Post #48: Tide Ocean: Turning Ocean Plastic into Valuable Materials
- henry belfiori
- Jan 10
- 6 min read
Tackling Ocean Plastic Pollution
Ocean plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental crises of our time, with millions of tonnes of waste entering our oceans each year. This pollution not only threatens marine ecosystems and wildlife but also poses risks to human health as microplastics make their way into the food chain.
Amidst this challenge, Tide Ocean, a Swiss startup, has emerged as a leader in transforming ocean plastic into high-value materials. Their innovative approach is not only helping to clean up our oceans but also creating sustainable economic opportunities by up-cycling plastic waste into premium products.
They came to my attention when looking at recent investment opportunities on a crowdfunding app called Seedrs (Republic). I recently had the opportunity to speak with Tide Ocean about their journey, business model, and vision for the future. Stay tuned for next week’s post, where I’ll share a Q&A with one of the Founders of Tide Ocean, offering exciting insights into their operations and plans.
The Tide Ocean Business Model
Collection and Recycling Process
Tide Ocean operates in collaboration with coastal communities and organisations in regions heavily impacted by plastic pollution, such as Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These partnerships enable the collection of 100% ocean-bound plastic waste, defined as plastics found within 50 km of coastlines that are at high risk of entering the ocean.
Once collected, the plastic is transported to processing hubs located near the source. This localised approach reduces logistical costs and minimises carbon emissions from transportation. Tide Ocean places emphasis on working with local stakeholders to ensure that the collection process generates social and economic benefits, including fair wages and improved community livelihoods.
The collected plastic is then sorted, cleaned, and prepared for recycling. Tide Ocean exclusively uses a mechanical recycling process, avoiding the use of chemicals or additional pollutants. This method preserves the integrity of the plastic while significantly reducing environmental impact compared to traditional methods.
Up-cycling into Valuable Materials
Through their advanced recycling processes, Tide Ocean transforms plastic waste into three primary materials:
Pellets (Granules): High-quality plastic granules used in injection moulding for durable goods, such as watches, electronics, and furniture.
Yarns (Recycled Polyester): Versatile threads used in fashion, footwear, and interior textiles.
Filaments: Specialised for 3D printing applications, enabling innovative designs and products.
These materials are certified and meet rigorous quality standards, making them suitable for use by global brands like Tom Ford, Maurice Lacroix, and Hugo Boss. Tide Ocean’s products have a carbon footprint that is up to 80% lower than virgin plastics, aligning with their mission of environmental sustainability. This integrated model ensures that Tide Ocean not only addresses the plastic pollution crisis but also contributes to circular economy principles, promoting long-term environmental and economic benefits.
What Sets Tide Ocean Apart
Tide Ocean’s innovative approach to ocean plastic recycling positions it as a leader in the industry. By adopting a cradle-to-cradle business model, Tide Ocean ensures materials are continuously reused in a closed-loop cycle, promoting both sustainability and quality.
The whole deal
Tide Ocean’s cradle-to-cradle model goes beyond traditional recycling by ensuring that every step—from the collection of ocean-bound plastic to the creation of durable products and eventual reuse—is part of a sustainable, closed-loop system. This sets them apart from competitors who often focus on isolated aspects of the supply chain.
For example:
Unifi: Known for manufacturing recycled yarns but focuses on production rather than a comprehensive supply chain approach.
The Ocean Cleanup: Specialises in plastic collection and initial recycling but doesn’t extend its operations through the entire lifecycle of materials.
In contrast, Tide Ocean integrates every stage, from sourcing and recycling to ensuring products can be repurposed again, making it a truly sustainable operation.
High-Quality Materials for Global Brands
Tide Ocean’s mechanical recycling process creates versatile materials which meet rigorous quality standards, making them suitable for global brands like Tom Ford, Hugo Boss, and Maurice Lacroix, which seek to align their products with sustainability goals.
Environmental and Social Impact
Tide Ocean’s operations not only reduce plastic pollution but also produce materials with up to 80% lower CO₂ emissions compared to virgin plastics. Furthermore, by collaborating with coastal communities in regions like Thailand and Indonesia, Tide Ocean ensures fair wages and economic benefits, empowering those most affected by ocean plastic pollution.
Integrated Supply Chain Advantage
Unlike many competitors, Tide Ocean manages the entire lifecycle of its materials, offering unmatched transparency and quality control. By operating processing hubs close to collection sites, they reduce logistics costs and emissions, ensuring an efficient and environmentally friendly operation.
