NextWave Plastics is an open-source initiative convened by Lonely Whale, connecting and uniting traditionally competing multinational companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains. Current member companies include Dell Technologies, Herman Miller, Interface, Humanscale, Trek Bicycle, General Motors, IKEA, HP, Bureo, Solgaard, and CPI Card Group.

In just two years this initiative has collectively prevented 1,300+ metric tons of plastic from entering the ocean. There are 86 million metric tons of plastic in our ocean, and each year, 8 million more flow in. Member companies have produced 23 use cases which demonstrate that it’s not only possible, but advantageous to upcycle what is now considered a waste product and that ocean-bound plastics carry a commercial value.

Most companies keep supplier relationships and product development confidential. By building trust, developing a shared supplier network and cooperating to address shared challenges, NextWave members are creating social and environmental benefits for multiple stakeholders, including waste collectors and local communities and recyclers, thereby demonstrating that when competing companies collaborate with one another, their companies, their consumers, the economy and the world benefit from it.