4ocean is one of the only companies in the world that supports full-time captains and crews recovering plastic waste and other man-made debris directly from the open ocean and environments where plastic is at high risk of entering the ocean. This includes select rivers as well as vulnerable coastal ecosystems like mangrove forests, coral reefs, estuaries, and beaches. Thanks to you, the teams we support are out there seven days a week.

4ocean is both a B-corp for-profit and a non-profit! Why? We’re glad you asked.

4ocean started as a B-corp because our CEO and Co-Founder, Alex Schulze, wanted to build a lifestyle brand, a legacy in the sustainability sector, a successful social enterprise, and an impact-based business that could fund plastic cleanup from the ocean. Speed was the #1 priority, and we deemed that using a B-corp to sell our now-iconic bracelets that symbolize the ocean plastic crisis could get us there the fastest. It was also faster for a B-Corp to get the business permits needed to rapidly open operations and start cleaning the ocean.

To advance its mission even further – and at the request of global organizations that wanted to help –, 4ocean opened a non-profit division to work hand-in-hand with governments, businesses, and NGOs to create an even bigger ocean clean-up impact.

The Clean Ocean Club Membership, with its exclusive Members-only perks and the FREE Founders’ Kit, is part of 4ocean’s for-profit division. 100% of our profits go towards our mission of cleaning the ocean.

If you’d like to make a donation to our non-profit division instead, click here to learn more.

4ocean is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and operates out of these locations:
- Boca Raton, Florida, USA
- Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
- Medewi, Bali, Indonesia
- Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia
- Banyuwangi, Java, Indonesia

Plastic pollution disproportionately impacts poor and marginalized communities around the world, so it’s especially important to us that our operations have a direct impact on social, environmental, and economic issues in the local community.

That’s why all of our captains and crews live in the same communities we serve. It’s also why all of our bracelets are handcrafted by local artisans in Bali.

The jobs we enable provide the reliable source of income these folks need right now while creating new opportunities for education, growth, prosperity, and wellness for each employee and every member of their family.

4ocean is a company that supports full-time captains and crews to recover plastic waste and other man-made debris from the world’s ocean, rivers, and coastlines. We’re one of the only companies in the world that supports staff cleaning the ocean 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

We have direct oversight of all cleanup operations and do not use volunteers or hire parties, and all of our captains and crews work full-time and receive a fair living wage, healthcare, and additional benefits.

Why? Because we set ethical operating standards, establish proactive safety measures, enforce strict safety guidelines, and ensure that every member of the crew is of legal working age.

Our crews specialize in recovering plastic waste directly from the ocean as well as rivers and coastlines where plastic is at a high risk of entering the ocean. Our crews recover all types of plastic waste and man-made debris from the environment includin metal, glass, rubber, electronics, etc. Besides all this our crews follow a strict documentation process that allows us to trace the origins and handling of each and every pound of trash we recover.

All of our cleanups are certified through on-site visits and data audits conducted by trusted third parties like the Better Business Bureau to ensure we’re maintaining the highest degree of transparency, accuracy, and accountability.

Our captains and crews are required to follow a strict documentation process that allows us to trace the origins and handling of each and every pound of trash we recover from the world’s ocean, rivers, and coastlines.

The following data is recorded for every single cleanup: date, location, duration, crew members involved, the weight of each sack of recovered debris, and the total weight of all trash collected. We also document every cleanup visually with before, during, and after photos to prove we’re recovering plastic directly from the environment (versus a landfill or collection center). All photos are overlaid with timestamps and geographic data.

All recorded data and photos must be reviewed and verified by the location manager before they are uploaded to the 4ocean TrashTracker. If data is inaccurate or incomplete, or the photos don’t meet our rigorous documentation standards, they are not uploaded into the TrashTracker or counted toward our total pounds pulled.

The 4ocean TrashTracker is a proprietary digital system that’s regularly audited by third parties like the Better Business Bureau to ensure we’re maintaining the highest degree of transparency, accuracy, and accountability.

Recovered plastics are transported back to local facilities in Florida and Indonesia, where they are weighed, documented, washed, and sorted by type and color. What happens next depends on the type of plastic:

- Some plastics are shredded and/or recycled to create new 4ocean products that fund our cleanups and advance our mission.

- Some plastics are taken to a local recycling center where they are processed into raw materials that other manufacturers can use to create new products without using virgin plastic.

- Plastics that can’t be recycled may be extruded and used to create things like plastic lumber.

- When we’ve exhausted every other option, plastics at the end of their lifecycle are either responsibly landfilled or sent to the Solid Waste Authority in West Palm Beach, Florida – one of the most advanced, efficient, and low-emission waste management facilities in the United States – where it’s converted into energy that powers thousands of homes and businesses in our local community.

All 4ocean bracelets are handcrafted by local artisans in Bali with components made from recycled materials, including our recovered ocean plastic.

