Our Mission 🎯
Tackling Plastic Pollution Worldwide
For over eight years, Plastic Odyssey has built a global network of low-tech recycling initiatives and waste reduction strategies to prevent plastic from reaching the ocean. The Fund’s mission expands this work by scaling proven solutions and engaging U.S. philanthropic and public sectors in global conservation efforts. By rallying resources in the United States, Plastic Odyssey Fund accelerates transformative action against the plastic crisis where it matters most — protecting marine biodiversity, and paving the way for a plastic-free future.
Scaling UNESCO Marine Restoration Missions
At the heart of the Fund’s mission are the UNESCO Marine Restoration Missions, also known as “Impossible Cleanups.” These expeditions target the 50 most vulnerable and remote UNESCO World Heritage marine sites — ecosystems that act as natural plastic traps and accumulate waste at concentrations far higher than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By combining expert extraction techniques, mobile recycling units, and scientific research, these missions make large-scale cleanup possible and cost-effective, with plastic removal at just a fraction of traditional open-ocean cleanup costs.
Empowering Communities & Driving Innovation
Plastic Odyssey Fund goes beyond cleanup by partnering with local and indigenous communities to develop sustainable recycling models and educational programs. Through Lighthouse chapters across the U.S., the Fund fosters grassroots engagement, spreads awareness about plastic pollution, and supports long-term behavioral change. These local hubs fuel a grassroots alliance of volunteers, educators, scientists, and advocates committed to ocean health and circular economy solutions.
The Fund invites individuals, philanthropic leaders, businesses, and institutions to join a global coalition for ocean protection. By contributing, volunteering, or partnering with the Fund, supporters help scale groundbreaking missions, protect marine biodiversity, and pave the way for a plastic-free future. Your involvement makes it possible to act where others cannot and safeguard irreplaceable ecosystems for generations to come.
About Plastic Odyssey Fund
Plastic Odyssey Fund is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to combating ocean plastic pollution and restoring marine biodiversity through bold, high-impact expeditions and community-driven solutions. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the Fund mobilizes American donors, foundations, corporations, governments, and ocean advocates to support large-scale cleanups, education efforts, and innovation that protect the world’s most threatened coastal ecosystems.
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Plastic Odyssey Fund is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (EIN: 99-4899981). Contributions are tax-deductible for U.S. donors and support programs in the U.S. and abroad through affiliated Plastic Odyssey entities, in accordance with U.S. nonprofit law.