NextWave Plastics

"Winning an UN SDG Action Award has strengthened NextWave member companies' commitment to drive the innovation needed to address this market need and achieve a circular economy. It has also solidified our intention to protect the marginalized communities who make our work with ocean-bound plastic possible."

Dune Ives, Executive Director of Lonely Whale

GLOBAL – 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.

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. NextWave aims it to divert a minimum of 25,000 tonnes of plastics, the equivalent to 1.2 billion single-use plastic water bottles, from entering the ocean by the end of the year 2025.

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.

What is new with this initiative since winning an UN SDG Action Award?

Falling on the heels of NextWave’s UN SDG Action Award win was the launch of its Social Responsibility Framework, a guide for organizations to provide for the social responsibility of all ocean-bound plastic waste pickers. There are about 20 million waste pickers around the globe, responsible for 60% of the world’s recycling, including plastic that would otherwise end up in the ocean. The framework equips brands and organizations with the tools they need to ensure waste pickers achieve safe working conditions, inclusion and equitable pay and livelihoods.

NextWave has also formally joined the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership as a member, and their efforts have led to their recognition in two additional respected sustainability accolades in 2021, the Business Intelligence Group Sustainability Awards and the Reuters Responsible Business Awards.