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Recycling ocean-bound plastic at the IWK: Professor Daniel Schwendemann and Alex Ramsauer are testing #tide ocean material

100% Ocean-bound plastic

#tide ocean material® is a recycled raw material made of 100% ocean-bound plastic that comes in different forms: Pellets (or resins & granules), yarn & canvas and filament. The recycled material is certified ocean-bound plastic and replaces virgin plastic without loss of quality.

How? In partnership with Professor Daniel Schwendemann and his team at the Swiss University of Applied Sciences, #tide has developed a scientific based mechanical recycling process to regenerate the molecular chains of ocean-bound plastic.

Transformation into safe, durable products

Exposed to UV rays, salt water and sand, ocean plastic gets dirty and brittle. #tide knows the recipe to bring this waste back to virgin level and therefor to transform single-use plastic into a high quality awarded raw material for safe and durable goods.

By using #tide's recycled plastic in their factories and production lines, brands and manufacturers protect the oceans, reduce their carbon footprint, save fossil ressources and participate in an eco-friendly circular economy. And, of course, they also benefit from the excellent properties of plastics (e.g. density, moldability, durability, lightweight, resilience), which can be influenced by the manufacturing process.

Contact our R&D Team
Fisherman Palinya in the Andaman Sea with a boat load of ocean-bound plastic waste which becomes recycled #tide ocean material

Step 1

Collecting Plastic

The ocean-bound plastics are collected on islands, beaches, along coastlines and uncontrolled landfills. Exposed to sun, sea, sand and rain, the plastic waste is dirty, brittle – but also threatening the environment. We pay fair wages to fishermen and local communities who are picking up the plastics.

A worker in #tide's social enterprise in Ranong is sorting the plastic waste to prepare it for further recycling

Step 2

Sorting & Shredding

The material is sorted in Social Enterprises: A plastic bottle for instance often consists of three different kind of plastics: PET (bottle), PP (screw cap) and PET-G resins (label). The local teams make sure that these plastics are separated, cleansed and pressed to bales for further processing. We collect different kinds of plastics: PET, PP, HDPE or LDPE.

Professor Schwendemann and his assistant at the IWK OST are controlling the quality of #tide ocean material

Step 3

Controlling

The processing and recycling of plastic waste is overseen and monitored by #tide's Research and Development department and our partners at the Institute for Materials Technology and Plastics Processing (IWK), a specialized branch of Switzerland's University.

The scientists make sure the material meets our quality standards and is upcycled according to a mechanical method developed in close partnership with the Swiss University of Applied Sciences. The brittle plastic waste is transformed into a premium second life raw material with an astounding level of purity – and without adding any virgin plastics.

#tide is transforming ocean-bound plastic flakes into granules, pellets and resins thanks to recycling know-how, technology a high quality industrial supply chain

Step 4

Target oriented Compounding

Our raw material consists of 100% recycled ocean-bound plastics. We are recycling and upcycling the plastic waste, and know how to align the properties. Depending on the final product, our experts know how to align the properties of the collected and upcycled plastic waste with the manufacturing process. Every product has its own specifiations – and we have the knowledge and the network to make the impossible possible. We call it target oriented compounding.

Compounding ocean-bound plastic flakes and creating a new quality raw material at the IWK OST

Step 5

Manufacturing

There's way too much single-use plastic ending up on landfills, in rivers and finally in the ocean: It's our big goal to change this by applying our upcycled material to all kinds of industries and products. #tide ocean material is a raw component ready for all possible plastic and textile applications. It can be processed to filaments, yarns and fabrics (canvas). Our scientists and partners continue to research continuously new application and processing possibilities, from foil extrusion to blow molding.

Resin pellets and granules made from 100% ocean-bound plastic: #tide ocean material.

Certifications

Our #tide ocean material®'s supply chain is certified by the Global Recycled Standard and the recycled Claim Standard. Additionally, #tide is Ocean Bound Plastic certified. Strict protocols are in place to monitor and guarantee our unmatched quality standards.

Awards

#tide ocean material® has been awarded several times for its holistic and global approach: A technological solution to fight pollution while creating a social and environmental impact

Professional project support

#tide is not only selling ocean-bound plastic, #tide also offers a professional project support throughout the entire value chain: from the initial idea and the raw material selection to the process engineering support for machines and the final recyclate.

#tide ocean material circular economy

Clients benefit from #tide's control over the whole supply chain and its innovative approach of a target oriented recycling: #tide helps to check the feasibility of a final product at an early stage. Our specialists know the technical properties, share Technical Data Sheets and their know-how when it comes to the application of recycled and upcycled plastics: #tide's internal technologists and external research departments secure the technical lead in the development of new material properties.

Thanks to our collaboration with scientific partners from the Institute for Material Technology and Plastic Processing, we have access to Switzerland's leading research institution for component design and production in plastics technology including their wide range of technical facilities:

  • Injection molding machines

  • Extrusion lines

  • Weathering equipment

  • DSC measuring device

  • Residual moisture device

  • MFI/MVR measuring device

  • Light booths

  • Photospectrometer for color and material analysis and archiving

The team at the IWK also works with a state-of-the-art technical infrastructure, with which we are able to simulate customer requirements:

  • Flat film line

  • Blown film line

  • Rolling mill and press

  • Bottle blowing machine

  • Injection molding machine

  • Pipe extrusion line

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Ocean bound plastic collection thailand team member #tide ocean material

Traceability

Transparency is key

Transparency has been at the core of Tide Ocean's business model since day one. It is central to building trust and we promise to become the most trusted label for upcycled ocean-bound plastic. Period.

how we track our materials