Partnerships and Latest Collaborations
Tide Ocean has partnered with a diverse array of global brands and organisations, demonstrating the versatility and adaptability of their recycled materials across industries. Their collaborations not only highlight the quality of their #tide ocean material® but also amplify their mission to address ocean plastic pollution on a global scale.
Some Key Collaborations
Maurice Lacroix: Developed the AIKON #TIDE watch collection, using #tide ocean material® for both the timepiece and its packaging. This partnership has significantly contributed to Tide Ocean’s "Road to 1 Billion Bottles" impact program, aiming to recycle and upcycle massive amounts of ocean-bound plastic.
Condor Group: Introduced sustainable solutions for carpets, automotive textiles, and artificial grass, showcasing the application of #tide ocean material® in flooring and automotive industries.
Sea Shepherd Global: As the official recycling partner, Tide Ocean transforms discarded fishing gear collected during Sea Shepherd’s cleanup missions into reusable materials, aligning with both organisations’ missions to protect marine life.
Seacliff Beauty: Created sustainable cosmetic packaging using 100% ocean-bound plastic, setting a new standard for eco-friendly solutions in the beauty industry.
VersaCourt: Partnered to bring sustainable sports surfaces to market, incorporating #tide ocean material® into athletic courts, reinforcing the adaptability of recycled materials in high-performance environments.
Aldi: Collaborated with the retail giant to launch sustainable shoes made from 100% ocean-bound plastic collected and recycled by Tide Ocean, expanding their reach to the mainstream retail sector.
Hotelplan Suisse: Partnered to support Tide Ocean’s "Road to 1 Billion Bottles" initiative, aligning with Hotelplan Suisse’s sustainability and biodiversity protection goals.
Impact and Recognition
Tide Ocean’s partnerships extend across luxury goods, automotive, fashion, beauty, sports, and travel sectors. These collaborations underline the material’s flexibility, durability, and market demand while reinforcing the company’s dedication to fostering sustainability across industries. By collaborating with global brands, Tide Ocean not only increases its environmental impact but also raises awareness about the value of ocean-bound plastic as a resource. These partnerships serve as a blueprint for integrating sustainability into mainstream products and services, driving innovation in recycled materials worldwide.
Investment Opportunity: Tide Ocean on Seedrs
Tide Ocean, founded in 2018, is currently raising funds on Seedrs, giving ordinary people like me and you the chance to support an innovative company transforming ocean-bound plastic into high-quality, sustainable materials. With a mission to address plastic pollution while driving profitability, Tide Ocean has already partnered with major global brands, positioning itself as a leader in the sustainable materials market.
Why Invest in Tide Ocean?
Proven Track Record: Operating since 2018, Tide Ocean has demonstrated significant growth and impact, with a focus on delivering premium recycled materials to industries like fashion, consumer goods, and technology.
Scalability: Their cradle-to-cradle approach ensures materials are reused in a closed-loop system, addressing both environmental and economic challenges.
Growing Demand: With sustainability becoming a top priority across industries, Tide Ocean is uniquely positioned to capitalise on this shift.
Financial Overview
Tide Ocean has shown impressive growth since its inception:
Revenue Growth: From 2021 to 2022, their revenue grew by 136%, reflecting their ability to scale operations effectively.
Focus on Efficiency: They’ve made strides in improving operational efficiency, achieving an EBITDA margin of 8.7% in 2023.
As of now, Tide Ocean has successfully raised £305,716 from 284 investors, surpassing their initial target of £250,005 by 122%. With 12 days remaining in their Seedrs crowdfunding campaign, there’s still an opportunity to invest in this innovative company dedicated to transforming ocean-bound plastic into valuable materials.
Important info
Please note: Investing in early-stage companies involves risks, including loss of capital, illiquidity, lack of dividends, and dilution, and should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Ensure you fully understand these risks before investing.
Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Future
Tide Ocean’s innovative approach to tackling ocean plastic pollution highlights the power of combining sustainability with cutting-edge business practices. From their cradle-to-cradle model to impactful partnerships with global brands, they are setting new standards in recycled materials and making a tangible difference in the fight against marine pollution.
Next week, we’ll feature an exclusive Q&A with one of Tide Ocean’s founders, offering deeper insights into their journey, challenges, and vision for the future. Stay tuned for an inspiring conversation! 🌊
"We need to stop thinking of waste as waste. In a circular economy, waste becomes a resource."
– Janez Potočnik, Former European Commissioner for Environment
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