Beach cleanup
A corporate beach cleanup is an organized environmental volunteering activity in which company employees collect, sort, and weigh solid waste on a beach, with the dual objective of restoring the coastal ecosystem and generating impact data for CSR/ESG reports.
At Go Zero Waste, we organize these cleanups on beaches in Barcelona and along the Catalan coast , managing permits , materials , and the subsequent analysis of the collected waste.
It is estimated that up to 12 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year. This is like dumping a garbage truck full of plastic into the ocean every minute. If nothing is done, this figure could double by 2030.
Hi!
We are Magda and Martí
We founded Go Zero Waste to promote waste reduction on the planet.
We believe that waste reduction should be based on prevention and reuse, but also on cleaning up the natural environments we are polluting.
That’s why we organize beach cleanups to help restore ecosystems and do our bit.
What is a beach cleanup?
From waste to awareness
Beach cleanups are an awareness-raising tool and a catalyst for change.
Corporate Cohesion and Purpose
Get employees out of their office environment to work together for a tangible cause.
Corporate Social Responsibility
You can integrate this action into your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports or your ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) metrics.
Why is beach cleaning important?
Protection of marine life and the ecosystem
By cleaning, you prevent animals from ingesting or becoming entangled in this waste (fishing nets, bags, bottles).
Strengthening team spirit
Beach cleaning is a volunteer activity that requires physical collaboration and planning outside of the usual work environment.
Restoration of the environment
To leave the smallest possible footprint on the planet, actively repairing environmental damage
What are our goals?
SDG 11 | Cities and
sustainable communities
Reduce the negative environmental impact per capita
Paying special attention to air quality and municipal waste management.
SDG 12 | Production and
responsible consumption
Achieving sustainable management
Significantly reduce waste generation
SDG 13 | Climate Action
Take action to combat climate change
Improve education and awareness
How does beach cleaning work?
Deciding when and where
Beach and date selection
Obtaining permits
We take care of obtaining all the necessary permits.
Call for proposals and coordination
We can create an online registration form and also a communication plan
Cleaning execution
With our materials: tweezers, bags and reusable gloves
Analysis and awareness
We analyze the waste collected and give advice on how to reduce it.
Proposed challenges to continue making an impact
We propose actions that can be completed over 30 days and earn prizes
Impact of our beach cleanups
+35
Organized beach cleanups
+1200
People who have participated in our beach cleanups
+25.000
Waste collected
Where do we conduct our beach cleanups?
On Barcelona beaches
- To obtain permits quickly, we are part of XEAL (Network of entities for awareness actions and waste collection on the Barcelona Coast).
- We have carried out beach cleanups for companies such as Extia, Privalia and Beazley with great impact and above all with a lot of fun.
On beaches like Masnou and Blanes
- As part of waste reduction campaigns that we carry out for local councils, we have performed cleanings in Masnou and Blanes .
On beaches like Salou
- Also within the Move for Zero campaign that we did for the Salou town hall.
Materials included in beach cleaning
Tweezers with claws
They prevent back pain and are safer since the participant does not directly touch the residue.
Reusable bag
We use raffia bags that can be washed and reused after each cleaning.
Reusable glove
Made from recovered umbrellas, which are also made by people at risk of social exclusion.
Industrial scale
It allows us to weigh each fraction of waste right on the beach
Containers for each type of waste
We bring different superchargers to properly sort each type of waste.
Tent with drinks
We installed a water and shade point to recover our strength
Why do beach cleanups?
Preserving the health of the oceans and marine biodiversity
Direct action to remove waste (especially plastics, which take hundreds of years to degrade) saves marine life.
Preventing microplastic pollution
By collecting large pieces of plastic and debris before they degrade from the sun and waves, the formation of microplastics is stopped.
Improve the safety and public health of the coasts
Clean beaches are safer. They eliminate hazardous objects such as broken glass, syringes, and rusty metal, which pose a direct risk of injury to swimmers, children, and pets.
Promote community environmental awareness
A beach cleanup is an educational and tangible experience . By participating, people are directly confronted with the amount and type of trash generated, which encourages a change in personal habits towards more responsible and less wasteful consumption.
Promote sustainable tourism and the local economy
Well-maintained beaches are the main attraction for coastal tourism. Keeping them clean ensures the economic health of local communities that depend on visitors and reinforces the area’s image as an environmentally responsible destination.
Promoting personal well-being and connection with nature
Participating in an outdoor volunteer activity is beneficial for mental and physical health
FAQS
It’s a structured environmental volunteering event where your employees work together to clean and sort waste from a coastline. The key benefits for your company are:
Team building: Strengthens cohesion and team spirit outside the office.
CSR/ESG: Provides tangible action to meet your corporate social responsibility goals and ESG reporting.
No. Collecting litter is only one part. Our main goal is raising awareness and gathering data . We sort the litter found to generate an impact report that the company can use to analyze how its internal processes or employee habits contribute to the problem, driving sustainable, long-term change.
Yes. We adapt the activity to the group. We define areas with different levels of difficulty and offer roles that don’t require intense physical effort, such as waste sorting or data recording . Safety and inclusion are our priority.
We take care of all the logistics, which includes:
Permits: Management with local authorities (city council and maritime captaincy).
Materials: Supply of reusable gloves, sorting bags and safety tools.
Safety: Insurance policy for volunteers and first aid equipment on site.
Collection: Coordination of the collection and final disposal of waste with the local manager.
The session typically lasts between 1 and 2 hours , including the initial briefing and closing. After the cleanup, we hold a results workshop ( debriefing ) where the most important findings are presented, the waste data is analyzed, and a space is created to discuss corporate sustainability ideas.
We will mainly need three things:
Exact number of participants (for logistics, materials and insurance).
Preferred dates and times .
Company logo (if desired to include in informational materials or impact report).
Let’s talk
We are ready to organize a beach cleanup that suits your company’s needs.