What Waste Free Oceans does

Waste Free Oceans (WFO) is a Brussels-headquartered non-governmental organization that intercepts marine plastic by mobilizing fishermen equipped with proprietary yellow trawl systems to collect floating ocean debris during routine fishing operations, complemented by river barrier systems installed at river mouths to prevent waste from reaching the sea. Founded operationally in 2011 and formally incorporated under Belgian law in 2017 (per website copyright), WFO coordinates a four-stage closed-loop value chain — fishermen collect, recyclers sort and clean, converters produce resin, and brand owners launch products — spanning 20+ countries across 5 continents.

WFO funds operations through four streams: individual donations priced at €10 one-time, €15 monthly, or €55 quarterly; corporate partnerships with brands such as Baume et Mercier (luxury watches), Okky Eyewear, Eco-Eyewear, and Euro Optics (eyewear) that produce goods from WFO-sourced plastic and donate a percentage of sales; EU research grants including the €4.98M Horizon Europe SURPASS project on Safe and Sustainable by Design polymeric materials (June 2022–November 2025); and direct e-commerce merchandise sales of eyewear, face shields, frisbees, apparel, recycled-furniture items, and the educational children's book 'Plastian the Little Fish' priced from €9.99 to €1,999. Notable consumer products include eyewear at €19.95, technical backpacks at €58.50, and decorative Sidepig tables and picnic sets at €199–€1,999.

The organization operates with a 7-person team and a community-led, event-driven go-to-market model anchored on beach and river clean-ups, conference participation (Plastic Waste Free World Fair, World Cleanup Day), webinars (Africa Roadshow), and corporate co-marketing. Strategic partners span UNEP (flagship), WWF Hong Kong, Dow (Lagos cleanup), Roatan Marine Park (Honduras), ICENECDEV (Cameroon), The Recyclers (Tanzania), Coalición Río (Dominican Republic), and the Plastics Converters European trade association.

Name

Waste Free Oceans

Legal name

Waste Free Oceans

Website

https://wastefreeoceans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waste Free Oceans is a Brussels-based non-profit that mobilizes fishermen, recyclers, and brands across 20+ countries to collect ocean plastic via proprietary trawl systems and transform it into traceable consumer products, funded by donations, EU grants, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Control & Environmental Remediation (Booming, Skimming, Shoreline Cleanup) (TLAHAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Coastal Remediation (Shoreline/Port Spill Cleanup) (IMAIAGAI), Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines) (BPAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Marine plastic collection
• Ocean cleanup operations
• Plastic recycling services
• Circular economy solutions
• Ocean plastic merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Merchandise Sales: Sale of ocean plastic products including sunglasses, reading glasses, frisbees, sweatshirts, backpacks, face shields, waste bags, and children's books through their e-commerce storefront
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with brand owners and manufacturers who develop products from collected ocean plastic, creating mutual commercial and environmental value
3. Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting ocean conservation mission, with options for monthly, quarterly, and annual giving
4. EU Research Grants: European Commission Horizon Europe funding for research projects like SURPASS, which focuses on Safe and Sustainable by Design polymeric materials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Waste Free Oceans (WFO) is a non-profit organization that collects floating ocean debris and river-bound plastic waste using proprietary trawl technology attached to fishing boats and river barrier systems. The organization mobilizes fishermen, plastics recyclers, converters, and brand owners to transform collected ocean plastic into new consumer products. WFO also operates a merchandise shop selling ocean-plastic-derived goods and accepts donations to fund cleanup activities.

