Plastic Ocean Innovators

Within the world of TOOL, we help map frontrunners within a range of fields, where ocean industries & zero emission solutions / renewable energy drive initiatives towards a zero emission, zero waste future.

Explore a range of innovators across circular environmental alternatives to plastic, recycling, upcycling & value chain solutions - some aim to replace plastic, while others aim to make it a valuable resource that we´ll treasure (and not waste..)

Our heroes combating a Plastic Ocean: 

Recycling & Upcycling innovators:

The Sea Change Production of clean fuel from a plasma unit, transforming plastic waste into clean hydrogen and glass usable for construction; free of any microplastic.

Plazzo reuses plastic waste to make better and improved products with a touch of Danish Design and Quality. We strive to end overconsumption to make a more sustainable world

Loop Industries is a clean technology company looking to accelerate the world's shift toward sustainable PET plastic and polyester fiber and away from our dependence on fossil fuels. Loop Industries owns patented and proprietary technology that depolymerizes no and low-value waste PET plastic and polyester fiber, including plastic bottles and packaging, carpets and textiles of any color, transparency or condition and even ocean plastics that have been degraded by the sun and salt, to its base building blocks (monomers). The monomers are filtered, purified and polymerized to create virgin-quality Loop™ branded PET resin suitable for use in food-grade packaging and polyester fiber.

MultiCycle will deliver an industrial recycling pilot plant for fossil and bio-based thermoplastic multilayer packaging and fibre reinforced composites using a novel solvent based selective extraction process which allows recovering pure plastics and additives in mixed wastes for their later reprocessing into value-added applications.

FiberEuse Large scale demonstration of new circular economy value-chains based on the reuse of end-of-life fiber reinforced composites. FiberEUse will support industry in the transition to a circular economy model for composites. The FiberEUse project aims at integrating in a holistic approach different innovation actions aimed at enhancing the profitability of composite recycling and reuse in value-added products. Glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (GFRP and CFRP)

Last20 is a social enterprise that upcycles plastic waste into innovative solutions, like pavement.

Polynspire - A cost-effective transformation of plastic waste into raw materials through its recycling and valorisation. Comparing the different approaches will reveal best technical, environmental and economic fit for the different materials depending on waste source (post-industrial or post-consumer), composition, contaminants or other relevant parameters, The economic and environmental benefits of the approaches will be analysed by carrying out Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost (LCC) to recycling/valorisation process of the different materials

Waste2worth We help organizations to rapidly identify and bring to life innovative new products, services, projects & ventures that will increase profitability & improve competitive advantage while at the same time creating a cleaner, safer and more sustainable environment for all - through the application of Circular Economy and Waste to Worth solutions & business models

Searious Business is an impact-driven company helping businesses to create a circular use of plastic with a competitive advantage, and help bring plastic pollution back to zero.

Sea2SeeSeastainable eyewear & watch brand made with 100% up-cycled marine plastic. Eco-disrupting the eyewear and watch industry.

Precious PlasticPrecious Plastic is an open hardware plastic recycling project and is a type of open source digital commons project It relies on a series of machines and tools which grind, melt, and inject recycled plastic, allowing for the creation of new products out of recycled plastic on a small scale. The project allows individual consumers to set up 'their own miniature recycling company'.

Ocean BottleWhen you buy an Ocean Bottle, you fund the collection of 1000 ocean-bound plastic bottles in weight. Locals in coastal communities turn these bottles into a sustainable livelihood, using our innovative exchange platform. Already partnering with Plastic Bank

4Ocean - every product purchased comes with our One Pound Promise to pull one pound of trash from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines. Every pound pulled helps fund our global ocean cleanup operation, supports a growing movement to end the world’s reliance on single-use plastic, and advances our mission to end the ocean plastic crisis.

GOT BAG Developed and launched the world’s first backpack made of ocean plastic. With the business idea to collect and recycle plastic waste from the Southeast Asian ocean to manufacture backpacks and bags, the team is dedicated to making the ocean a little cleaner and to protect the already changing biosphere.

#tide We are upcycling ocean-bound plastic waste and transforming it into a premium raw material which brands use for their new sustainable products. We give plastic waste a value. We are in full control of our supply chain: It starts with the fisherman collecting plastic on an island and ends with the brands using our sustainable material.

