Since 2017, 4ocean has removed over 11 million pounds of trash from the ocean and coastlines.
Most known for its minimalist bracelets made from recycled materials, the company’s mission is to help end the ocean plastic crisis. For every product they sell, a pound of trash is recovered by their crew.
4ocean’s story began when co-founders Andrew Cooper and Alex Schulze were on a surfing trip in Bali, Indonesia, where they witnessed firsthand the impact of the plastic crisis. The college friends walked along the trash-covered shore and watched as the waves brought on more garbage with each break. When speaking to locals, they were shocked to learn that the beach had just been cleaned hours before. From then on, the two were committed to making a change.
4ocean is based in Boca Raton, Florida, with clean-up facilities in Bali, Indonesia, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. Their YouTube channel and website provide resources and transparent videos on what they do with the plastic they remove from the ocean.
Essentially, recovered plastic is sorted by type, colour, and condition. 4ocean then sends the plastic to recycling plants for flaking, washing, and pelletizing. The pellets are manufactured into 4ocean’s bracelets and other products.
Ultimately, 4ocean is a purpose-driven company built on the idea that “businesses can be a force for good and the actions of individual people, collectively, have the power to change the world.”
To learn more about 4ocean, visit their website.
