Saving the Ocean

Every year, over 75 million tons of plastic packaging enters our oceans. This not only kills marine life, such as whales, fish, and sea turtles, which mistake the plastic for food, but also releases microplastics that have severe consequences for all living organisms within that ecosystem, including humans. Depending on the project supported, offsetting activities can include beach cleaning efforts, river plastic capture, and other measures aimed at reducing plastic waste earlier in the supply chain.



Primary Partner(s):

Plastics For Change
Plastics for Change is a company that focuses on creating fair trade supply chains for recycling plastic waste. They aim to reduce pollution and poverty by connecting waste collectors to global brands, thereby creating dignified livelihoods and an inclusive circular economy. The company is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, and was founded in 2015 with a crowdfunding campaign to create the first fair trade verified recycled plastic. Since then, it has achieved significant milestones, including winning MIT’s Inclusive Innovation Challenge in 2018 and launching its fair trade verified recycled plastic with The Body Shop in 2019. Their efforts are dedicated to changing the social and environmental impacts of plastic.


Seven Clean Seas
Seven Clean Seas is an environmental organization based in Singapore and operates across Southeast Asia, focusing on removing plastic waste from the ocean. Since its inception in July 2020, they have been dedicated to combating plastic pollution and have made substantial progress by removing over 2 million kilograms of plastic waste from the ocean. The company also prioritizes fair employment, offering stable jobs and equitable wages to those involved in cleanup operations. With a mission to remove 10 million kilograms of plastic by 2025, Seven Clean Seas employs a multifaceted approach, including education, waste reduction, and improving waste management to address the root causes and effects of plastic pollution.

Coral reefs are an important ecosystems supporting a ton of marine life and acting as nurseries and shelters for countless species. They also protect coastline and serve as a natural barrier from erosion and storms.

In recent years, coral reefs have faced major destruction due to human contact from pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and climate change. Rising sea temperatures and chemicals can cause coral bleaching leading to massive destruction. This can be prevented by planting, monitoring, and protecting new coral reef fragments in order to rebuild this important ecosystem and protect marine life.

Primary Partner(s): 

Sea Trees
SeaTrees is a program by the nonprofit Sustainable Surf, which embarks on coastal restoration projects worldwide with the goal of reversing climate change. Launched with the belief that the ocean plays a heroic role in enhancing biodiversity, supporting local communities, and combating climate change. SeaTrees engages in planting, protecting, and restoring blue carbon ecosystems. These include mangroves, kelp forests, seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal watersheds. The projects are developed with local partners and are rooted in community involvement, ensuring that they also provide significant social benefits. SeaTrees operates under the principles of transparency, aligning its efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and is committed to producing a range of environmental and societal benefits through its activities.

Kelp is an important aspect of marine ecology. A large and fast growing type of seaweed, kelp provides shelter for many marine creatures. It also has an incredible ability to fight climate change. In ideal conditions, kelp can grow up to 18 inches per day making it a great tool for capturing carbon.

Primary Partner(s): 

Ocean Wise
Ocean Wise is a global ocean conservation organization, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, dedicated to protecting and restoring the world's oceans. With its origins linked to the Vancouver Aquarium, Ocean Wise has grown to address critical issues like overfishing, ocean pollution, and climate change. Their strategy includes research, education, and direct-action conservation, empowering communities to engage in ocean health efforts. Key initiatives focus on areas like ocean pollution and plastics, where they tackle plastic pollution, underwater noise, and chemical pollution through various programs, including the Ocean Wise Shoreline Cleanup and the Plastic Reduction Program. Ocean Wise also works to protect marine species through sustainable seafood practices and whale research, employing their WhaleReport Alert System to help ships avoid collisions with whales.

For over five decades, Ocean Wise has been a leader in ocean conservation, with a 2030 strategy focused on building resilience, reducing CO2 levels, and adapting to climate change. They are dedicated to creating a sustainable future by harnessing the ocean's vital role in climate regulation and preserving biodiversity.