The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup

Nonprofit & Social Impact

  • Media Coverage & PR
  • Thought Leadership

Third Hemisphere is running The Ocean Cleanup's Australian market entry: a three-month funnel campaign building national awareness and Boyan Slat's profile ahead of a fundraising gala at the Sydney Opera House. The campaign concludes in October 2026, and verified results will be published then.

The Challenge

The Ocean Cleanup is the global nonprofit founded in 2013 by Boyan Slat to rid the oceans of plastic. It runs operations in over 10 countries, has deployed 24 Interceptor systems across 11 countries, and has removed over 60 million kilograms of trash from oceans and rivers. In mid-2026 it arrived in Australia with no local profile and an ambitious brief: introduce the organisation to the Australian public and media, build Boyan Slat's profile with tier-one outlets, and support fundraising toward the USD 350 million 30 Cities Program, culminating in a fundraising gala at the Sydney Opera House on 1 October 2026.

Our Strategy

Third Hemisphere designed a three-month funnel campaign: mass-awareness stories first in metropolitan mastheads, narrowing to the CEO and high-net-worth audiences who would be in the room at the Opera House.

The Execution

The agency developed three tier-one story concepts, including a data exclusive from the organisation's Global River Model on the 2050 tipping point and Boyan Slat's first Australian interview, alongside a full delivery programme of media releases, trade coverage, GEO Articles, and a photoshoot.

  • 3 months campaign period
  • USD 350 million fundraising target supported
  • Sydney Opera House gala venue