OceanBound Plastics

Post-consumer recyclate industry leader Envision Plastics has developed OceanBound Plastics, a reliable plastic resin for product manufacturing produced by converting materials at risk of causing ocean pollution. 

A study by the University of Georgia revealed that a minimum of 10.6 billion pounds of plastic waste that entered the ocean made its way from land. It is estimated that nearly 16 billion pounds of plastic waste enter the ocean each year globally. 

Envision Plastics aims to intercept ocean-bound plastics from global at-risk areas, collecting them before they become pollutants. An at-risk area is defined as an area within 50km from a coastline, where scientific research determines a higher probability of generating land-based marine debris. At-risk areas also lack an organized waste collection and management system. 

Envision Plastics works with qualified partners to source, collect and transform the plastic waste. Qualified partners are selected through a certification and inspection procedure, post-which they are qualified to supply source material for OceanBound Plastics. 

Once the waste bales are collected, they are inspected for quality and purity. After sorting, the material is grounded into flakes and washed. Once extruded, filtered and pelleted, the material is devolatilized through Envision's patented Deodorized Resin technology. The resultant high-quality plastic resin commercially named OceanBound Plastic is odourless and chemical-free. 

The resin is flexible in use, with the ability to be used as a film, or in injection and blow moulding for packaging products. The material is currently being tested for food-grade contact. 

OceanBound Plastics is made from HDPE and is recyclable itself, closing the circular waste stream. Once post-consumer waste manufactured from OceanBound Plastic is recovered, it is sent back to Envision Plastics by Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to be recycled in traditional municipal recycling streams. 

 In June 2014, Envision was acquired by Consolidated Container Company and continues to operate as a distinct business within the CCC family. 

In 2017, Envision Plastics committed to recycle 10 million pounds of ocean-bound waste by 2019. Since the inception of the product, Envision Plastics has worked with numerous partners including Dell Technologies, OceanWorks, ReYuze, Juniper Networks, Island Creek Oyster Knives and ViTA. 

In 2018, ViTA's hair care product packaging made from 100% OceanBound Plastics earned Envision Plastics and ViTA the Sustainable Packaging Coalition's Innovator of the Year Award.