Oceans, seas, and lakes are not only brimming with fish and other kinds of marine life but are a very important part of the world’s ecosystem. It’s sad to note that man has been polluting the oceans and seas in the last 60 years or so, and plastic is one of the major elements that is being dumped in the waters.
Ingestion of microplastics is one of the dangers that is not only affecting marine life but is also posing a threat to humans when we eat fish as part of the food chain. Even if you don’t, there are so many products containing plastic waste that we can hardly stay clear of them. They cause cancer and breathing difficulties in humans, as well as affect many species of marine life.
One of the ways we can lower the risk of plastic pollution is by recycling ocean-bound plastic waste. These may be defined as those plastic-based products that are found within 50 kilometers of coastlines. Monga Bay, an environmental site, reported that there were 358 trillion microplastic particles floating on the surface of the world’s oceans in 2023, while another 14 million tons lie on the seabed. So, we should make every effort to reduce ocean-bound waste by recycling it before it reaches the seabed.
One way of doing this is to create products from ocean-bound plastics. There are many firms that use recycled ocean-bound plastic lighting and other materials in the manufacture of their finished products. Let’s find out how these top brands are integrating recycled ocean plastic into creating artisan lighting products for eco-conscious consumers!
Methods of Collecting Ocean-Bound Plastic
Ocean-bound plastic refers to plastic that is likely to enter the ocean if not collected effectively. It helps control pollution in our oceans. There are three main methods of OBP collection.
Addressing Potential OBP
This refers to plastic waste that has a high possibility of reaching the ocean if not collected. You can use volunteers, employees, or pay people to collect plastic waste. You can also purchase ocean-based plastic from independent large or small collectors that are located within 50 kilometers of the coastline.
Collecting OBP from Waterways
It is estimated that 80% of the world’s OBP comes from waterways. It is more challenging to collect ocean waste from this source. You can ask your own volunteers or mandate a workforce experienced in this type of waste collection. Independent contractors must use methods to supervise the process thoroughly, such as tracking and geo-collection. It ensures that the area is adequately covered.
Managing OBP from Shorelines
Here, we are dealing with collecting OBP from beaches and coastlines. Once again, you can use your own workforce or volunteers. It also requires supervision with technological methods. Buying OBP from small collectors is not permitted for waterways and shoreline collection.
Efforts to collect OBP are crucial for safeguarding marine ecosystems and preventing further environmental degradation. Implementing effective collection methods requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, environmental organizations, and local communities.
Top Brands Leading the Charge: Ocean Bound Plastic Lighting Companies
Anova Recycled Ocean Bound Products
Anova is an established lightbulb manufacturer based in China that makes highly sustainable products from recycled materials. Part of its product range includes ocean-based recycled lighting products. The products are sourced from entangled fishing nets from which marine life is rescued. Then, these nets are recycled. Crushed fishing nets provide the raw material to create lighting products for bulbs and other electrical implements.
Some of its products include the LED Light Driver, the Triac Dimmable LED Driver, the Anti-Glare LED Downlight, and the Recessed Ceiling LED Downlight. Downlights come in various sizes and lighting power so they can provide a relaxed and cozy look to your home or office.
The mini spotlight and LED small cabinet light are perfect for lighting up small spaces such as window sills and cabinets. They are small and thin in shape. The adjustable beam spotlight has different beam angles and is easy to replace. There is a range of other lights that are used for various purposes and are made from ocean-bound plastic that is recycled.
The LightArt Reclaimed Ocean Plastic Coil Collection
The LightArt company has recently introduced the latest brands of the award-winning Coil Collection. These are pendants made from ocean-bound and shoreline plastics. The Seagrass and Sea Foam varieties are available in two new shapes and colors. These are the first pieces in LightArt’s Coil Collection made from fully recycled OBP materials. LightArt partnered with Oceanworks, a plastic action platform that helps firms reduce their carbon footprint by using plastic from the world’s oceans. This promotes sustainability and transparency.
The Coil Collection’s recycled ocean plastic lighting is sourced from mismanaged plastic waste within 31 miles of the coastline, while its shoreline-based plastic is ocean waste collected near the seashore. Each ocean-sourced Coil pendant converts one pound of waste into a beautiful light fixture.
The Sea Foam light fixture is a soft white pendant 100% created from ocean-bound plastic. This includes water bottles, plastic bags, and other items that would find their way to the ocean. The small spherical fixture is available in large and small sizes and can be purchased singly or as a clustered arrangement. The Seagrass pendant is shaped like a teardrop and has a deep green color akin to sea kelp. It is made mostly of near-shore plastic that comprises ropes, trawls, and fishing nets. Both types of light fixtures are designed from polypropylene, which gives a better see-through finish and allows more light to pass through.
The new collection has a PVC-free cord and comes with TGIC-free powder-coated hardware. Both pendants have the Performance Lighting Core, a solid-state lighting solution that has a higher range of color temperatures, beam spreads, lumen outputs, and dimming options compared to a traditional lighting fixture.
