--- title: "Initiative Hopes to Put Ocean Plastics Back Into Supply Chain" id: "40880" type: "post" slug: "initiative-hopes-to-put-ocean-plastics-back-into-supply-chain" published_at: "2017-12-14T23:14:33+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T21:00:47+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/12/14/initiative-hopes-to-put-ocean-plastics-back-into-supply-chain/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/12/14/initiative-hopes-to-put-ocean-plastics-back-into-supply-chain.md" excerpt: "A group of major companies, including Dell and General Motors, are working together as part of NextWave, an initiative that hopes to put plastics that would otherwise end up in the oceans back into the supply chain." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Environment and Sustainability" - "plastics" - "recycling" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "C-Level" - "Director" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Initiative Hopes to Put Ocean Plastics Back Into Supply Chain Just because ocean waste is in the ocean doesn’t mean it can’t be brought back into the recycling stream. In fact, it might actually be a huge perk for a lot of companies. Recently, a group of companies—including Dell, General Motors, Herman Miller, Humanscale, and numerous others—announced they would join in on the [NextWave (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nextwaveplastics.org/) initiative, an effort to take the waste in the ocean and reuse it in the supply chain. [According to a news release (opens in a new tab)](https://d12v9rtnomnebu.cloudfront.net/diveimages/Dell_Lonely_Whale_Foundation_Ocean_Plastic_Working_Group_Press_Release-1....pdf) [PDF], NextWave represents the first time that plastics otherwise bound to become ocean waste have been put to commercial use. The idea is that the corporate members of the initiative—also including Trek Bicycle, Interface, Van de Sant, and Bureo—will work together to find a way to use the plastics sustainably. “NextWave members will share responsibility in development of a sustainable model that reduces ocean-bound plastic pollution at scale, while creating an economic and social benefit for multiple stakeholders,” the release states. “In addition, the group will ensure that the resulting supply chain has the infrastructure and support necessary to meet demand as well as align with globally approved social and environmental standards. Finally, the initiative will confirm the integrity of the supply chain and resulting product integration through chain-of-custody compliance and external, third-party verification of impact.” [The effort, according to Supply Chain Dive (opens in a new tab)](https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/dell-general-motors-convene-the-nextwave-of-marine-plastics-management/512851/) , comes with corporate supporters that have gained a strong reputation on sustainability. Dell, for one, has a goal of using 100 million pounds of recycled plastic by 2020. The company will likely use its plastic for purposes of packaging or during the manufacturing process. [The program, according to its website (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nextwaveplastics.org/charter) , requires its members to adhere to principles of transparency, open-source collaboration, science, and accountability. Additionally, the companies will take steps to reduce their use of single-use plastics—like straws in the lunchroom. That last part particularly makes sense considering the initiative is being supported by the [Lonely Whale Foundation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.lonelywhale.org/) , the nonprofit founded by former *Entourage* star Adrian Grenier that has drawn interest [for its anti-straw campaigns in recent years](https://associationsnow.com/2017/08/strawless-seattle-one-city-committed-straw-free-september/) . Also supporting of NextWave is the [United Nations Environment (opens in a new tab)](https://www.unenvironment.org/) program. (Cn0ra/iStock Editorial/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#Environment and Sustainability](https://associationsnow.com/tag/environment-and-sustainability/) [#plastics](https://associationsnow.com/tag/plastics/) [#recycling](https://associationsnow.com/tag/recycling/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastSustainable Events: How Associations and DMOs Are Leading the ChargeMarch 31, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/03/31/sustainable-events-how-associations-and-dmos-are-leading-the-charge/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F12%2F14%2Finitiative-hopes-to-put-ocean-plastics-back-into-supply-chain%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !