthEcho International: Youth-focused ocean conservation nonprofit founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr. Peer on ocean-pollution education and youth engagement; smaller scale and more STEM-education-oriented than 5 Gyres.
• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that stops ocean plastic by building collection networks in coastal communities. Peer on plastic-pollution mission; differs as a market-driven rather than advocacy-driven nonprofit.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Technology-driven nonprofit deploying ocean-plastic collection systems. Direct peer on plastic-pollution mission but differentiated by engineering/government-partnership delivery rather than community-science and advocacy — making it a complementary rather than overlapping peer.

Broad incumbents

• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Large US environmental advocacy organization with significant plastic-pollution policy work. Broad incumbent: overlaps on federal advocacy for plastic regulation but operates across many environmental issues at much greater scale.
• Greenpeace: Global environmental advocacy organization with active plastic-pollution and oceans campaigns. Broad incumbent: shares advocacy and policy-influence model but covers a much wider environmental agenda.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/5gyres
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/The5GyresInstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/5gyres
• Facebookfacebook.com/5gyres
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5gyres

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 5 Gyres Institute