Ready to join the fight against plastic pollution? You're in the right place. Let's dive into how your donations can make a real splash in combating this global issue.

You'll meet 18 fantastic organizations that are leading the charge in reducing plastic waste. Spoiler alert: They're doing some seriously cool stuff!

Why Should You Care About Plastic Pollution?

Plastic pollution is like that party guest who overstays their welcome—for hundreds of years. It's everywhere: in our oceans, rivers, food, and even our bodies.

The world is already overwhelmed with the amount of plastic waste we pump out and we're still on track to produce even more. Here are a few statistics that may blow your mind:

Every minute, a truckload of plastic is dumped into the ocean, and currently, 8 million pieces of plastic enter our oceans daily. It is estimated that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the ocean by mass.

Even more disturbing, 99% of seabirds will be eating plastic by 2050, and the average person already consumes 70,000 microplastics each year.

But guess what? You can be part of the solution by supporting organizations that are turning the tide on plastic waste.

How We Selected the Organizations Fighting Plastic Pollution

While the list below is probably one of the biggest you can find online today, there are so many more great organizations that make our world a better place. Please let us know if you think we are missing a charity in our list, and we are happy to consider adding them.

Please also note that the list is not ranked in any way. A donation to any of the below organizations will do a great deal fighting plastic pollution.

Here are a few criteria we considered for compiling the list to help you make an informed decision about your donation:

• recognized organizations that are approved by the US and/or the Canadian government as charities.
  
• positive sentiment on Ggive.org, the Charity Navigator, or Guidestar.
• do significant work in North America. 
  
• at least 100k in yearly donations revenue.
• at least active on national, regional or global level (it is always a great idea to also check out local organizations in your vicinity).

18 Stellar Organizations Fighting Plastic Pollution

1. Plastic Pollution Coalition

• About: This global alliance of individuals, organizations, and businesses is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution and its toxic impacts on humans, animals, and the environment.
• Impact: Advocacy for a world free of plastic pollution.
• Projects: Public education and policy change.
• How to Donate: Support their mission at Plastic Pollution Coalition.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about advocating for systemic change and reducing plastic use globally.
  

2. 5 Gyres

• About: 5 Gyres is a leader in the global movement against plastic pollution, focusing on scientific research, education, and action to reduce plastic waste in our oceans.
• Impact: Conducting groundbreaking research on plastic pollution.
• Projects: Microplastic research expeditions and education initiatives.
• How to Donate: Support their work at 5 Gyres.
• Donation Impact: Donations fund critical research expeditions and educational programs aimed at reducing plastic pollution in oceans.

3, Surfrider Foundation

• About: Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit environmental organization that works to protect and enjoy the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches through a powerful activist network.
• Impact: Protecting the world’s oceans and beaches.
• Projects: Beach cleanups and environmental campaigns.
• How to Donate: Head to Surfrider Foundation to contribute.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you love beach activities and want to help keep coastlines clean and safe.
  

4. Break Free From Plastic

• About: This movement brings together over 2,000 organizations worldwide with a common vision of a future free from plastic pollution. They focus on prevention and systemic change.
• Impact: Driving systemic solutions to plastic pollution.
• Projects: Global brand audits and zero-waste initiatives.
• How to Donate: Visit Break Free From Plastic.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you believe in tackling plastic pollution at its source and advocating for global policy changes.
  

5. 4ocean

• About: A purpose-driven business with a mission to end the ocean plastic crisis, 4ocean employs professional cleanup crews to recover plastic from the ocean and coastlines.
• Impact: Removing plastic waste directly from the ocean.
• Projects: Global cleanup operations funded through bracelet sales.
• How to Donate: Check out 4ocean.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you want to see immediate results in removing plastic waste from oceans and support a business-driven approach.

6. The Ocean Cleanup

• About: Founded in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup is on a mission to rid the world's oceans of plastic. They develop advanced technologies to intercept plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean.
• Impact: Removing tons of plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
• Projects: Large-scale cleanup systems and river interceptors.
• How to Donate: Visit The Ocean Cleanup and help make our oceans cleaner
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about ocean conservation and want to support innovative cleanup technologies.
  

7. Algalita Marine Research and Education

• About: Algalita Marine Research and Education's mission to work toward a world where plastic pollution is unthinkable. For 30 years, Algalita has been a leading organization in this realm and the first ever whose mission was centered on researching this ever-growing issue in the 90's. Today, Algalita empowers educators and students across the world with free educational resources to help combat the plastic pollution crisis through their online platform, Wayfinder Society for Environmental Education.
  
• Impact: Empowering educators and youth to be a part of the solution to reduce plastic waste.
  
• Projects: Free classroom resources including lessons, classroom toolkits, mini-grants, and more via Wayfinder Society.
• How to Donate: Support at Algalita.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about educating young minds and supporting scientific research on plastic pollution.
  

8. Plastic Bank

• About: Plastic Bank provides an opportunity for the world’s most impoverished people to collect plastic waste as currency to exchange for essentials, helping to stop ocean plastic while improving lives.
• Impact: Turning plastic waste into a currency.
• Projects: Building recycling ecosystems in developing countries.
• How to Donate: Donate through Plastic Bank.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you want to support social impact projects that combine environmental and economic benefits.
  

