ABOUT 5 GYRES
Our Story
Marcus Eriksen and Anna Cummins founded the 5 Gyres Institute to investigate key unanswered questions about plastic pollution:
How much plastic is floating in the world’s oceans? Where is it accumulating? Is it causing harm to people and the planet? And most importantly, what can we do about it?
We explored 50,000 nautical miles in search of plastic on 19 research expeditions, publishing groundbreaking research, building a global network of ambassadors, and inspiring change along the way.
GYRE
/ˈjī(ə)r/
A large-scale system of wind-driven surface currents in the ocean. The gyres referred to in the name of our organization are the five main subtropical gyres — located in the North and South Pacific, the North and South Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean — which are massive, circular current systems where plastic accumulates.
Our Mission
LEVERAGING THE POWER OF SCIENCE, ADVOCACY, AND COMMUNITY TO DRIVE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PLASTIC POLLUTION
Plastic can be found in every corner of the globe. Plastics contaminate the environment, entangle countless marine and land animals, and are inextricably linked to the climate crisis, as plastics production is driving massive increases in fossil fuel infrastructure. Plastics even accumulate in our bodies, risking our very health. Unfortunately, even with the number of alarming studies and reports over the past few years on this issue, there continues to be an increase in plastic production. With direct links between the plastic crisis and the climate crisis, addressing plastic pollution globally must be a major environmental priority. 5 Gyres continues to lead with scientific research to drive upstream solutions through education, advocacy, and community building.
WE’RE LEADERS IN THE PLASTIC POLLUTION MOVEMENT.
5 Gyres provides scientific expertise to companies and organizations as we work together for a planet free from plastic pollution.