Product overview

Waste Free Oceans (WFO) operates as a non-profit ocean cleanup and plastic recycling organization rather than a traditional product company. Its offerings include a consumer merchandise shop featuring ocean-plastic-derived products such as eyewear (reading glasses and sunglasses), protective equipment (face shields, ear savers), recreational items (frisbees, picnic sets), apparel (sweatshirts, backpacks), home goods (Sidepig side tables), and educational materials (children's book 'Plastian the Little Fish'). The organization also facilitates donations through one-time and subscription plans. WFO connects fishermen, plastics recyclers, converters, and brand owners to collect, clean, and transform ocean plastic into new resins for manufacturing. The organization operates across 20+ countries and 5 continents, conducting beach clean-ups, river cleanup projects, and awareness campaigns. WFO also participates in EU-funded research initiatives like the SURPASS project on sustainable polymers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Plastic Reading Glasses Fashionable eyewear made from ocean-bound plastics, produced by Euro Optics in partnership with Waste Free Oceans; for each pair sold, Euro Optics donates a percentage to WFO.
• Ocean Plastic Sunglasses Fashionable eyewear made from ocean-bound plastics, fully transparent and traceable, produced by Euro Optics in partnership with Waste Free Oceans.
• Ocean Savers Protective ear-saver equipment designed in partnership with FullCycle and PLASTIX, made from maritime-based recycled polypropylene carbonate (rPPC) sourced from obsolete fishing gear.
• Oceanic Face Shields Face shields designed in partnership with FullCycle and PLASTIX, made from 100% maritime-based rPPC; light, adjustable, and modular for transportation, sterilization, and recycling.
• Ocean Frisbee Frisbee made from 100% rPP recyclate sourced from obsolete maritime ropes and gear, designed for beach use.
• WFO Sweatshirt Recycled polyester sweatshirt designed by Pielleitalia and manufactured from PET bottles; each sweatshirt recycles approximately 19.6 half-liter PET bottles and saves 2.42kg CO2.
• Tech Backpack Recycled polyester backpack designed by Pielleitalia; each bag recycles approximately 42.63 1.5L PET bottles and saves 2.64kg CO2.
• Waste Bags WFO logo waste bags produced from 100% recycled PE plastics waste, with more than 50% from post-consumer household waste; sold in boxes of 30 rolls with 12 bags per roll.
• Sidepig Seagreen Decorative side table made from 100% recycled fishing gear retrieved from the ocean; abstract iconic pig design, lightweight and scratch-resistant, suitable for indoor and outdoor use (Werkwaardig, 2016).
• Sidepig Oceanblack Decorative side table made from 100% recycled fishing gear retrieved from the ocean; abstract iconic pig design, lightweight and scratch-resistant, suitable for indoor and outdoor use (Werkwaardig, 2016).
• Picnic Set Picnic set made from 100% recycled fishing gear retrieved from the ocean; long-lasting, easy to clean, suitable for outdoor and indoor use.
• Children's Book 'Plastian the Little Fish' Children's book by Nicole Intemann designed to educate children aged 5-10 about the impacts of waste in oceans and ways to reduce floating debris.
• WFO Donation Program Donation program supporting Waste Free Oceans' ocean plastic collection mission, with options for one-time (€10), monthly (€15/month), and quarterly (€55/3 months) contributions, plus bank transfer for larger donations.
• WFO Ocean Cleanup & Partnership Service Organized beach clean-ups, river clean-ups, and trawl-based ocean debris collection coordinated with fishermen, recyclers, converters, and brand owners; offered to corporate partners, NGOs, and government bodies across 20+ countries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94 kg of waste captured in single month from Feza River, Tanzania (February 2025)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• CEA-LitenflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission coordinating the SURPASS Horizon Europe project on Safe and Sustainable by Design polymeric materials. Project runs from June 2022 to November 2025 with €4.98M budget.
• Okky EyewearcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEyewear partner that produces fashionable eyewear made from ocean-bound plastics in partnership with WFO, fully traceable with circular process
• Papier MettlercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPackaging manufacturer partner supporting WFO's mission to reduce ocean plastic and promote sustainable packaging solutions
• Baume et MerciercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury watch brand producing Baume Ocean watches with proceeds supporting WFO's ocean cleanup initiatives
• Green DotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer responsibility organization partner supporting circular economy and recycling initiatives
• Plastics Converters (EuPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean trade association for plastic converters, collaborating on circular economy solutions and industry events
• UNEPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Environment Programme partnership for global marine litter awareness and environmental protection
• Schoeller AllibertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPackaging solutions company specializing in sustainable and recycled plastic containers and pallets
• Plastix GlobalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for recycling maritime-based fishing gear and converting it into raw materials for new products
• Ocean HerocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner collecting ocean plastic and transforming it into new products, supporting WFO's circular economy mission
• Roatan Marine ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation organization in Honduras collaborating on beach clean-ups and marine protection initiatives
• African Marine Waste Network (AMWN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork under Sustainable Seas Trust (SST) bringing together African stakeholders to discuss waste management and marine protection
• ICENECDEVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCameroonian NGO partnership for beach clean-up initiatives in coastal communities in Douala and Limbe
• The Recyclers (Tanzania)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner in Tanzania collaborating on river clean-up efforts and pollution prevention in Dar-Es-Salaam
• SVR (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench partner collaborating on beach clean-up initiatives in Biarritz and Hossegor
• Coalición RíocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition in Dominican Republic aimed at restoring Ozama and Isabela rivers and promoting sustainable development
• WWF Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on initiatives to clean up Hong Kong Bay and provide alternatives to conventional packaging within the fishing sector
• Eco-EyewearcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable eyewear brand producing ECO sunglasses from ocean plastic with percentage of sales donated to WFO
• Euro OpticscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEyewear manufacturer producing ocean plastic sunglasses and reading glasses with donations to WFO for each product sold

