Save Our Seas Initiative Fact Sheet

FACT SHEET - USAID launched the Save Our Seas Initiative in 2022 as our flagship global initiative to combat the growing threat of ocean plastic pollution.

Woman standing in front of large mounds of gathered trash holding up a plastic bottle.

The Problem

Every minute a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters the world’s oceans—amounting to 11 million metric tons per year. This deluge of plastic from rapidly growing cities and towns is threatening the world’s delicate marine ecosystems, global industries such as fishing and tourism, food security, and ultimately human health.

The Solution

With the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the U.S. Congress directed USAID to implement programs to prevent ocean plastic pollution. The Save Our Seas Initiative, launched in 2022, helps local governments reduce waste and improve their waste management and recycling systems. As the world comes together to develop a global agreement on plastics, USAID will help countries raise their ambition and implement their commitments to solve this global problem.

USAID has multiple programs that drive towards the goals of the Save Our Seas Initiative:

Clean Cities, Blue Ocean:
Global program to fight ocean plastic pollution by enhancing circularity

The CIRCLE Alliance:
Public-private partnership with Unilever and EY to reduce plastic use and tackle plastic waste

USAID country-specific programs:
Maintain long-term relationships with governments who are central partners in solving this global problem