Repair3D RECYCLING AND REPURPOSING OF PLASTIC WASTE FOR ADVANCED 3D PRINTING APPLICATIONS. The project aims to address all aspects and stages of thermoplastic and CF reinforced thermoplastic 3D printing material development from recycled resources, starting with the selection of suitable waste streams, strategies for material repair, compatibilization and upgrade towards AM processing, compatibility between different thermoplastic matrices and the reinforcing fibres and nanoparticles, comparative assessment of various AM thermoplastic processing technologies and closed-loop material optimisation in terms of processability and performance.

The ISOPREP project offers an innovate new approach to recycling end-of-life polypropylene products back into virgin quality polypropylene using solvent based technology.

icareplast Integrated Catalytic Recycling of Plastic Residues Into Added-Value Chemical. iCAREPLAST addresses the cost and energy-efficient recycling of a large fraction of today’s non-recyclable plastics and composites from urban waste. Heterogeneous plastic mixtures will be converted into valuable chemicals via chemical routes. This multistage process will also yield carbon char and a pure CO2 stream as products.

Market place, tech & value chain enablers:

Empower Digital platform incentivising collection, tracking & recycling of plastic. The Infrastructure for a circular economy. A Digital platform that incentivises transparent and traceable collection, sourcing & recycling of plastic waste globally. The Empower Platform enables: - Ready to deploy digital Deposit Return Schemes (dDRS), producer responsibility based, or crowdsourced, collection and segregation at source - Feedstock Management, cost-efficient sourcing of traceable and certified recyclables in required volumes and qualities - Product passports and digital twins showing the origin and journey of materials, creating a disruptive level of trust and transparency between brands and consumers

Ogoori is helping conscious brands to commit in protecting our oceans and adopt the circular model through the use of marine plastic. Ogoori is helping conscious brands to commit in protecting our oceans and adopt the circular model through the use of marine plastic. Ogoori turns marine plastic into the most valuable plastic option for conscious brands and companies who aim to make their practices more environmentally and socially responsible. Ogoori’s Regenerative Value Chain is making progress in cleaning up our ocean. But we need more companies to get on board with investments and action.

Atomler® connects organisations who have available recyclable plastic material with organisations who need such materials. Atomler® is your one stop shop for recyclable plastic materials and products.

Cirplus is the global marketplace for recyclates and plastic waste feedstock. Our team and technical partners have extensive experience in the manufacturing & recycling of thermoplastics. We are on a mission to make buying and selling recycled plastics easier and more efficient than ever before. We accomplish this goal with our next generation B2B-marketplace, connecting the plastic & recycling industries. Transparency, global reach, and standard-setting are just a few of the features that cirplus provides. Our vision is to make plastics 100% circular. We are only satisfied the moment no more plastics enters the environment, keeping this valuable material in the loop.

Demeto Project Offer plastic producers and waste recyclers a profitable way to treat plastic waste, enabling its chemical recycling and closing its life cycle. The core mission of the project is therefore to enable chemical de-polymerization of PET at industrial scale thanks to its microwave-based process intensification, closing its life-cycle through a circular economy value chain, reducing plastics market dependency from natural resources and improving drastically the environmental footprint of PET production by revolutionizing the paradigm of its recycling.

Plastic Bank We build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities, and reprocess the materials for reintroduction into the global manufacturing supply chain. Already Partnering wiht Ocean Bottle

LitteratiLitterati is a data science company empowering people to 'crowdsource-clean'​ the planet. What started with one person picking up a single cigarette, has transformed into a global movement in 100+ countries. Our technology is used to develop behavioral insight, map problem areas, and mitigate future risk. From schools to scientists, environmental, organizations, brands and city governments, people are coming together for the greater good to create a litter-free world. a data science company focused on creating a litter-free world. With a community spanning across 185 countries, Litterati identifies, maps, and collects waste, resulting in the Open Litter Database. Litterati is backed by the National Science Foundation, leading Silicon Valley and European investors, and has been highlighted at TED. Jeff’s work has been featured by National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Fast Company, and Forbes.

Oceanworks® is the largest global marketplace for sustainable materials. We specialize in hard to access ocean and averted plastic and our portfolio is constantly expanding. Fueling this vision is an experienced global team. We’re a group of fast paced innovators, trained engineers, and creative thinkers committed to accelerating the transition to a world without plastic pollution. Our platform is built to drive recycled plastic offtake and reduce demand for new virgin plastic. Our expansive and growing range of recycled resins, textiles, and products is a testament to our forward thinking customers and committed suppliers. Together we can, and will, make a meaningful dent in plastic pollution. The future depends on it.

