Avient Corp. to expand recycled ocean plastics use

Avient Corp., a sustainable material service provider based in Cleveland, has announced it is collaborating with Los Angeles-based Oceanworks, a digital marketplace for ocean and averted plastic resins and textiles, to help customers incorporate recycled ocean plastics in their products. 

According to a news release from Avient, the two companies will work to expand their portfolio to include new thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastics. The expansion builds on their previous launch of reSound R, a recycled content TPE in 2020. 

Both products will be based on Oceanworks Guaranteed base resins, verified through third-party labs to ensure they are free of contamination. Oceanworks will also provide source validation so that brands can confidently and transparently share the story and impact of these materials.

“Customers want to utilize recycled ocean plastics, but many times don't know how to source or evaluate it," says Walter Ripple, vice president of sustainability for Avient. "Through this new collaboration, customers now can incorporate recycled ocean plastics solutions to help them achieve both performance and sustainability goals." 

Avient says that its solutions with Oceanworks' recycled ocean plastics content will be available globally and can be utilized in several TPE and engineered thermoplastic formulations.

"Avient will help us to further extend the usage of recycled ocean plastics to specialty formulations and applications," says Rob Ianelli, founder and president of Oceanworks. "Their global customers represent a wide range of end markets that value the addition of recycled ocean plastics. Every ton of at-risk plastic waste successfully averted on its path to the ocean is part of the solution. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to drive further customization and scale in collaboration with Avient."