9. Ocean Conservancy

• About: Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges, creating science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it.
• Impact: Leading international coastal cleanups.
• Projects: Trash Free Seas® Alliance and scientific research.
• How to Donate: Support their efforts at Ocean Conservancy.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about large-scale coastal cleanups and scientific approaches to ocean health.
  

10. Greenpeace

• About: Known for its direct actions, Greenpeace campaigns for a greener, healthier planet and strives to catalyze an energy revolution to address the number one threat facing our planet: climate change.
• Impact: Campaigning for a plastic-free future.
• Projects: Policy advocacy and public awareness campaigns.
• How to Donate: Help out at Greenpeace

• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're driven by bold, direct actions and global advocacy for environmental change.

11. Mission Blue

• About: Led by legendary oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Mission Blue inspires action to explore and protect the ocean. They aim to increase global support for marine protected areas.
• Impact: Protecting marine biodiversity hotspots.
• Projects: Building a network of Hope Spots and promoting action to increase ocean protection. 
  
• How to Donate: Contribute through Mission Blue.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're inspired by marine conservation and want to support the creation of marine protected areas.
  

12. WWF (World Wildlife Fund)

• About: WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries to tackle the pressing issues of deforestation, habitat loss, and plastic pollution.
• Impact: Reducing plastic pollution globally.
• Projects: Marine protection and plastic footprint reduction.
• How to Donate: Visit WWF to support their work.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about wildlife conservation and global environmental issues.
  

13. PADI AWARE

• About: PADI AWARE connects the passion for ocean adventure with the purpose of marine conservation. They empower divers to be citizen scientists and active conservationists.
• Impact: Mobilizing divers to clean up underwater environments.
• Projects: Dive Against Debris® and policy change.
• How to Donate: Support at PADI AWARE.
• Donation Impact: Funds mobilize divers worldwide to participate in underwater cleanups and advocate for marine conservation.

14. Parley for the Oceans

• About: Parley is a space where creators, thinkers, and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.
• Impact: Innovating for a plastic-free future.
• Projects: Ocean plastic interception and upcycling.
• How to Donate: Donate at Parley.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're a diving enthusiast and want to contribute to marine conservation through citizen science.
  

15. Earthwatch Institute

• About: Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment.
• Impact: Engaging citizens in scientific research.
• Projects: Studies on plastic's impact on marine life.
• How to Donate: Support via Earthwatch.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you're passionate about funding scientific research and education programs that explore the impacts of plastic on marine life.

16. Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

• About: Sea Shepherd fights to defend, conserve, and protect our oceans and marine wildlife using direct action tactics to confront illegal activities on the high seas.
• Impact: Direct action campaigns to protect marine life.
• Projects: Ghost net retrieval and ocean patrols.
• How to Donate: Help at Sea Shepherd.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you want to directly confront illegal activities threatening marine wildlife and habitats.

17. Oceana

• About: Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization focused solely on ocean conservation, aiming to restore and protect the world’s oceans through targeted policy campaigns.
• Impact: Achieving policy victories to reduce plastic pollution.
• Projects: Campaigns to reduce single-use plastics and protect marine habitats.
• How to Donate: Donate at Oceana.
• When Should I Donate: Donate if you want to support campaigns aimed at reducing single-use plastics and protecting marine environments through policy changes.

18. Beyond Plastics

• About: Beyond Plastics is a project that brings together students, community leaders, and policy makers to end plastic pollution through education, advocacy, and legislation.
• Impact: Influencing policies to reduce plastic use and waste.
• Projects: Educational campaigns and legislative advocacy.
• How to Donate: Support their efforts at Beyond Plastics.
• Donation Impact: Donate if you believe in community education, influencing policy, and advocating for the reduction of plastic use.

What Else Can You Do to Battle Plastic Pollution?

If you are reading this article, you are already doing more than many. Awareness is the first step to make a change and reduce plastic pollution on our planet.

Here are a few other easy things you can do outside of donations to make a real impact:

• Reduce Single-Use Plastics: Opt for reusable alternatives like water bottles, coffee mugs, bags, and straws.
• Choose Sustainable Products: Buy products from sustainable suppliers that use biodegradable and natural materials.. Good places to start phasing out plastic are are health and beauty and home products.
• Recycle Properly: Educate yourself about recycling and your local recycling guidelines to ensure plastics are correctly sorted and processed.
• Participate in Cleanups: Join local or global cleanup events to remove plastic waste from natural environments. Searching for ways to get engaged on Facebook groups, meetup, or on your municipal homepage can be quick ways to get engaged.
  
• Support Legislation: Advocate for policies that reduce plastic production and improve waste management. On a local, state, or national level you can vote for candidates tackling the issue of plastic pollution.
  
• Educate Others: Spread awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution and ways to mitigate it.
  

Ready to Make a Difference?

Donating to any of these amazing organizations is like giving a high-five to Mother Nature. Every dollar counts in the fight against plastic pollution. 

So, grab your superhero cape (or reusable shopping bag) and start supporting the incredible work they're doing to protect our planet!

Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution!

 

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