The 5 Gyres Institute

POLICY ADVOCACYAt local, state, national, and international levels, 5 Gyres leverages scientific expertise and coalition-building skills to influence meaningful policy change.In 2024, we helped advance the Fighting Fibers Act, which would require microfiber filters on new washing machines sold in the U.S., and the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, holding plastic producers accountable for pellet pollution.In California, we co-sponsored and advanced several bills, including:- Reusable Cups (SB 1167): Mandating reusable cups in dine-in chain restaurants.- Mitigating Microplastics (AB 2214): Creating a state-level interagency group to address microplastic pollution.While not all bills passed into law this session, our work built crucial awareness, bipartisan momentum, and strengthened relationships with decision-makers - laying the foundation for success in 2025.We also maintained a strong presence at California Ocean Day and Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) to advocate for ocean health and plastic pollution solutions.

TRASHBLITZ AND PLASTIC FREE PARKSThrough our community science program and TrashBlitz mobile app, we continue to empower communities to document waste trends and advocate for change.In 2024, the Plastic-Free Parks TrashBlitz expanded to 58 parks - nearly double the reach of 2023 - collecting over 12,500 data points. This data underscores the persistent prevalence of plastics in our national parks (nearly 80% of waste recorded) and strengthens our advocacy for park-focused policies, like the Reducing Waste in National Parks Act.We also supported regional solutions through the TrashBlitz Community Fund, which enabled Clean Miami Beach to conduct 28 cleanups at 17 sites, collecting and analyzing over 20,000 pieces of trash.In 2025, TrashBlitz will continue to scale its reach, deepen partnerships, and provide actionable, science-backed insights for policy and community solutions.

AMBASSADOR NETWORKOur global Ambassador Network remains central to 5 Gyres' community engagement. In 2024, the program underwent a strategic refresh with new branding, improved digital engagement tools, and expanded opportunities for Ambassadors to participate in campaigns, events, and advocacy.In 2025, our Ambassadors will play an even larger role in advancing 5 Gyres' mission, mobilizing grassroots action, supporting policy priorities, and amplifying our reach in key communities around the world.