Plastic Ocean Project
Plastic Ocean Project is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines µ-FTIR microplastics research, community cleanups, business certification, and documentary storytelling to combat plastic pollution across oceans, freshwater systems, and communities worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersWilmington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Plastic Ocean Project does
Plastic Ocean Project (POP), Inc. is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina, founded in 2012 by Bonnie Monteleone after she sailed approximately 10,000 nautical miles through four of the five major oceanic gyres. The organization identifies science-based solutions to plastic pollution through three integrated pillars: scientific research, community-based action, and creative outreach. POP serves a diverse stakeholder base including individual donors, volunteers, sustainable businesses, schools and community organizations, university and research institution partners (notably the University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC State, Duke Law & Policy Clinic, and the Marine Biological Laboratory's Oceanic Flux Program), and global youth ambassadors operating in Kenya, Haiti, Bangladesh, Zanzibar, and Liberia.
The organization's core technical capability is an independent research laboratory equipped with micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (µ-FTIR/FTIR-ATR) for microplastic particle identification in water, sediment, and organism tissue, supplemented by a solar simulator for plastic degradation research funded by the Landfall Foundation. POP's programmatic portfolio includes Trees4Trash (tree planting tied to cleanup tonnage, with 69,775 pounds of trash removed to date), Ocean Friendly Establishments (359 sustainable businesses certified), Lines4Life (~3,600 miles of monofilament fishing line recovered), the +Nature Paradigm initiative (natural capital valuation in partnership with Blue Green Future), and award-winning documentary productions including the short film '356' (20+ film festival acceptances) and the full-length 'If the Ocean Could Talk' (2024).
POP's revenue mechanics are characteristic of a small nonprofit: tax-deductible donations and annual memberships processed through Givebutter.com, corporate sponsorships, fee-for-service educational programming ($50/lecture, $100/hour activity programs, $0.725/mile for distances over 25 miles), and signature fundraising events (the annual For the Ocean Gala and Trash'n Fash'n Show). POP also pursues competitive grants from sources including NC Sea Grant/NOAA and the NSF-funded MBL Oceanic Flux Program. The organization's go-to-market is community-led and grassroots: it mobilizes volunteer cleanups, student POP Clubs, and Global Ambassadors to extend reach without proportionally scaling paid staff, which remains at 1–10 employees.
Plastic Ocean Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastic Ocean Project
- Legal name
- Plastic Ocean Project, Inc.
- Website
- https://plasticoceanproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Plastic Ocean Project is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines µ-FTIR microplastics research, community cleanups, business certification, and documentary storytelling to combat plastic pollution across oceans, freshwater systems, and communities worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastic Ocean Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management (BPADALAI), Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)
Keywords
Where Plastic Ocean Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plastic Ocean Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Memberships: The organization accepts tax-deductible donations and annual memberships that directly support initiatives and research facility operations. Donations fund cleanup activities, tree planting, and organizational operations.
- Sponsorships: Corporate and organizational sponsors support POP's fight against plastic pollution in exchange for unique benefits. Sponsorship options available for events and ongoing programs.
- Educational Outreach Services: Fee-for-service educational programming including presentations, lectures, and activity-based programs delivered at schools, organizations, and community events. Pricing: Information tabling free; Presentation/Lecture $50/up to an hour; Activity-Based Programs $100/hour plus $0.725/mile for distances over 25 miles.
- Event Fundraising: Revenue generated from signature events including the annual For the Ocean Gala and Trash'n Fash'n Show, with proceeds supporting POP's environmental initiatives.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Information Tabling - 1 Staff |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Presentation/Lecture - $50 per session (up to 1 hour, 1-2 Staff) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Activity-Based Programs - $100 per hour (2-3 Staff) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Plastic Ocean Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastic Ocean Project is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines scientific microplastic research using µ-FTIR spectroscopy with educational outreach, community cleanup programs, and business sustainability certifications. It delivers services including laboratory-based microplastic sample analysis, school and community educational presentations, the Ocean Friendly Establishments business certification program, and grassroots initiatives such as Trees4Trash, Lines4Life, and Operation 356 to combat plastic pollution.