WecycleOur idea for an anthill is an urban plastic recycling station. Inside, we aim to have a full set of recycling machines that will enable us to directly recycle plastic in our community and to raise awareness about plastic use and the challenges in making recycling work.

Collection & Management

The Great Bubble Barrier catches plastic over the fu­ll width and depth of rivers and prevents plastic from ending up in the ocean. The system does not interfere with regular river activities and is operational 24/7.

LoVeMar supplies equipment for streamlining the clean-up of marine litter from the beach zone, sea surface and rivers. The equipment is delivered to state and private companies and organizations both internationally and in Norway. LoVeMar, together with partners, has developed the technology into a sweeper system and a floating conveyor belt.

Clean Sea Solutions make the world's oceans cleaner with autonomous removal of marine plastic waste.

Clear Rivers prevents plastic litter from entering our seas and oceans!Cleanups are organized to remove plastic litter from rivers and to involve the local population and organizations. Litter Traps are installed in the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Brussels and the Indonesian island Ambon. We are expanding our approach internationally, to retrieve marine litter in rivers worldwide before it reaches the seas and oceans.

Mimbly design and develop innovative solutions aimed to change unsustainable behaviours, with a focus on laundry.

Wecyclers Corporation - Nigeria's only recycling venture with a focus on community engagement. Wecyclers gives low-income communities in developing countries a chance to capture value from waste and clean up their neighborhoods through incentive-based recycling.

Parongpong Recycle and Waste Management believe with proper trainings, tools, methods, commitments, and networks, DIY waste management is possible. Using community-based waste management and waste material to approach, we aim to be the initiator of Parongpong Zero Waste High Performance Villages. Our idea is to provide tools and facilities for local business, and allow them to reduce, reuse, and recycle their own waste. Therefore encouraging local communities which are the stakeholders of the tourism companies to adopt the concept and practice of 3R to achieved zero waste community in Parongpong, West Java.

Loopcycle is an ecosystem of shared value built on product responsibility with the mission to help businesses deliver their net zero carbon targets and move towards a circular economy. The platform facilitates visibility and direct interactions between manufacturers and operators of commercial appliances. Assigning a unique product ID, called ‘Cyclecode’, at the point of manufacture, ownership or resale allows users to track product provenance with their smart device. Loopcycle unlocks sustainable and commercial value for its users to foster long-term customer relationships, extend the product lifecycle and improve circularity within the supply chain.

Plastic Odyssey A laboratory vessel, representing plastic waste reduction and recycling.

Creator (EU Horizon Project) aiming to remove hazardous flame retardants from plastic waste. CREAToR will cover the whole value chain, starting from collecting thermoplastic waste streams from building and construction (B&C) and from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). The project will implement ways to collect secondary raw materials, identify the presence of hazardous flame retardants, remove these contaminants from the materials and finally reuse the materials. As case studies they will be reused as valuable secondary raw materials for new B&C insulation panels, closing the circle of economy, for automotive interior application, and for producing 3 D printed parts for aerospace applications.

PUReSmart (EU Horizon Project) seeks ways of transitioning from the current linear lifecycle of polyurethane (PU) products to a circular economy model. The PUReSmart consortium is an end-to-end collaboration spanning the entire polyurethane reprocessing value chain and gathering nine partners from six different countries.

The Circular Flooring project (EU Horizon Project) aims to establish a circular recycling process for post-consumer PVC floor coverings.

PolyCE (or Post-Consumer High-tech Recycled Polymers for a Circular Economy - EU Horizon project) consists of a consortium of 20 expert organisations that are working together to significantly reduce the use of virgin plastics and enhance the use of recycled plastics in new electronics applications.

River Cleaning Current solutions include boats with draft systems, net systems or barriers that temporarily close the river’s viability. Each installation requires specific means and specific studies, resulting in high costs; it is also extremely difficult to create permanent installations precisely because of the inconveniences they involve The solution we studied is a solution with a very low environmental impact, modular and able to adapt to any watercourse. In the study of this project, physical simulation tests were performed using software, and prototypes were built and tested to verify their functionality

The Gravity Wave are specialists in the collection of plastics in the Mediterranean Sea and our goal at Gravity Wave is to reduce plastic pollution as much as possible to have a plastic-free ocean in the future.

