ANNUAL REPORT 2020

Nordic Ocean Watch Denmark

CVR 39854082

The mission of Nordic Ocean Watch Denmark (NOW) is to strengthen the public focus on the extent of pollution in the oceans and its consequences. Furthermore, NOW wants to contribute to creating a future where marine pollution is reduced through the actions of the individual as well as volunteer initiatives.

NOW wants to reach a wide community of people. Anyone can take part in caring for the ocean, by making behavioural changes and participating in activities, many small actions can affect major change when combined.

In order to affect behavioural changes which are beneficial to the ocean, NOW has three major focus areas which guide the practical implementation of NOW’s vision:

• Activation – We arrange activities enabling people to actively give back to the ocean.

• Knowledge sharing – We give the ocean a voice.

• Community – We foster ambassadors for the ocean.

In the following sections are presented NOW’s achievements within each focus area in 2020. The annual report also includes NOW’s financial statements 2020 and an overview of financial supporters.    

Activation

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic NOW hosted ten cleanup events during the Summer. This was possible because Covid-19 restrictions were relieved during this period. Nine cleanups were held in the Copenhagen area, and one in Vejle, Jutland. Several cleanups were hosted in collaboration with relevant partners: Frozen Palm Tree, Copenhagen Cablepark, Kitekollektivet, Copenhagen Watersports Festival, Blue Lobster, La Banchina and Worthmore. 436 volunteers signed up for a cleanup event on Facebook in 2020 and at least half turned up at an actual event. 

NOW’s volunteers collected a total of 284kg of trash at cleanup events in 2020. That is an average of 22kg per cleanup. Trash collected at cleanups was sorted into twelve trash categories and weighed for NOW’s Trash Database. The graph below presents an overview of the total amount of trash collected in 2020 divided into the trash categories.    

Following each cleanup NOW analysed the related trash data and published graphs and descriptions on Social Media platforms.     

Knowledge Sharing

In 2020 the seven educational articles on NOW’s web page (under “Facts”) became available in Danish as well as in English. The educational articles provide timeless knowledge regarding the ocean; for example, the scale of ocean pollution, how wildlife is affected, the link between climate change and ocean imbalances, etc.

NOW started a News Blog in May 2020, and it is written in danish. The focus of the blog is ocean and climate related news from Denmark. Furthermore, the purpose of the blog is to share news regarding the ocean and climate that are easily digestible for the public, so that people can get a quick overview. NOW published eleven blog posts in 2020.  

Community

NOW’s Instagram profile has doubled its followers in 2020 and has now reached 1,241 followers. The Facebook profile has reached 1,449 followers and 1,384 likes in 2020. 

In 2020 NOW joined LinkedIn, as it is a platform for professionals and hence a good way for NOW to increase the organisation’s professional network.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the correlated restrictions, it has not been possible to arrange any Tavahangs (social events and hangouts) in 2020. 

Supporters & Partnerships

NOW has four active supporters as of December 31, 2020, two of which are continued from earlier years. The continued supporters are Oceania  (sale of natural  products) and Økofamilien (eco-friendly webshop).  In 2020 NOW entered into two new supporter agreements. The new supporters are Worthmore, a startup whose core business is conversion of used phones for value, and Vanav360, whose core business is eco-friendly water sport wear and accessories. In 2020 NOW’s supporter agreement with Davines (hair care products with focus on sustainability) ended, since it was a time limited campaign.

NOW’s partnership with the local organisation Expedition Plastik continued in 2020 and together we embarked on a Plastic Expedition in Indonesia in January 2020.

In 2020, NOW started an international partnership with Ocean Mission and By The Ocean We Unite to encourage a more sustainable interaction with the ocean on a global scale. In September 2020 we participated in an Ocean Mission Expedition in Iceland, and we have encouraged all our Ocean Watchers to seize the opportunity that this partnership offers. Together with By The Ocean We Unite we have started a citizen science program conducting data collecting microplastic from kayaks.      

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we have postponed many joined activities to 2021.

Financial Statement

NOW has closed the year 2020 with a profit of DKK 47,786, compared to the loss of DKK 2,509 in 2019.

The organisation has received donations for DKK 67.170, registering a 98% increase compared to 2019. Donations were mainly received from supporters and partners (61%), from cleanups collaborators (2%) and from other donors (37%).

Operating expenses were DKK 13.865 in 2020, an increase of DKK 9.901 compared to DKK 3.964 in 2019. The development was led by Administration expenses with an increase of DKK 3.970, mainly due to office supplies, and to cleanup tools and equipment, increased by DKK 2.821 in the year.

Expenses related to Information & Education, and to Social events have been recorded for the first time in 2020, for DKK 2.053 and DKK 1.200 respectively. Marketing & Online Branding expenses were in 2020 overall aligned with 2019.

The result for the period is affected by a downside from extraordinary items for DKK 5.500, which is related to the payment of the minimum premium of an insurance policy.

The financial position has also improved in 2020, with a balance of Cash at bank of DKK 45.277 as of December 31, 2020, compared to a bank overdraft of DKK 509 as of December 31, 2019. The favourable cash position allowed NOW to entirely refund the DKK 2.000 loan that was obtained from the organisation’s Board of Directors in 2019. Equity is exclusively composed of the profit for the period, partially offset by retained earnings generated by the loss of 2019.