Product overview
Plastic Ocean Project is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected environmental programs focused on combating plastic pollution through science-based solutions. The organization operates core programs including Scientific Research (using micro-FTIR technology to analyze microplastics in water, sediment, and organisms), Community Outreach (educational presentations and tabling), and several initiative programs. Key programs include: Trees4Trash (cleanup-for-tree-planting initiative), Ocean Friendly Establishments (business certification), Lines4Life (monofilament recycling), and +Nature Paradigm (nature-positive economy valuation). The organization also produces documentary films including 'If the Ocean Could Talk' and 'Operation 356', and hosts signature events like the Trash'n Fash'n Show and For the Ocean Gala. Additional programs include Global Ambassadors (youth leadership network), POP Clubs (campus-based groups), and Research Internships (hands-on laboratory training). The organization has removed 69,775 pounds of trash, certified 359 sustainable businesses, planted trees through Trees4Trash, and educated 188 students through its programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- +Nature Paradigm: A youth-led initiative advancing nature-based solutions to sustain life on earth by valuing ecosystems as living assets for market-based conservation, working with Blue Green Future.
- Operation 356
- If The Ocean Could Talk
- Ocean Friendly Establishments (OFE)
- Trees4Trash
- Lines4Life
Products and services
- Scientific Research Services Independent laboratory services using µ-FTIR (Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and FTIR-ATR for microplastic identification, particle enumeration, and composition analysis in water, sediment, and organism samples. Offered to universities, nonprofits, businesses, and research collaborators.
- Ocean Friendly Establishments (OFE) Certification Community-based certification program for restaurants and businesses that voluntarily reduce single-use plastics and adopt sustainable practices. Includes 1-5 star certification tiers and access to a Wilmington Compost Company partnership for compostable products and curbside composting pickup.
- Educational Outreach Programming Fee-for-service environmental education delivered to schools, churches, youth organizations, and community groups. Includes free information tabling, presentations/lectures ($50 per session), and hands-on activity programs ($100/hour) such as Plastic-to-Art, repurposed jewelry making, and sustainable DIY workshops.
- Trees4Trash Program Trademarked community cleanup initiative that removes trash from the environment and plants one native hardwood tree for every 25 pounds of trash collected.
- Lines4Life Program Community-led monofilament fishing line recycling program that places recycling receptacles at fishing locations to prevent marine wildlife entanglement. Has recovered approximately 3,600 miles of discarded fishing line as of 2021.
- Research Internships 40-120 hour internship program offering hands-on laboratory experience testing water and sediment samples for microplastics using micro-FTIR spectroscopy. Open to high school and college students year-round.
Quantifiable outcome
- 69775 pounds of trash removed from the environment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastic Ocean Project
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Plastic Ocean Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Plastic Ocean Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Oceanic Flux ProgramcoreJoint investigation of particles in the Sargasso Sea. The Oceanic Flux Program (OFP) has been funded by the National Science Foundation since 1978, studying sinking particles in the deep Sargasso Sea.
- Ocean Plastics Recovery ProjectcorePartnership founded by Andy Schroeder to remove marine debris from Katmai National Park in Alaska and conduct ocean surface sampling. POP provides research expertise and sample analysis capabilities.
- Blue Green FuturecoreCollaboration on +Nature Paradigm initiative to bring natural capital into marketplace. Blue Green Future provides ecosystem feasibility and methodology practices for natural asset valuation. POP funds the critical first steps to get natural assets valued.
- UNC WilmingtoncorePartnership to offer Marine Debris course (EVS 495/582) since Fall 2016. POP provides laboratory facilities at UNCW where students conduct semester-long research projects and participate in offshore excursions.
- Algalita Marine Research and EducationcorePartnership with Captain Charles Moore's organization for sample analysis. POP sorts North Pacific Gyre samples to separate plankton, natural debris, and plastics, then measures plastic-to-plankton ratios using FTIR-ATR.
- Waterkeepers CarolinacorePartnership on freshwater and sediment microplastic sampling across 15 North Carolina watersheds. Project includes analysis of Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap placement funded by NC Department of Justice Environmental Enhancement Grant.
- NC Marine Mammal Stranding NetworkcoreCollaboration to investigate microplastic ingestion in stranded bottlenose dolphins. POP processes digestive tracts at UNCW's Oriole Burevitch Lab and analyzes particles using FTIR-ATR.
- NC State UniversitycorePartnership on Neuse River microplastic study. Sound Rivers and UNC Wilmington also involved. Study examines microplastic distribution and identifies best sampling methods for NC waterways.
