Zero Co, an innovative Australian company, is making significant strides in tackling the global plastic problem and protecting the ocean.

Zero Co

Zero Co, an innovative Australian company, is making significant strides in tackling the global plastic problem and protecting the ocean.

Their mission is twofold: firstly, to extract plastic waste from the ocean on a large scale without depending on government or charity funding, and secondly, to establish a closed-loop supply chain to eliminate the production of single-use plastic from the outset.

To realize this vision, Zero Co has developed a unique supply chain that leverages Forever Bottles made from a combination of recycled materials and ocean plastic.

Customers use these bottles at home and refill them using pouches made from recycled plastics diverted from landfills. These pouches, once used, are returned to Zero Co for cleaning and refilling, thereby creating a truly sustainable cycle of use.

Initially, Zero Co collaborated with a Danish company to process plastic collected from the Java Sea into packaging.

This project included auditing their supply chain, working closely with local communities involved in ocean cleanups, and ensuring the recycled plastic was transformed into their first-generation Forever Bottles.

Despite initial challenges in verifying the exact proportion of ocean plastic in these bottles due to supply chain complexities, Zero Co has committed to enhancing transparency and ensuring the integrity of their products.

In a pivot towards more localised solutions, Zero Co has been working tirelessly to establish an Australian-first supply chain. This involves partnering with not-for-profit organisations for ocean cleanups within Australia, recycling the collected plastic locally, and manufacturing new packaging from this material.

Their efforts have led to collaborations with Ocean Crusaders and Parley, contributing to significant cleanup operations, including setting a world record for the longest solo underwater ocean cleanup in Sydney Harbour.

Zero Co’s ambitious project has now evolved to include processing Australian ocean and beach plastic combined with landfill-bound plastic to create a new material called OBL (Ocean, Beach, and Landfill bound plastic).

This initiative not only addresses ocean waste but also tackles the inefficiencies in traditional recycling systems, with a shocking 85% of plastics intended for recycling ending up in landfills instead.

Through these innovative efforts, Zero Co is on the verge of producing their Forever Bottles entirely in Australia, using 50% OBL, with aspirations to increase this to 100% OBL. This journey is marked by continuous learning, testing, and an unwavering commitment to transparency and sustainability.

Zero Co’s approach not only provides a solution to the plastic waste problem but also fosters community involvement and awareness about the importance of ocean conservation. Their model serves as an inspiring example of how businesses can lead the way in environmental protection through innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to sustainability​​​​.

Originally published at Future Custodians.