Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit laboratory in Long Beach, California, conducting accredited microplastics testing and open-source spectroscopy research. It serves California drinking water utilities, state regulators, academic researchers, and industry partners with FTIR/Raman-based analysis and tools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersLong Beach, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research does
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research (MIPPR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute headquartered in Long Beach, California, founded in 2020 as a spinoff of Algalita Marine Research and Education. The organization operates a state-of-the-art microplastics laboratory and provides accredited scientific research, analysis, and testing services centered on plastic pollution in environmental, consumer, and biological matrices. Its primary commercial function is California-certified microplastic testing in drinking water under the state's SWB-MP1 methods (certified September 1, 2024), where MIPPR is the first nonprofit laboratory accredited to perform regulatory compliance analysis under Field of Accreditation 102 — Inorganic Chemistry of Drinking Water. Customers include California drinking water utilities (driven by California state regulatory mandates), the California State Water Resources Control Board, academic and institutional researchers, and industry partners seeking testing services across drinking water, surface water, wastewater, sediment, soil, dust, food, and biological tissues.
The institute's product and technology stack spans laboratory instrumentation, open-source software, and AI-enabled tools. Core technology is built around FTIR and Raman spectroscopy combined with high-throughput particle identification spanning size classes from 2 μm to greater than 500 μm. Software assets include OpenSpecy, an open-source spectral matching platform distributed as an R package on CRAN with a 40,000+ spectrum library, 2,000+ global users, and 536 academic citations; the Possibility Lab suite of Data Validation Portal, Microplastic Image Explorer, and Microplastic Data Analysis tools; and Trash AI, an open-source computer vision model for trash classification developed in partnership with Code for Sacramento. Research projects include the WaterPact Project (microplastics monitoring workflows for water partners) and No Trace Trails (Pacific Crest Trail trash surveys covering 2,650 miles and 251 waste surveys).
MIPPR's business model is hybrid nonprofit: revenue is generated through (1) fee-based professional microplastic analysis services delivered directly from its Long Beach laboratory via chain-of-custody sample submission, (2) tax-deductible donations at tiers of $25, $50, $75, $100, $1,000, or custom amounts (plus board-member annual contributions of $100), and (3) grants and partner funding such as The Possibility Lab's support for tool development. The organization is led by Executive Director Dr. Win Cowger (Ph.D., UC Riverside) and co-founders Captain Charles Moore (discoverer of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997), Shelly Moore, and Katie Allen, with a leadership team including a Director of Operations, Data Director (Bren School-trained), Lab Manager (UC Berkeley), and a research staff of ~15. Go-to-market is direct sales-led, supplemented by academic publications, conferences, and a multi-channel social presence; distribution is single-country/domestic (United States).
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
- Legal name
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
- Website
- https://mooreplasticresearch.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit laboratory in Long Beach, California, conducting accredited microplastics testing and open-source spectroscopy research. It serves California drinking water utilities, state regulators, academic researchers, and industry partners with FTIR/Raman-based analysis and tools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Testing and Research Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals) (EUANAJAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Emerging Contaminants Testing (PFAS, Microplastics) (AFALAFAI), Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD)
Keywords
Where Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Long Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Microplastic Analysis Services: California-certified microplastic analysis services for drinking water utilities, regulatory agencies, researchers, and industry partners. Testing across environmental, consumer, and biological samples.
- Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accepting tax-deductible donations. Board members required to make annual contributions. Public donations via PayPal and cryptocurrency.
- Grants and Funding: Funding from organizations and agencies to support research activities and tool development.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Research Scientist salary range |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Donation tiers |
| Other | Annual | Board of Directors annual contribution |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research operates an accredited laboratory providing California-certified microplastic analysis services using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy across environmental, consumer, and biological sample matrices. The institute complements its testing services with open-source software tools (OpenSpecy, Data Validation Portal, Microplastic Image Explorer, Microplastic Data Analysis, Trash AI) and research projects such as No Trace Trails and the WaterPact Project to support regulatory compliance, scientific research, and standardized plastic pollution data collection.
Product overview
The Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research operates a portfolio of interconnected scientific products and services centered on microplastic analysis. Core offerings include OpenSpecy (open-source spectral matching software), The Possibility Lab suite (Data Validation Portal, Microplastic Image Explorer, and Microplastic Data Analysis tools), and Trash AI (computer vision for trash classification). The organization provides accredited microplastic testing services using spectroscopy equipment, and conducts research projects including No Trace Trails and WaterPact. All products emphasize high-throughput analysis, open-source accessibility, and data standardization for regulatory compliance and scientific research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MIPPR: Acronym for Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, used as a short-form brand name.