The LightArt company even gives the option for the users to return the product to them at the end of its useful life so they can recycle it again. It even promises to pick it up from their homes to make the process more convenient.
The E3 Lightbulb Manufacturing Company
This Danish company has created a lightbulb that is made of sustainable materials. It is all the more unique because it has been made entirely from ocean-bound plastic. The size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has been estimated to be 1.6 million square kilometers and exists between California and Hawaii. It is the largest of five gyres that are found at different locations near the coastlines. It is estimated that 8-10 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year, and 80% of all marine pollution comes from plastic.
The E3Light is an LED light with an extended life span and is made from ocean-bound waste. It also uses less electricity than halogen and incandescent bulbs. It can also be broken down and recycled at the end of its useful life, which ensures it doesn’t end up at sea or in a landfill.
The efforts of this Danish company are to be commended because it is playing its part in reducing environmental pollution and aiding efforts in transparency and sustainability. It is estimated that the amount of plastic that ends up as waste in the oceans will triple by 2040, and there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight by the year 2050. While we still make use of plastic in a variety of products, we should learn to do it more responsibly.
The Heliograf Light Soy Portable Lamp
When it comes to ocean-bound plastic lighting alternatives, one shining light is offered by this Australian product. The light can be attached to a wire and hung from a shade as well. It was developed after four years of research design and has been cleverly fashioned in the shape of a fish. It can be attached to a USB or DC connector. The bulb gives off good light and is made entirely from ocean-bound plastic.
The production process includes sourcing the materials from shoreline, ocean-based, and inland locations, tearing down the products into basic raw materials that can then be recycled, and recycling the materials to develop the lighting product. Buyers of the lamp are encouraged to return it to the manufacturer at the end of its useful life so that it can be recycled once more. The product is quite expensive but is long-lasting and sustainable.
The Petlamp Collection
The Petlamp Collection is a conglomeration of different lighting traditions made from ocean-recycled products that come from places as far apart as Thailand, Colombia, Chile, Ethiopia, and Ghana. It is a project that provides a variety of different experiences when these lights are combined into an array of versatile combinations. The collections reflect ancestral and ethnic traditions. The aim of this all is to provide diversity while giving plastic a second life. The collections feature Gurunsi, Bolgatanga, Pikul, Mapuche, Abyssinia, Chimbarongo, and Eperara Siapidara lights which have been featured in various private and public places, from government offices to libraries and restaurants.
The wide variety of materials used, from recycled ocean plastic to grasses and textiles, give it a unique touch and personalize the interior lighting decor.
Each of these designs is reflective of a particular culture and tradition and lights up the place with an individualistic style that is singularly masterful and magnificent.
Other Brands Recycling Ocean Plastic Into Everyday Products
Some of these firms include famous names like Patagonia, which makes Stretch Rainshadow Jackets from Econyl, or 100% recycled nylon yarns that partially include discarded fishing nets. Bureo uses discarded and derelict fishing nets recovered from the coast of Chile to make items as diverse as sunglasses (in partnership with Costa), skateboards, and Jenga sets. 4ocean is a company that makes bracelets and plastic-free water bottles.
Adidas teamed up with Parley for the Oceans to produce sneakers made from yarn using recycled ocean plastic. Parley will be making half of all its products from recycled polyester by 2024. United By Blue is another brand that uses 11 plastic bottles for each pair of signature board shorts. It has also created Summit tote bags and Allbright men’s rainshell jackets from plastic waste by Anova Recycled Ocean Bound Products.
Captain Blankenship makes wellness and beauty products like its Mermaid Dry Shampoo and Sea Salt Hair Spray, which are paraben, sulfate, and preservative-free, with the packaging created from recycled plastic. Outerknown is another company that uses Econyl-based products in its Evolution line, such as regenerated nylon yarn made from discarded fishing nets and other recycled plastics for making men’s jackets and women’s swimsuits.
Girlfriend Collective is another green athleisure company that makes its products from recycled ocean plastics. The leggings that they distributed as giveaways during their debut were made from 25 plastic water bottles each. The brand’s new LITE collection consists of products made from discarded fishing nets. The boat shoe company Sperry has teamed up with BIONIC yarn to create a shoe made from plastic polymers.
BIONIC manufactures polymers from ocean-based plastics. OluKai was founded in Hawaii in 2005 and is a firm supporter of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, whose Polynesian voyaging canoe, the Hokulkea, collected samples of ocean plastics from the world’s largest ocean-based garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean.
Most, if not all, of the companies mentioned above are also keen supporters of 1% for the Planet. This is a firm that certifies the commitment of organizations donating 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes.
Conclusion
Many light manufacturing companies are playing their part as responsible and conscientious organizations that will pave the way for transparency and sustainability in solutions for eco-friendly illumination.
We have looked at some of these firms and see how they are playing a leading role in recycling the use of ocean-bound plastic lighting and recycled ocean plastic lighting products that will help make the world a better place to live by reducing the world’s pollution and preventing it from being an environmental hazard.
