4ocean: The Origin Story

OUR STORY

We’re on a mission to end the ocean plastic crisis

Alex Schulze and Andrew Cooper were inspired to create 4ocean after taking a surf trip to Bali, Indonesia, in 2015. While they had grown up in Florida and made their living from the ocean, Bali is where they truly began to understand the severity of the ocean plastic crisis and its impact not just on marine life, but on the coastal communities that, like them, relied on the health of the ocean to survive.

After speaking with local fishermen whose livelihoods were negatively impacted by plastic pollution, Alex and Andrew decided to build a company that would hire boat captains and fishermen in communities heavily impacted by plastic pollution as full-time, professional cleanup crew members to recover plastic and other harmful debris from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines seven days a week.

Since the very beginning, our co-founders envisioned a business model where the materials 4ocean crews recovered from the ocean would be used to develop new and innovative products that raise awareness about the ocean plastic crisis, fund a global ocean cleanup operation, and empower individuals around the world to end their reliance on single-use plastic.

Now, 4ocean has cleanup divisions in Florida, Bali, Haiti, and Guatemala, and recovers millions of pounds of trash from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines every year. We’ve introduced countless sustainable and reusable products including a line of affordable single-use alternatives that continues to grow, and, thanks to our One Pound Promise, have made it possible for anyone, anywhere to clean the ocean.

ONE POUND PROMISE

We pull one pound of trash from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines for every product sold

Shop Now + Pull a Pound

COMPANY STRUCTURE

We’re using business as a force for good

4ocean is a company founded on the belief that business can be a force for good and that the actions of individual people, collectively, have the power to change the world.

We’re often mistaken for a nonprofit organization because our mission is to end the ocean plastic crisis and our imagery shows our crews working hard around the world. 4ocean is actually a public benefit corporation, which is a legal structure for mission-focused businesses that empowers them to prioritize impact alongside profit.

We’re also proud to be a Certified B Corp, which means we’re one of a handful of companies that’s working to advance important environmental, social, and economic causes around the world.

BUSINESS MODEL

Anyone, anywhere can clean the ocean

Our business model is simple: We fund our global ocean cleanup operation by offering sustainable and reusable products that raise awareness about the ocean plastic crisis and empower people to end their reliance on single-use plastic. So every time you shop 4ocean and pull a pound of trash, you’re helping us advance our mission to end the ocean plastic crisis.

4OCEAN SIGNATURE BRACELET

Get the bracelet that started it all

The 4ocean Signature Bracelet is the first product we ever launched. Wearing it instantly identifies you as a member of the clean ocean movement. Made from recycled plastic, glass, and stainless steel, this bracelet represents the pound of trash you pulled from the ocean and symbolizes your commitment to our mission of ending the ocean plastic crisis. It’s a must-have for anyone who loves the ocean and is a thoughtful gift to give if you want to introduce someone to the movement.

Buy Now + Pull a Pound

4OCEAN SIGNATURE BRACELET graphic image.

Buy Now + Pull a Pound

PULL A POUND

Our global ocean cleanup operation is funded by you

Every pound of trash you pull helps advance our mission of ending the ocean plastic crisis. And now, there are more ways to support the clean ocean movement than ever before!