I am a committed citizen
With Retrace!, conduct your own field investigation to better understand water pollution and help drive regulatory change.
Start by participating in a cleanup near you to learn the basics of waste collection and quantification.
Want to take it a step further? Organize your own cleanup along a river or on a beach: Surfrider will provide you with everything you need—equipment, practical guides, and technical support.
RETRACE!
Much more than just beach cleanup
The cleanups organized as part of Retrace! go far beyond a simple beach cleanup! They represent a genuine grassroots movement to combat pollution caused by marine debris and give everyone the chance to take that first crucial step toward protecting the ocean.
By joining or organizing a cleanup with Retrace!, you’re not just picking up trash—you ’re becoming an agent of change. Every piece of trash collected and recorded helps expand our scientific understanding of water pollution. This valuable data allows us to directly engage policymakers and industry leaders.
Taking part in a waste cleanup with Retrace! means gaining firsthand insight into the real-world impacts of waste-related pollution. It also means raising awareness among those around you and creating a positive ripple effect in your community.
Whether you’re a one-time volunteer or a long-time supporter, Surfrider Foundation Europe is here to help you organize your cleanups on your own. We provide you with a range of practical tools and an educational approach to maximize the impact of your efforts.
The more we mobilize, the louder our voice will be heard. The more on-the-ground data we have, the more we can influence regulations and transform production methods at the source.
What should I do?
I'm participating
Want to take your first step toward combating water pollution, or support an ocean lover who has already organized a cleanup?
Joining a cleanup with Retrace! requires no prior experience: just pick a cleanup near you and sign up.
Once you've registered, you'll have access to a dedicated chat room where you can communicate with the organizer and other participants, and receive all the latest practical information.
Feel free to invite your friends and family: the more of us there are, the greater our impact will be!
I'm organizing a fundraiser
Want to take it to the next level?
Organizing your own cleanup requires a greater commitment, but it’s also the most effective way to engage your community and amplify your impact on ocean conservation.
To help you organize your fundraiser on your own, we provide you with all the tools you need: fundraising materials, comprehensive online training, practical guides, and communication and outreach resources.
We’ll be there to support you every step of the way to ensure your event is a success.
Any questions? Check out our FAQ, which answers the most common questions.
How does it work?
Taking part in a fundraiser—
—is already a way to help the ocean!
Find the collection...
… that suits you and sign up in just a few clicks.
In your personal account, you can view all the fundraisers you’re participating in and chat with the organizer and other participants.
Spread the word
Fundraisers are also a great opportunity to meet people who share your passion for the ocean—or simply to spend time doing something meaningful with your friends or family, and maximize your impact!
D-Day
Off to the meeting spot: a glove, a bag, and off we go!
See it through to the end
… by helping to count the trash after it’s been collected. Not only will you gain a better understanding of the extent of water pollution, but you’ll also help Surfrider collect valuable data to continue its fight against water pollution. Every piece of trash counted makes a difference!
Ready to organize your fundraiser?
Follow the guide!
Create an account
Signing up is quick and easy, and we only ask for the bare essentials. It lets you join a community of dedicated volunteers and gives you access to everything you need to get involved: tracking your collections, chat rooms, exclusive resources, and challenges.
Record your collection...
… in just a few clicks: select the location, enter the number of participants, and specify where you’d like to receive your kit —be sure to order well in advance, as shipping may take a while!
Once you've created your fundraiser
Get as many people as possible involved: share the event on social media, tell your friends and family…
The more people there are, the more we’ll collect!
A few days before the collection
Log in to your personal account to access the resources available to you: informational sheets, explanatory videos, and more. Everything you need to make your fundraiser a real success is right here.
Don’t forget to send a message to registered participants via chat to give them a little extra motivation!
Finally, don't forget the key step: quantification!
Once you've finished collecting data, enter it directly into your account to update our database.
Every piece of waste you count provides valuable information that helps us better understand and combat pollution.
The Organizer's Kit
The items listed right here are the essentials for a successful fundraiser!
And the good news is that as soon as your fundraiser is registered,
the kit is shipped as quickly as possible* so it’ll be ready on the big day.
An educational banner
It will help you raise awareness by providing key data on marine debris, as well as examples of simple steps you can take to rethink your use of plastic bottles.
plastic bags
jute bags
Jute bags, which are more durable than plastic bags and can be reused, can also come in handy. We suggest using them to separate certain types of waste (glass, metal, and others). Be sure to collect these bags at the end of the collection, rinse them out, and let them dry so you can reuse them.
The nets
The nets allow the organizers of Initiatives Océanes to collect trash from the ocean floor.
If you are collecting samples underwater, please send an email to retrace@surfrider.eu to request that the nets be included in the kit.
Gloves
We are sending you protective gloves for waste collection. Before wrapping up your beach, lake, river, or seabed cleanup, please remember to collect them so you can reuse them.
The Organizer's Guide
The “Organizer’s Guide” will help you prepare to oversee your waste collection. It contains all the information you need to successfully carry out your collection on a beach, a lake, along a riverbank, or on the seabed, and to learn more about aquatic waste.
To complement this kit, a wide range of practical and educational resources
are also available in the personal account area:
, including posters, an “organizer’s guide”
, and training videos to help you prepare for the collection!