Ocean-bound plastic products are made from high quality, fully certified recycled plastic that has been collected from coastal areas at risk of ocean plastic pollution.
If your business is seeking ways to reduce your environmental impact, whilst still engaging with your customers, ocean-bound plastic gifts are an innovative solution. By investing in these items, your company will help to tackle the global issue of ocean pollution, and demonstrate your brand’s commitment to sustainability.
From reusable water bottles and backpacks to charging cables, notebooks and even ice scrapers, there’s a growing range of branded products being made using recycled ocean-bound plastic. Here are some of our favourites:
7 Ocean Bound Plastic Gifts
1. H2O Active ® Prevented Ocean Plastic Bottles
The H2O Active® range includes UK-made reusable bottles manufactured using Prevented Ocean Plastic™ (POP), including the Base and Vibe.
The plastic is collected from areas within 30 miles of a coastline or major waterway that feeds into the ocean. It’s then sorted, cleaned and recycled into food-safe plastic, ready to be made into new bottles.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to personalisation too, with different bottle colours, lid styles and branding options, including spot-colour and full-colour printing. You can mix and match colours to suit your brand.
Due to the nature of the recycled material, you may notice small marks or variations in the bottle body, which are a natural characteristic of the recycled plastic.
The bottles are made in the UK, traceable and recyclable, and come packaged in home-compostable bags.
View our H2O Active ® Bottle range here.
2. Ocean-Bound Plastic Bags – Waste2Gear
From backpacks and laptop bags to smaller travel accessories, the Chili Concept® Waste2Gear collection shows just how versatile recycled ocean-bound plastic can be.
The range includes practical products for everyday use, including the Onda Roll-Up Backpack, Yara Sling Bag and Molene Cabin Backpack.
Made using recycled ocean-bound plastic, these bags are designed to be used again and again, making them a great choice for employee welcome packs, customer gifts, conferences and events.
With different styles, sizes and branding options available, there’s plenty of choice depending on your budget and who you’re giving them to.
View all our eco-friendly bags here.
3. Ocean-Bound Plastic Tech Accessories
Even tech accessories are now being made using recycled ocean-bound plastic! Which is a real step forward considering how difficult it is to manufacture a more sustainable tech gadget. Plus, promotional gadgets are extremely popular as an executive gift to reward employees and loyal customers, due to the high perceived value and usefulness of the items in a digital world.
The Xoopar Octopus OBP is a compact, handy multi-connector charging cable, with the smaller Octomini offering a more compact alternative. There’s also the Octopus BT, which combines charging connections with Bluetooth audio functionality.
For something a little different, the Xoopar Triton is a compact magnetic wireless charger, offering 15W charging for compatible smartphones.
From charging cables to wireless chargers, these products show how ocean-bound plastic is being used in everyday tech accessories – with plenty of opportunities to add your company branding.
Contact us to find out more about Branded Xoopar Ocean Gadgets.
4. Ocean-Bound Plastic Notebooks
There are plenty of recycled notebooks available, but some now feature covers made using plastic collected from coastal areas at risk of entering the ocean.
Options include hardcover notebooks with recycled paper, elastic closures and ribbon bookmarks, as well as A5 and A6 notebooks with matching pens and spiral-bound jotters.
A practical choice for conferences, meetings and employee welcome packs, with the added story behind the materials used.
Looking for other options? Explore our range of eco-friendly branded notebooks made using a variety of recycled and alternative materials.
5. Ocean-Bound Plastic Pens
Pens are another everyday promotional product available using recycled ocean-bound plastic.
One example is the Recycool Ball Pen, made using recycled plastic through a collaboration with Plastic Bank, which collects plastic waste in Egypt to help prevent it from reaching the ocean.
The pen is produced in Europe, comes in a choice of colours and features a long-lasting refill with a writing length of 2,500 metres. Your company logo can also be printed on the barrel or clip.
There are other ocean-bound plastic pens available too, including styles that can be paired with matching notebooks.
A practical option for exhibitions, conferences and everyday office use, particularly if you are looking for a lower-cost branded giveaway.
Interested in branded notebooks or pens made using ocean-bound plastic? Get in touch and we can show you the options available. You can also see more eco-friendly pens here.
6. Ocean Bottle Range
Ocean Bottle is a B Corp certified reusable drinkware brand, combining practical, good-quality products with a mission to help tackle ocean plastic pollution.
