5 Gyres Institute

What 5 Gyres Institute does

The 5 Gyres Institute is a nonprofit in Santa Monica, California, that works to reduce plastic pollution through science, education and advocacy. It was founded in 2009 by two researchers who had met the year before on a sailing expedition studying plastic pollution in the North Pacific Gyre, and it takes its name from the world's five subtropical ocean gyres, the large circulating currents where floating plastic collects.

Its research has helped shape public understanding of ocean plastic. Co-founder Marcus Eriksen led a 2014 study in PLOS ONE estimating that at least 5.25 trillion plastic particles, weighing nearly 269,000 tons, are floating in the world's oceans. In 2013, research by 5 Gyres and SUNY Fredonia found high concentrations of plastic microbeads in the Great Lakes; 5 Gyres says the findings inspired a coalition campaign, and the federal Microbead-Free Waters Act was signed into law in 2015. Today the group runs lab research, community trash audits through its TrashBlitz program, and a volunteer ambassador network it reports at 1,952 people in 95 countries.

In 2025 the organization reported recording 78,631 pieces of trash through TrashBlitz and supporting 14 bills. It holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and has had special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council since 2017.

Key facts

• Co-founder Marcus Eriksen led a 2014 PLOS ONE study estimating at least 5.25 trillion plastic particles, weighing 268,940 tons, afloat in the world's oceans
• 2013 research with SUNY Fredonia found high concentrations of plastic microbeads in the Great Lakes, which 5 Gyres says inspired the campaign that led to the Microbead-Free Waters Act (signed 2015)
• Ambassador network of 1,952 people in 95 countries (5 Gyres Ambassadors page)
• In 2025: 78,631 items recorded through TrashBlitz community audits, 2,050 lab hours, and 14 bills supported (5 Gyres homepage)

Before you give

• Accepts stock, donor-advised fund grants, cryptocurrency, IRA qualified charitable distributions, planned gifts and checks, via its giving portal (5gyres.mygiftlegacy.org, linked from the donate page).