The Ocean Cleanup Digital Transformation

Freeing up time and resources so we can focus on intercepting plastic

The Ocean Cleanup runs SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition

The Ocean Cleanup is a Dutch non-profit organization developing and scaling technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic. Its mission combines two closely connected strategies: intercepting plastic in rivers before it reaches the ocean and extracting legacy plastic that has already accumulated in the world’s oceans

Since its foundation in 2013, The Ocean Cleanup has evolved from a bold engineering idea into a global scale-up organization. With operations across oceans, rivers, cities, logistics hubs and partnerships, the organization needs reliable processes, transparent reporting and real-time insight to keep scaling its environmental impact.

The Ocean Cleanup selected SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition as the foundation for a more integrated, scalable and data-driven organization. Together with Scheer IDS, the organization is replacing fragmented tools and its legacy NetSuite environment with one cloud-based ERP platform that supports finance, procurement, project management, assets, inventory and logistics across continents.

The Ocean Cleanup facts

2013: The Ocean Cleanup was founded by Boyan Slat.

2018: Ocean operations started.

2019: River operations started with the Interceptor™ program.

2025: The 30 Cities Program was introduced.

Current projects: 23+ projects across 11 countries.

Trash removed: 50+ million kilograms.

Employees: 200+.

Mission: eliminate 90% of floating ocean plastic by 2040

More info about The Ocean Cleanup organization

The Ocean Cleanup digital transformation with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition

Blog Article The Ocean Cleanup & Scheer IDS - Read here

SAP helps us turn operational efficiency into environmental impact — freeing up time and resources so our teams can focus on intercepting plastic and scaling our mission.

Maarten van Berkel — Director of Data & IT, The Ocean Cleanup

The TOC project

The Ocean Cleanup project was initiated because the organization’s operational complexity was outpacing its existing tools. What once worked during the start-up phase was no longer sufficient for a global scale-up with international projects, complex logistics, multiple funding streams, donor reporting requirements, and growing accountability toward partners and stakeholders.

The previous system was mainly used as a financial management tool. The Ocean Cleanup needed a broader platform that could support end-to-end processes, standardize ways of working, and provide a trusted digital foundation for future growth.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition was selected because it offers scalability, global accessibility, real-time data, and continuous innovation without the burden of managing infrastructure internally.

Scheer IDS was selected as the implementation partner for its SAP Public Cloud expertise, its fit-for-standard approach, and its ability to guide the organization through a structured yet pragmatic rollout. The project follows SAP Activate principles, with a phased approach designed to create a clean foundation first and to expand value in later phases.

The challenge

Global growth made finance, procurement, logistics and project reporting too complex for separate tools and spreadsheets.
The Ocean Cleanup needed more control, transparency and real-time insight across countries, projects and funding streams.
The first phase had to stay focused: build the digital foundation first, while managing data migration, user adoption and change.

The solution

SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition was implemented as the core ERP platform for finance and procurement across multiple entities.
The scope includes SAP Concur, SAP Central Invoice Management and a roadmap toward SAP Analytics Cloud.
Scheer IDS supported the project with Public Cloud expertise, fit-to-standard guidance, data migration, integrations, testing and change readiness.

The benefits

One scalable digital backbone for finance, procurement, projects, assets, inventory and logistics.
Greater transparency, faster decision-making and stronger accountability toward donors, partners and stakeholders.
More operational efficiency, giving teams more time and resources to focus on removing plastic from oceans and rivers.

The strength of this project lies in discipline: a clear scope, a fit-to-standard mindset, and a phased roadmap that gives The Ocean Cleanup a solid foundation for continuous improvement.

Axel Kleinjan - Project Manager Scheer IDS