The Ocean Bottle range includes reusable water bottles and insulated flasks, like the Ocean Bottle GO with its built-in straw, the Ocean Bottle Tumbler and Ocean Travel Mug for hot and cold drinks. There’s also an Ocean Bottle 3 in 1 Gift Set, making a great option for employee rewards, customer gifts and special occasions.
Made using recycled materials, these are quality products designed to be kept and used for years, with a 10-year warranty.
What makes Ocean Bottle particularly interesting is its plastic collection programme. For every bottle or flask sold, the company funds the collection of 11.4kg of ocean-bound plastic – equivalent to approximately 1,000 plastic bottles. This also supports collection communities by providing income opportunities.
Although not all the products themselves are made from ocean-bound plastic, the collection programme helps tackle plastic waste at risk of reaching the ocean.
And, of course, the products can be branded with your company logo, making them a premium choice for employee gifts, customer rewards and welcome packs.
7. More Products Made Using Ocean-Bound Plastic
If you are looking for something a little different but still want your promotional gift to be made from ocean-bound plastic – there is a growing range to choose from, including baseball caps, frisbees and even ice scrapers.
From summer events and outdoor promotions to practical everyday giveaways, there are plenty of other options to explore.
Looking for something in particular? Get in touch and we can help you find the right products for your campaign.
Why Choose Promotional Products Made Using Ocean-Bound Plastic?
It is staggering to think that an estimated 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste enter rivers, lakes and seas every year according to the UN Environment Programme.
To put that into perspective, even the lower estimate is equivalent in weight to around 475,000 fully loaded 40-tonne lorries!
Without significant action, the amount of plastic waste entering these aquatic environments could nearly triple by 2040.
So, if your company is looking for ways to make more considered choices with your branded merchandise, choosing useful, reusable products made using recycled ocean-bound plastic is one option worth exploring.
Giving Plastic Waste Another Use: Choosing products made using recycled ocean-bound plastic helps create demand for materials recovered from areas at risk of ocean pollution, giving plastic waste another use rather than relying entirely on new plastic.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Using recycled materials in your merchandise can form part of your wider sustainability efforts, particularly when the materials are traceable and the environmental claims are backed up by evidence.
Customer Engagement: Sharing the story behind your merchandise, including where the recycled materials come from, can give you an interesting talking point with customers, employees and event attendees.
Quality and Innovation: There is now a growing choice of good-quality products made using recycled ocean-bound plastic, from everyday stationery to premium bags, drinkware and tech accessories.
FAQs
What is ocean-bound plastic?
Ocean-bound plastic generally refers to plastic waste at risk of entering the ocean.
Different collection programmes have their own criteria for identifying and collecting this plastic.
How is ocean-bound plastic collected?
Plastic is collected from coastal communities and areas near rivers and waterways, where waste is at risk of entering the ocean.
Some programmes, including Prevented Ocean Plastic™, focus on plastic collected within 50km (30 miles) of a coastline or major waterway. The collected plastic is then sorted, cleaned and processed into recycled materials that can be used to manufacture new products.
Many collection programmes also work with local communities, providing employment and income opportunities in areas where waste collection and recycling facilities may be limited.
Is ocean-bound plastic the same as Prevented Ocean Plastic™?
Not exactly. Ocean-bound plastic is the broader term, while Prevented Ocean Plastic™ is a specific programme for collecting and recycling plastic waste from areas at risk of ocean pollution.
Other organisations, including Plastic Bank, also work with collection communities to recover plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.
Are products made using ocean-bound plastic recyclable?
It depends on the product and the materials used.
Some products, such as certain plastic bottles, may be recyclable through suitable recycling facilities. Others contain several materials or components that need to be separated.
We can help you check the recycling information for individual products.
Are ocean-bound plastic promotional products more expensive?
Not necessarily. Prices vary depending on the product, quantity, branding and materials used.
There are lower-cost options, such as pens, alongside premium products including backpacks, tech accessories and reusable drinkware.
How can I check the environmental claims?
Look for clear information about where the recycled plastic comes from, which parts of the product contain it and whether the supplier can provide supporting documentation or recognised certifications.
We can help you check these details when choosing your branded merchandise.
Want to know more? Read our blog about greenwashing in branded merchandise, including what to look out for when comparing environmental claims.
Interested in promotional products made using ocean-bound plastic? Get in touch with our team and we can help you explore the options available.
Steel City Marketing has been a BPMA member for over 45 years, and every customer benefits from a dedicated account manager to help with their branded merchandise requirements.