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 4ocean: For-profit ocean cleanup company that funds operations through direct-to-consumer bracelet and merchandise sales and employs cleanup crews in multiple countries. Highly comparable donation/merchandise revenue model and active cleanup operations, though more consumer-product-led than WFO.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Non-profit foundation deploying large-scale passive cleanup systems in rivers and oceans to remove plastic waste. Most direct peer to WFO; both pursue ocean/river plastic interception with proprietary technology, engage corporate brand partners, and operate global cleanup programs.
• Parley for the Oceans: Ocean conservation organization partnering with major brands (Adidas, etc.) on recycled ocean plastic product lines and marine ecosystem protection. Closely comparable in the brand-partnership + recycled-ocean-plastic-product model that WFO pursues.
• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic in coastal communities and exchanges it for income, then recycles it into Social Plastic feedstock for brands. Comparable to WFO in building a coastal collection-to-brand closed loop with corporate partners.

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Large established U.S.-based ocean conservation NGO running the International Coastal Cleanup and significant policy advocacy. Wider mission than WFO but overlapping on marine debris policy, beach cleanup mobilization, and corporate/funder engagement.
• Surfrider Foundation: Non-profit grassroots organization focused on beach cleanups, plastic pollution reduction, and ocean protection across multiple countries. Comparable to WFO in volunteer-driven beach cleanup mobilization and policy advocacy for marine litter.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global alliance of organizations, businesses, and individuals working to end plastic pollution through advocacy, education, and corporate engagement. Operates in adjacent awareness/policy space overlapping with WFO's EU policy and corporate partnership work.

Emerging players

• Eco-Eyewear: Sustainable eyewear brand producing ECO sunglasses from ocean plastic with a percentage of sales donated to WFO. Direct channel partner demonstrating WFO's brand-collaboration model and the consumer product category that funds the mission.
• FullCycle Materials: Clean-tech company developing chemical recycling processes to convert end-of-life plastics back to virgin-grade materials. Emerging player in the plastics circular economy that aligns with WFO's mission to transform ocean plastic into reusable feedstock.
• PLASTIX Global: Technology partner of WFO specializing in recycling maritime-based fishing gear and converting it into raw materials. Adjacent recycler/converter in the same ocean-plastic circular economy that WFO orchestrates, providing downstream processing capacity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wastefreeoceans
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WasteFreeO
• Facebookfacebook.com/wastefreeoceans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waste-free-oceans
• Instagraminstagram.com/wastefreeoceans

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Waste Free Oceans