What is the #EUBeachCleanup?
Every year, the European Union, in partnership with the United Nations and the Smurfs, organises an ocean-activism and awareness-raising campaign – #EUBeachCleanup – featuring beach, river banks and various clean-up events across the world.
In 2023, 45,700 participants took part in 555 events, in 44 countries across all inhabited continents. This year, let’s make it even bigger!
Clean-ups play a crucial role in advancing multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing environmental degradation, promoting sustainable consumption and production, protecting biodiversity, improving public health, and fostering community engagement and collaboration.
The campaign key to raise awareness about marine pollution, and how our habits impact our ocean. It is estimated that up to 37 million tonnes of plastic waste will reach the ocean annually by 2040.
When does it take place?
World Cleanup Day 2024 will be on Friday 20 September – but any events organised between 10 June and 31 October counts!
While most events take place on the beach, we also encourage people living far away from the sea to organise clean-ups.
Joining the wave
Interested in joining the campaign?
That’s easy!
Either join an event near you (see list of events below – updated throughout the year) – or put up your own event!
To organise your event