Ocean-Bound Plastics: A Valuable Resource Or Environmental Hazard?

Ocean-bound plastic is plastic waste at risk of ending up in the ocean. It is estimated that ocean-bound plastic generates 80% of plastic marine litter. This plastic waste is often within 50km of shores where waste management is inefficient or non-existent. By preventing plastic from reaching the ocean, we can reduce the amount of future ocean plastic pollution and protect marine species from becoming endangered. Ocean-bound plastic can be recycled and turned into a reliable plastic resin, which can be used in a variety of applications.

Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) is plastic waste at risk of ending up in the ocean

OBP is defined as "Abandoned Plastic Waste" (microplastics, mezzo-plastics and macro-plastics), located within 50km of shores where waste management is non-existent or inefficient. When plastic waste is already located in a landfill or managed dump site, it is not considered OBP.

By preventing plastic from reaching the ocean, we can reduce the percentage of future ocean plastic pollution. This not only means protecting hundreds of thousands of marine species from becoming endangered, but also protecting ourselves from ocean pollutants.

Companies such as Envision Plastics are taking material at risk of becoming ocean pollution and turning it into a reliable plastic resin. They have committed to removing 10 million pounds of plastic at risk of polluting our oceans.

OBP generates 80% of plastic marine litter

Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) is plastic waste defined as “at risk of ending up in the ocean”. OBP is estimated to generate 80% of plastic marine litter. It includes a small fraction of commercially recyclable plastic waste and a lot of non-commercially recyclable plastic waste.

OBP was indirectly defined by Jenna Jembeck et al. in a publication in Science. Based on this literature and consultations with peer groups, ZPO summarised it as: OBP is an “Abandoned Plastic Waste” (microplastics, mezzo-plastics and macro-plastics), located within 50km from shores where waste management is inexistent or inefficient. When already located in a landfill or managed dump site, the plastic waste is not considered as OBP.

Over 80% of plastic in the ocean originates from the land. By preventing plastic from reaching the ocean (one way is by recycling ocean-bound plastic) we can reduce that percentage of future ocean plastic pollution. This not only means protecting hundreds of thousands of marine species from becoming endangered—it also means protecting ourselves from ocean pollutants.

Companies such as Envision Plastics are taking material at-risk of becoming ocean pollution and turning it into a reliable plastic resin. They have committed to removing 10 million pounds of plastic at risk of polluting our oceans.

OBP includes commercially and non-commercially recyclable plastic waste

Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) is plastic waste that is "at risk of ending up in the ocean". OBP is estimated to generate 80% of plastic marine litter. It includes commercially and non-commercially recyclable plastic waste.

OBP is defined as "Abandoned Plastic Waste" (microplastics, mezzo-plastics and macro-plastics), located within 50km of shores where waste management is inefficient or non-existent. When plastic waste is already located in a landfill or managed dump site, it is not considered OBP.

OBP can be turned into a reliable plastic resin, which can be used in applications where HDPE is preferred. This process transforms potential pollution into a recyclable resource.

By using OBP in products, companies can earn customer approval and engagement by providing tools that trace the plastic from its source material to the final product.

OceanBound Plastic is a company that turns plastic at risk of becoming ocean pollution into a reliable plastic resin

OceanBound Plastic is defined as "at risk of ending up in the ocean". It includes commercially and non-commercially recyclable plastic waste, located within 50km of shores where waste management is inefficient or non-existent. Over 80% of plastic in the ocean originates from the land. By preventing plastic from reaching the ocean, we can reduce the percentage of future ocean plastic pollution. This not only means protecting hundreds of thousands of marine species from becoming endangered, but also protecting ourselves from ocean pollutants.

OceanBound Plastic has received a Letter of Non-Objection from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the suitability of its product when used at levels up to 100% in recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) packaging for all food types under Conditions of Use C-H. Using OceanBound Plastic delivers a range of benefits, including customer approval and engagement. Customers are provided with tools that trace OceanBound Plastics from source material to the products they use.

Recycling ocean-bound plastic can help reduce future ocean plastic pollution

Ocean-bound plastic is plastic waste that is at risk of ending up in the ocean. It is estimated that ocean-bound plastic generates 80% of plastic marine litter. This plastic waste is often located within 50km of shores where waste management is inefficient or non-existent.

Sunlight and salty water break down plastic in the ocean into microplastics, which are fragments of plastic less than 5mm in length. This makes ocean plastic much more difficult to clean up than ocean-bound plastic.

Some companies are taking material at risk of becoming ocean pollution and turning it into a reliable plastic resin. This creates a versatile product that can be used in applications where HDPE is preferred. Every pound of ocean-bound plastic is potential pollution transformed into a recyclable resource.

By using products made with OceanBound Plastics, you can help keep the oceans cleaner and make positive waves with your customers and within your company. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Letter of Non-Objection (NOL) regarding the suitability of Envision's OceanBound Plastic when used at levels up to 100% in recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) packaging for all food types.

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