PURPOSE

We’re here to clean the ocean and coastlines while working to stop the inflow of plastic by changing consumption habits

STORY

4ocean was born on a plastic-covered beach in Bali, Indonesia

Our founders, Alex and Andrew, have been around the ocean their entire lives. They both grew up on the Florida coast, swimming, diving, fishing, and surfing. After becoming friends in college, they saved up their money for the surf trip of a lifetime to Bali. When they arrived, they found a beach that was completely covered in plastic, with trash-filled waves delivering more garbage with each break.

They asked a local why such a popular, and otherwise beautiful, shoreline wasn’t kept clean, and were told that the beaches had been cleaned just hours earlier. The trash they were wading through had only just washed ashore.

Their eyes were immediately opened to the magnitude of the ocean plastic crisis, and they vowed on the spot to try to do something about it.

Alex and Andrew decided to hire boat captains and other local workers to clean the ocean and coastlines full time. In order to make the biggest impact on this global problem, they launched their efforts in places like Bali where a lot of plastic and other garbage regularly accumulates.

Inspired by successful lifestyle brands that were able to build passionate followings, they decided to implement a business model that would allow them to grow quickly so they could pay workers, fund cleanups, and spread the word about the ocean plastic crisis.

So they created the 4ocean bracelet and pledged to pull a pound of trash from the ocean for each one purchased, using the profits to scale cleanup operations, make donations to ocean-related nonprofits, and build an organizational infrastructure to support future growth.

Even though 4ocean has collected millions of pounds of trash from the ocean and built an international infrastructure to fight the ocean plastic crisis, we’re just getting started. The ocean plastic crisis is massive and growing.

It will take major systemic changes and the hard work of many great organizations each trying to tackle the crisis in different ways, as well as people like you who are committed to driving change.

Our work won't be done until we can walk along our beaches — in Bali, in Haiti, in Florida, and around the world — and see nothing but warm sand and rolling waves.

BUSINESS MODEL

We are a purpose-driven business, founded to help end the ocean plastic crisis

We are not a nonprofit and do not accept donations. Today, our ocean cleanup and advocacy mission is funded primarily by your 4ocean product purchases. In the future, we hope to advance our mission further by employing new business solutions to the ocean plastic crisis such as reselling the materials we collect and working with governments and industry for contracted waterway cleanup services.

We believe business can be a force for good and hope our model encourages others to pursue creative solutions to this global crisis.

BUSINESS MODEL graphic image.

CERTIFICATIONS & RECOGNITION

We're committed to the highest sustainability and accountability standards

    Certifications
  • 1% for the Planet; we donate at least 1% of our revenue to nonprofit environmental conservation organizations
  • Global Organic Textile Standard; our t-shirts are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton
  • Global Recycled Standard; our bracelets cords and beads are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and glass bottles
  • Better Business Bureau; the 4ocean TrashTracker™ is audited and verified by the BBB quarterly
  • GreenCircle Certified; our bracelets are made from at least 90% post-consumer recycled material

CERTIFICATIONS

    Recognition
  • Forbes 2019 30 Under 30: Social Entrepreneurs
  • Newsweek Creative Class of 2019
  • SURFER Magazine Agent of Change 2018
  • FAU College of Business: 2019 Outstanding Young Owls Award
  • The American Business Awards:
    Gold Stevie Award Winner
    Founding Team of the Year:
    Consumer Services Industries
    Company of the Year:
    Diversified Service Industries (Medium)

RECOGNITION

2019 30 UNDER 30: SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
CREATIVE CLASS OF 2019
AGENT OF CHANGE 2018
2019 OUTSTANDING OWLS AWARD
GOLD STEVIE AWARD WINNER
“ Why is it that scuba divers and surfers are some of the strongest advocates of ocean conservation? Because they’ve spent time in and around the ocean, and they’ve personally seen the beauty, the fragility, and even the degradation of our planet’s blue heart.

Sylvia Earle

American Explorer

We pull one pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines for every product purchased image

ONE POUND PROMISE

We pull one pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines for every product purchased

Shop Now + Pull A Pound