- Wilmington Compost CompanyminorClose partnership providing curbside residential and commercial composting pickup and compostable product quotes through ECO products for OFE establishments in Wilmington/Cape Fear Region.
- Duke Law and Policy ClinicminorPartnership to analyze plastics in freshwater and sediment samples from North Carolina watersheds, guiding Bandalong Bandalong Litter Trap placement.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Plastic Ocean Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Surfrider Foundation: Large established coastal/ocean nonprofit with beach cleanups, plastic reduction campaigns, and chapter network; overlaps broadly with POP's cleanup, Ocean Friendly Establishments, and policy missions but operates at materially larger scale and budget.
- Ocean Conservancy: One of the largest US ocean conservation nonprofits (International Coastal Cleanup, Trash Free Seas), addressing plastic pollution through similar science, advocacy, and cleanup channels but with substantially more resources and policy reach.
Direct peers
- 5 Gyres: Research- and advocacy-driven nonprofit focused on plastic pollution in the world's five major gyres; similar combination of citizen-science research, education, and policy advocacy makes 5 Gyres a tightly overlapping peer.
- Algalita Marine Research and Education: Long-standing marine plastic research and education nonprofit founded by Captain Charles Moore; POP is an active sample-analysis partner (plastic-to-plankton ratios in North Pacific Gyre), making Algalita the closest functional peer in mission, science, and education focus.
- Rozalia Project: Small US nonprofit focused on marine debris cleanup and citizen-science expeditions; comparable size, science-meets-action model, and youth-led volunteer base make Rozalia a close sizing and model peer.
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global coalition of organizations and individuals working to end plastic pollution through education, advocacy, and corporate engagement; high overlap with POP's awareness, outreach, and business-certification playbooks.
Emerging players
- Lonely Whale Foundation: Smaller ocean-focused nonprofit that uses celebrity partnerships (e.g., the 'Stop Sucking' straw campaign) to drive plastic-reduction behavior change; comparable scale and creative-content-led approach to engaging consumers and businesses.
- Plastic Bank: Social enterprise addressing plastic pollution by exchanging collected plastic for income in coastal communities; partial overlap with POP's community/cleanup mission and represents an alternative commercial model for the same problem space.
Others
- NOAA Marine Debris Program: Federal program that funds research, cleanup, and education on marine debris; comparable scientific and outreach outputs and a frequent co-funder (e.g., NC Sea Grant partnership with POP), but operating in a public-sector capacity rather than competing for the same donor dollars.
- Sea Education Association: Educational and research nonprofit running ocean-going voyages and publishing plastic-pollution research; shares POP's research-vessel and STEM-student engagement approach but is anchored in academic rather than NGO programming.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Plastic Ocean Project social profiles
Digital presencePlastic Ocean Project compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Plastic Ocean Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastic Ocean Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Plastic Ocean Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastic Ocean Project 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 Plastic Ocean Project
What does Plastic Ocean Project do?
Plastic Ocean Project is a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit that combines scientific microplastic research using µ-FTIR spectroscopy with educational outreach, community cleanup programs, and business sustainability certifications. It delivers services including laboratory-based microplastic sample analysis, school and community educational presentations, the Ocean Friendly Establishments business certification program, and grassroots initiatives such as Trees4Trash, Lines4Life, and Operation 356 to combat plastic pollution.
Is Plastic Ocean Project a public or private company?
Plastic Ocean Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Plastic Ocean Project founded?
Plastic Ocean Project was founded in 2012. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Plastic Ocean Project based?
Plastic Ocean Project is headquartered in Wilmington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Plastic Ocean Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Memberships are the primary driver. The others are sponsorships, educational Outreach Services and event Fundraising.
Who are Plastic Ocean Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Surfrider Foundation and Ocean Conservancy. Direct peers are 5 Gyres, Algalita Marine Research and Education, Rozalia Project and Plastic Pollution Coalition. Emerging players are Lonely Whale Foundation and Plastic Bank. Others are NOAA Marine Debris Program and Sea Education Association.
Does Plastic Ocean Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastic Ocean Project.
What industry is Plastic Ocean Project in?
Plastic Ocean Project's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAGAE, Marine & Freshwater Conservation, with a secondary code of BPADALAI, Oceans, Coastal & Marine Resource Management. Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 8731.