Seabin Project The idea was if there was rubbish bins on land, why not in the water? Over time, the scope of the project evolved into a comprehensive research, technology, and educational initiative with global interest and reach. The world’s marinas, ports and yacht clubs are the perfect place to start helping clean our oceans. With no huge open ocean swells or storms inside the marinas, these relatively controlled environments provide the perfect locations for Seabin installations.

Clean Earth Rovers A company that develops innovative technologies to fight the plastic pollution crisis. We plan on using autonomous technology and rovers that clean the World's oceans, highways, and water systems to remove, prevent, and repurpose the plastics and trash that litters our fragile ecosystems.

Clear Blue SeaClear Blue Sea’s innovation is FRED – the Floating Robot for Eliminating Debris. FRED is a solar powered marine vessel capable of harvesting floating marine debris. Our mission is to help ensure the survival of the marine ecosystem and the health of the maritime economy by removing macro and microplastic debris from our oceans and returning the marine environment back to clear blue seas.

Seven Clean Seas (SCS) is an Ocean Cleanup Organisation based in Singapore. Seven Clean Seas have developed the world’s first plastic-offsetting service. We work with companies to pull plastic out of the ocean on their behalf.

Ichthion Limited Ichthion has developed award-winning technology that can remove greater volumes of plastic from the world’s rivers and oceans than all existing technologies.

The Ocean Cleanup is a non-profit organization developing and scaling technologies to rid the oceans of plastic. To achieve this objective, we have to work on a combination of closing the source and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean and doesn’t go away by itself. This goal means we plan to put ourselves out of business – once we have completed this project, our work is done.

Matter. filters capture the plastic pollution entering our wastewater, not only ensuring life-sustaining clean water for everyone, but also transforming microfibres from a waste to a valuable resource.

Clusters & Organisations:

Marine Recycling Cluster Our companies form a value chain when it comes to mapping, analysis, clean-up and processing of marine waste.

Circular Innovation Lab connect and collaborate with with National governments, UN agencies and International Organisations to create circular economy solutions that drive the circular economy transition.

Circular Packaging Cluster is a cross-industrial collaboration aiming at creating the world’s most efficient and circular packaging value chain. Our main objective is to facilitate the creation of the world’s most efficient and circular value chain for packaging. It is ambitious, but not entirely unattainable. In Norway, we already have the world’s most efficient system for reverse vending. This development was made possible through significant collaboration between manufacturers, R&D, trade partners and the business community as such. Our partner Tomra Systems and the reverse vending company Infinitum are constantly requesed by trade partners around the world to show and tell more about that success. So even though we have high ambitions, we have some significant domestic role models. Our joint work combines environmental benefits for our society and the global environment with economic growth, strengthening business competitiveness for Norwegian companies and their international partners.

NOSCA Clean Oceans will be a world leader in marine protection against oil spills, plastic waste and algae. NOSCA Clean Oceans will be an arena where members collaborate to develop relevant technology, services, value chains and markets for detection, classification and management of marine oil spills, plastic waste and undesirable effects of algae. The collaboration will give the members a competitive and adaptive edge that they cannot create on their own. NOSCA Clean Oceans will create international market leaders in the detection, classification and handling of marine oil spills, plastic waste and (toxic) algae, through increased restructuring and innovation.

Fraunhofer Cluster Circular Plastics Economy CCPE want to make the plastics value added chain circular, to extract fewer fossil resources, to make products smarter, and to reduce end-of-life losses. The switchover from a linear to a circular plastics economy only succeeds with a multi-stakeholder approach. To this end, we are researching systemic, technical, and social innovations – over the entire life-cycle of plastic products – in three divisions and six research departments. The Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Circular Plastics Economy CCPE on the way to make the plastics value added chain circular, to extract fewer fossil resources, to make products smarter, and to reduce end-of-life losses. The switchover from a linear to a circular plastics economy only succeeds with a multi-stakeholder approach. To this end, we are researching systemic, technical, and social innovations – over the entire life-cycle of plastic products. Fraunhofer CCPE combines the knowledge of six Fraunhofer Institutes: Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology UMSICHT, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP, Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML, Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and Fraunhofer-Institut für Verfahrenstechnik und Verpackung IVV.

Infinitum Bottle deposit system in Norway