OUR IMPACT

Cleaning the ocean,
rivers, and coastlines,
one pound at a time

Our captains and crews recover trash from the ocean and coastlines seven days a week

TOTAL RECOVERED SINCE 2017

9,003,107 lbs

WEEK OF 5.3.2020

All data is collected and stored in the 4ocean TrashTracker™ and was last updated Tuesday 6/16
TrashTracker™ does not represent the amount of products sold

CLEANUP OPERATIONS

We are a global cleanup operation

LOCATION

Bali,
Indonesia

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LOCATION

Port-au-Prince,
Haiti

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LOCATION

Puerto Barrios,
Guatemala

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LOCATION

South Florida,
United States

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TRACKING POUNDS

Every pound pulled is documented and tracked

We take our cleanup operations seriously and always go the extra mile to ensure our crews are efficient and effective. That’s why we document and track each and every pound of trash we recover.

We’ve outlined the entire process so you can see exactly what steps our captains and crews take to document the trash they recover during each cleanup mission. The entire process is audited and verified quarterly by the Better Business Bureau.

STEP 1:

A photo is taken of the crew that will be cleaning that day.

STEP 2:

The plastic-polluted area that our crew will clean is photographed before any cleaning takes place.

STEP 3:

Photos are taken of the crew throughout the cleanup.

STEP 4:

Photos of the area are taken once the cleanup is complete.

STEP 5:

All of the recovered plastic and debris is placed into small sacks for documentation and transport.

STEP 6:

Each bag is individually weighed and documented on a TrashTracker™ Documentation Sheet.

STEP 7:

The TrashTracker™ Documentation Sheet includes all of the information from the cleanup, including the date, location, duration, crew members, individual weights of each bag, total weight for the day, and the signatures of the recorder and location manager.

Step 8:

The plastic-filled sacks are picked up by our collection crew and transported back to our regional facility where all data is uploaded into our digital TrashTracker™.

CLEANUP STRATEGIES

How do we recover ocean plastic?

PEOPLE

The best way to recover plastic is by using our own two hands, fishing nets, or other tools.

VESSELS

Having the right vessel is extremely important because each ecosystem is unique.

BOOM SYSTEMS

We often leverage boom systems to stop plastic before it can get into the ocean.

SKIMMERS

Developing clean ocean technologies improves our cleaning efficiency.

PROCESSING PLASTIC

What do we do with the plastic we recover?

Once the plastic is collected by our captains and crews, it’s weighed, photographed, and logged into our TrashTracker™ before it’s transported to our regional operational bases.

At each base, the plastic is sorted by type, color, and condition before it’s sent to our recycling partners for flaking, washing, and pelletizing. These pellets are what we use to manufacture new and existing 4ocean products.

While recycling is our highest priority, there are certain materials that are too contaminated, deteriorated, or economically not feasible to recycle in certain countries. We partner with various local facilities to find the most sustainable method of disposal for those materials.

After all other methods of recycling are exhausted, we are sometimes forced to dispose of the materials through thermal treatment, which is the conversion of trash to electricity, or by responsibly landfilling the materials.

BEYOND CLEANUPS

In addition to cleaning the ocean, we’re addressing the causes and impacts of ocean plastic pollution

OUTREACH & EDUCATION

Changing consumption habits on land can prevent plastic from entering the ocean

People can’t be part of the solution until they’re aware of the problem. Our job is to help people understand the causes of the ocean plastic crisis and empower them to act. From lesson plans for educators to regional beach cleanups and events, we’re committed to sharing our knowledge and inspiring action on behalf of the ocean.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

From farm to finished product, our entire supply chain is environmentally and socially responsible

All of our products are designed, sourced, and produced with an ocean-first mentality. We view waste as a design flaw and ensure that every product we create can be recycled or reused when it reaches the end of its useful life. And of course, every product we introduce comes with our One Pound Promise. Shop our products

PHILANTHROPY

We’ve donated more than $450,000 to ocean cleanup and marine conservation organizations

We know the ocean plastic crisis won’t be solved by one person, one company, or one organization. Because of this, we actively seek partnerships with nonprofits and like-minded organizations that have a proven track record of driving positive change for the environment and our planet. Meet this month’s partner

4OCEAN BRACELET

A must-have for anyone who loves the ocean

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GET INVOLVED

Get involved in the clean ocean movement

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