100% recycled 4ocean Plastic cord

- Marine debris recovered by our crews is transported to a local 4ocean facility where PET plastics are sorted from the rest of our recovered materials

- Recovered PET plastics are stripped of their labels, hot washed, shredded, melted, and extruded into pre-production plastic pellets (i.e., they’re recycled)

- Recycled 4ocean Plastic pellets are sent to our U.S. manufacturing partner where they’re spun into yarn, dyed, and coated in 100% beeswax to preserve the color

100% recycled stainless steel charms

- We partner with a manufacturer in China to produce all of our custom bracelet charms from 100% recycled stainless steel

95% post-consumer recycled glass beads

- A portion of the glass bottles collected by our crews are mixed with other post-consumer recycled glass to produce the volume we need to satisfy demand

- A little bit of raw silica is added to the recycled glass mixture to give our beads strength and durability; note that the addition of the silica is the only reason why our beads are not certified as 100% recycled content

- Once formed, the beads are cut to size and a hole is drilled in the center

Handcrafted by local artisans

- All recycled material components are distributed to skilled artisans in Bali, where they are hand-woven into the variety of intricate patterns found in our bracelet collections

- Our artisans carefully collect all discarded cord and beads so they can either be reused or recycled into other bracelets

FYI: We’re still transitioning older inventory to 100% recycled 4ocean Plastic cord

The plastic we recover is often extremely degraded due to environmental exposure and it took a lot of trial and error to figure out how to make a quality bracelet cord using only our recovered materials.

We officially transitioned to 100% recycled 4ocean Plastic cord with the re-release of our Signature Beaded Bracelet in August 2022. While a handful of bracelets were made with 100% recycled 4ocean Plastic cord prior to this date, the rest were made with 100% post-consumer recycled plastic cord with only small amounts of our recovered ocean plastic mixed in.

​Some of the bracelets made with 100% post-consumer recycled plastic cord are still available on our website and will transition to 100% recycled 4ocean Plastic cord when it’s time to replenish that inventory. For full transparency, material composition is listed on the product page for every item in our shop.

Yes! 4ocean was founded by surfers, so all of our bracelets are designed to be worn in and around the water.

Our 100% waterproof bracelets are made with recycled plastic cord, recycled stainless steel charms, and recycled glass beads.

Note that you may experience some color fading if your bracelets are frequently exposed to the elements. This is a totally normal part of the aging process that makes each and every 4ocean bracelet unique!

4ocean bracelets are unisex, waterproof, and adjustable from 7–13 inches (roughly 18–33 cm) to ensure they fit you just the way you want.

Most 4ocean bracelets are adjustable from 7–13 inches (roughly 18–33 cm).

To make your bracelet bigger, pinch the two end beads and pull your hands apart.
To make the bracelet tighter, pinch the ends of the two loose cords and pull your hands apart.

​Watch this video for a quick tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAj-mFfcDsY

Every 4ocean bracelet is handcrafted with an adjustable slipknot for size inclusivity and easy wear.

Our skilled artisans know that these knots loosen over time with regular use, so they’re tied extra tight when you first get them.

You can break in your bracelet and loosen the knot by soaking it in warm water for a few minutes and repeatedly adjusting your bracelet to pull the two threads back and forth through the knot.

To make the bracelet smaller, tug the two loose ends in opposite directions. To make the bracelet bigger, pinch the last bead on either side and pull in opposite directions.

Watch this video for a quick tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAj-mFfcDsY

We make it a point to depict our products as accurately as possible, but slight variations should be expected.

Computer monitors often have different display settings and resolutions that can make colors appear slightly different than they are in person. Colors also look different under different kinds of lighting (i.e., daylight vs. fluorescent lighting).

Plus, all of our bracelets are made individually by hand which can result in slight variations in thread color and weave.

You may also notice that the color of your bracelet changes over time with exposure to water and different elements.

Every 4ocean bracelet tells a story and we cherish these variations because they make each bracelet distinct and uniquely yours!

Yes! Our bracelets are made from recycled materials and are 100% recyclable.

​Just check your local recycling guidelines to see how to recycle; you may need to separate the glass beads and stainless steel charms from the plastic cord before they’ll be accepted.

We offer free returns for domestic orders if it is within 30 days of the delivery date.

Please reach out to our customer service team directly by emailing info@4ocean.com or click here to contact us.

​If you live outside the United States, and need to make a return or there’s something wrong with your shipment or order please reach out to customer service at info@4ocean.com a crew member would be happy to help.

(1) For Orders to U.S. Addresses
Choose Standard Shipping for delivery 6-9 business days after processing.
Choose Expedited Shipping for delivery 2-4 business days after processing.

(2) For Orders to International Addresses
International orders are typically delivered within 7–14 business days of processing.
For International USPS Shipping, please allow a few extra days for the completion of customs paperwork and processing at international shipping facilities. This process can take up to 30 business days at certain times of the year.

Many international orders are subject to tariffs/duties that are not included in your order total at the time you checkout; these fees vary based on location and are the sole responsibility of the consumer. To eliminate surprises, please familiarize yourself with your country’s rules, regulations, tariffs, and duties before placing your order.

​* Business days are defined as weekdays from Monday to Friday; weekends and public holidays are not included

All orders are shipped from South Florida.