- OpenSpecy
- The Possibility Lab
- No Trace Trails
- Trash AI
- WaterPact Project
Quantifiable outcome
- 536 citations for OpenSpecy spectral analysis tool
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Algalita Marine Research and EducationcoreMIPPR works closely with its sister organization Algalita, which was founded by Captain Charles Moore in 1994 and started the movement to end plastic pollution nearly 25 years ago. Algalita has sparked connections between scientists, policymakers, corporations, young change-makers, and subject matter experts across the globe. MIPPR was launched by Algalita in 2020 to expand research focus beyond ocean plastics to investigate how plastics pollute the entire biosphere.
- Code for SacramentocoreCode for Sacramento developed the Trash AI open-source project imagined by Executive Director Dr. Win Cowger. Anyone can upload photos of trash and the program will classify the trash in the picture. This data can be downloaded and shared by anyone.
- Ocean Protection CouncilminorDr. Win Cowger works with government agencies like the Ocean Protection Council to implement science in practice for plastic pollution solutions.
- Let's Do It WorldminorDr. Win Cowger works with nonprofit groups like Let's Do It World to implement science in practice for plastic pollution assessment.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pace Analytical: U.S. commercial environmental testing laboratory providing regulated drinking water and emerging contaminant analyses, including microplastics. Competes for the same California utility testing customers with broader analytical capabilities.
- 5 Gyres Institute: 501(c)(3) nonprofit conducting research and advocacy on plastic pollution, including microplastic measurement in waterways. Directly comparable mission, governance structure, and target audience of researchers, policymakers, and engaged donors.
- SGS Environmental Services: Global inspection, verification, testing, and certification company with a large environmental laboratory network serving utilities and industry. Comparable accredited water testing offering at much greater geographic and operational scale.
- Algalita Marine Research and Education: Sister nonprofit organization founded by Captain Charles Moore in 1994 that originally focused on plastic pollution research and education, and from which MIPPR was spun off in 2020. Operates the same founder, overlapping mission, and shared governance structure.
- Eurofins Environment Testing: Largest global network of commercial environmental testing laboratories, including accredited drinking water and microplastics analysis. Direct competitor for California utility testing contracts with multi-site capacity MIPPR lacks.
Broad incumbents
- Surfrider Foundation: Established nonprofit focused on coastal water quality, marine debris, and plastic pollution. Operates volunteer-driven beach cleanup and water testing programs comparable in theme and donor base, but with a broader environmental remit.
- Ocean Conservancy: Large marine-focused nonprofit that runs the International Coastal Cleanup and engages in plastic-pollution science and policy. Overlaps thematically on microplastics research and education, but at significantly greater scale and broader ocean focus.
- Bureau Veritas: International testing, inspection, and certification firm with established water and environmental testing services. Relevant as a broad incumbent with potential to enter or expand microplastic testing at scale.
- ALS Environmental: Global testing services provider with environmental and water quality laboratories across North America. Overlaps as a potential large-scale competitor for emerging-contaminant testing mandates.
Emerging players
- Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global nonprofit alliance focused on reducing plastic pollution through advocacy and science, with overlapping audience of researchers and activists. Partial overlap in mission but focused more on advocacy than accredited laboratory services.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research social profiles
Digital presenceMoore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research 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 Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research
What does Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research do?
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research operates an accredited laboratory providing California-certified microplastic analysis services using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy across environmental, consumer, and biological sample matrices. The institute complements its testing services with open-source software tools (OpenSpecy, Data Validation Portal, Microplastic Image Explorer, Microplastic Data Analysis, Trash AI) and research projects such as No Trace Trails and the WaterPact Project to support regulatory compliance, scientific research, and standardized plastic pollution data collection.
Is Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research a public or private company?
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research founded?
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research based?
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research is headquartered in Long Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Microplastic Analysis Services are the primary driver. The others are donations and grants and Funding.
Who are Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pace Analytical, 5 Gyres Institute, SGS Environmental Services, Algalita Marine Research and Education and Eurofins Environment Testing. Broad incumbents are Surfrider Foundation, Ocean Conservancy, Bureau Veritas and ALS Environmental. Plastic Pollution Coalition is listed as an emerging player.
Does Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research.
What industry is Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research in?
Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research's product category is Environmental Testing and Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUANAJAF, Emerging Contaminants Testing & Risk Management (PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals), with a secondary code of EUANAAAG, Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.