The Ocean Cleanup: Scaling a global mission with a digital backbone to help rid the oceans of plastic
Turning data into action for ocean recovery
As The Ocean Cleanup moved from startup to scale-up, it recognized the need for a system that could grow with its ambition. With SAP Cloud ERP applications and SAP Concur solutions, the nonprofit organization unified finance and operational data, improved visibility across global operations, and freed resources to focus on what matters most: cleaning the rivers and oceans.
| Industry | Region | Company Size | Partner |
| Professional services (nonprofit) | Rotterdam, The Netherlands | 200 employees | Scheer Nederland B.V. |
source of truth, enabling better decision-making.
transparent data, improving accuracy and reporting.
Senior Partnership Manager, The Ocean Cleanup
Managing global operations while removing data fragmentation
Every piece of plastic removed from the ocean represents something bigger: healthier ecosystems and a step closer to a future where The Ocean Cleanup is no longer needed. Its ambition is bold: to remove 90% of floating plastic and, ultimately, put itself out of business by 2040.
Achieving that vision requires more than breakthrough technology. As the organization scaled from undertaking individual river projects to tackling entire cities, operational complexity grew rapidly. Activities expanded across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and beyond. Each new location brought more stakeholders, currencies, and regulatory requirements into play.
Behind the scenes, finance, procurement, and project teams were working across disconnected systems and spreadsheets. Critical data was difficult to access in one place, making it challenging to track spending, select vendors, and report progress to partners and donors. Teams did not always have the latest information, and leadership lacked a fully unified view when making decisions.
For an organization operating globally and holding itself to the standards of a multinational enterprise, these inefficiencies were more than operational challenges. They risked slowing progress toward a time-sensitive environmental mission where clarity, coordination, and trust are essential.
Senior Partnership Manager, The Ocean Cleanup
Using a modern cloud ERP foundation to support global scale
The Ocean Cleanup selected SAP solutions to underpin a connected, enterprise-ready foundation capable of supporting operations across countries, teams, and stakeholders.
With SAP Cloud ERP applications, The Ocean Cleanup created a single, integrated base for finance and procurement. A fit-to-standard approach reduced complexity and IT effort, allowing teams to focus on delivering impact rather than maintaining systems. What began as a need for structure quickly proved to be a catalyst for better collaboration and consistency across functions.
Assumptions about enterprise software being difficult to use faded as teams began working with the applications. With training, support, and a shared approach to adoption, employees aligned around a common way of working and a shared set of data.
SAP Concur solutions further simplified how globally distributed teams manage travel and expenses. Employees can capture receipts in real time, manage multiple currencies, and complete reporting quickly, reducing the administrative burden of operating across regions. Smooth integration with SAP Cloud ERP enabled the company to automate its financial postings, removing manual data entry and accelerating financial close processes.
Implementation partner Scheer Nederland worked with The Ocean Cleanup to help build a scalable platform that connects finance, procurement, and operational processes. The partnership also supported user adoption through training, communication, and change management, helping teams embrace a unified way of working as the organization expands its global impact.
Senior Partnership Manager, The Ocean Cleanup
Improving decisions and freeing resources for mission impact
Together, SAP solutions now provide a scalable digital backbone for The Ocean Cleanup. With one trusted system in place, teams across the organization can work with greater confidence and coordination as it expands globally. Finance, procurement, and project data is unified, giving teams access to reliable, up-to-date information wherever they operate.
This transparency helps leadership make better decisions based on accurate and consistent data. It also improves reporting to donors and partners, reinforcing trust by providing a clearer view of how resources are used and what impact they create.
At the same time, day-to-day work has become more efficient. Teams no longer need to reconcile data across systems or search for missing information. Processes run more smoothly across countries and functions, supporting the organization’s continued growth.
For employees working in the field, SAP Concur solutions reduce the effort required to manage travel expenses. Instead of spending time on manual reporting after returning from trips, teams can complete tasks in real time, allowing them to stay focused on collaboration, implementation, and stakeholder engagement.
By reducing manual work and improving data visibility, The Ocean Cleanup has removed operational friction. The result is a more agile organization, where more time and energy can be directed toward accelerating progress and delivering on its mission.
Senior Partnership Manager, The Ocean Cleanup
Expanding capabilities to accelerate global impact
With a strong foundation in place, The Ocean Cleanup is exploring how to further scale its operations using advanced capabilities within SAP solutions. Plans include automating additional financial processes through AI using Joule Assistants, such as the Accounts Payable Assistant, Accounts Receivable Assistant, and Invoicing Assistant.
As the organization works toward tackling 30 cities by 2030, these next steps will help ensure that every resource is used as effectively as possible. For the Dutch organization, operational excellence is not separate from its mission; it is what makes progress at global scale possible.
By combining data, technology, and a clear sense of purpose, The Ocean Cleanup continues to show how a mission-driven nonprofit organization can operate with the discipline of a global enterprise. With SAP solutions, it is building the capability needed to turn ambition into lasting environmental impact.
Want to know more about The Ocean Cleanup?
The Ocean Cleanup Takes Next Step in Digital Transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition (SAP News Center)
The Digital Ocean: In Conversation with the Biggest Cleanup Project in Human History (SAP News Center)
Featured partner
Scheer Nederland enables companies to adopt industry best practices and continuous innovation using cloud solutions from SAP. In working with The Ocean Cleanup to build the digital foundation needed to support the next phase of growth, Scheer used a fit-to-standard approach. This helped the organization deploy SAP Cloud ERP efficiently while reducing customization and complexity.