HP Inc. and IKEA Join Initiative to Develop First Global Network of Ocean-Bound Plastics Supply Chains

NEW YORK CITY, Oct. 22, 2018 /3BL Media/ – NextWave Plastics announces two new member companies – HP Inc. and IKEA – are joining its consortium of worldwide businesses committed to scaling the use of ocean-bound plastics by developing the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains. The addition of HP and IKEA marks 10 companies collaborating to “turn off the tap” of plastic entering the ocean.

HP and IKEA bring considerable leadership to addressing ocean-bound plastics that will contribute to all NextWave companies pushing the boundaries of what they know to be possible.

Since announcing in September 2016 that it would join the First Mile Coalition to clean up plastic waste and create economic opportunity for the people of Haiti, HP and its partners have successfully built a fully functioning ocean-bound plastics supply chain using bottles collected in Haiti. Today, the company announces it has sourced 250 tonnes of ocean-bound plastics from Haiti - more than 550,000 pounds - and created more than 600 income opportunities for adults in the country. That’s more than 12 million plastic bottles that have not entered the Caribbean Sea and instead are being upcycled into Original HP ink cartridges.

By opening a new market opportunity, generating a steady revenue stream and partnering to improve conditions for the workers, HP is helping to create sustainable jobs and bring opportunity and dignity to the collector community.

In June 2018, IKEA announced its updated sustainability strategy, with new commitments to become people and planet positive by 2030. Commitments included removing single-use plastic products across its stores by 2020 and designing all IKEA products with new circular principles by 2030, with the goal to only use renewable and recycled materials.

Both HP and IKEA recognize the importance of joining forces with other like-minded entities to not only scale their own ocean-bound plastics supply chain efforts, but to also extend across industries to make it commercially viable for all so maximum impact can be realized.  

“While HP has already demonstrated our commitment to sustainable impact by eliminating ocean-bound plastics and reusing them in our products, we firmly believe in the power of collaboration. We want to scale our collective efforts amongst industry leaders, work together to address barriers and engage others in the quest for an ocean free from plastic. We have a responsibility to take the critical steps necessary to reduce plastic pollution. Collaboration within and between industries is one of those critical steps.”-- Stuart Pann, chief supply chain officer

“The consequences of plastic pollution are severe and IKEA is determined to contribute to its solution in a positive and proactive way. Together with other NextWave companies we will be developing a global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains, learning from each other’s efforts and working together to ensure maximum business, community and environmental benefit. Our goal is to make ocean-bound plastic a commodity for the future, and we want to take initiatives to prevent plastic from ending up in the ocean in the first place. We hope this membership will lead to new learnings and new innovations and that we can inspire other companies to follow.” -- Lena Pripp-Kovac, sustainability manager, Inter IKEA Group

HP and IKEA will join founding members Bureo, Dell Technologies, Herman Miller, Humanscale and Interface at the fifth annual Our Ocean Conference, taking place Oct. 29-30 in Bali, Indonesia, where their engagement will be formally announced. Hosted by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, Our Ocean is focused on generating commitments and taking actions to maintain the sustainability of our oceans. NextWave member companies will share their current impact and their joint commitment to scale their impact and address the marine litter crisis at a global scale.

In 2017, as part of a United Nations commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14, Dell Technologies and Lonely Whale launched NextWave Plastics. The goal was to build on Dell’s ocean-bound plastic program launched in 2016 and bring together a cross-industry consortium of companies to work together in a collaborative, open-sourced and transparent fashion to create the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains and scale the use of ocean-bound plastics.  

“As we’ve become more engaged in the challenges facing our oceans, it’s become increasingly clear that the solution to marine plastic pollution requires bold innovation and open collaboration,” said Kevin Brown, chief supply chain officer at Dell Technologies. “No company can solve this issue alone, and we are excited to welcome new member companies to the cause and continue to encourage others to work together to further advance NextWave’s mission and prevent even more plastic from entering the ocean.”

Since its launch, NextWave member companies including Bureo, Dell Technologies, General Motors, Herman Miller, Humanscale, Interface and Trek Bicycle, have each been developing their product use cases to demonstrate the viability of integrating ocean-bound plastics found in areas such as Indonesia, Chile, Philippines, Cameroon and Denmark, into their supply chains. The addition of new member companies supports greater demand for these plastics and strengthens supply chain stability.

NextWave has been noted as a 2018 Fast Company World Changing Idea and was recognized on October 20, 2018, as the winner of the P4G 2018 Circular Economy Award sponsored by the Danish Government for its commitment to the significant reduction of ocean-bound plastics. NextWave’s collaboration across and within industries, and their partnership with governments and NGOs, is a key feature of this recognition.

“If we sit on the sidelines or work within our own four walls, the fate of our ocean is well known to us,” said Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale and managing director of NextWave. “With rising levels of plastic pollution, increasing warming and acidification, our ocean is in crisis. In turn, our future is at risk. Where others are planning for change, NextWave companies are making a difference today through the development of commercially viable and operational ocean-bound plastics supply chains and integration of this non-virgin material into products and packaging. Their work has only begun and the hill to climb is high, but by working within and across industries, these global leaders will inspire the change on and in the water that is necessary to ensure a healthy planet.”

NextWave member companies are currently sourcing verified ocean-bound plastics from Cameroon, Chile, Denmark, Haiti, Indonesia and the Philippines. They are committed to expanding supply chain efforts in those countries and adding new sources of supply from a minimum of three additional countries including India, Taiwan, Thailand by the year 2025. Through these efforts, NextWave companies will also expand the types of material sourced and will work closely with other supply chain development initiatives to create scale within priority communities.

“It’s inspiring to see organizations from various industries and market competitors joining forces to innovate and improve the supply chain,” said Erik Solheim, UN Environment executive director and under-secretary-general of the United Nations. “The companies behind NextWave are bold leaders standing up for our ocean and battling against the millions of tonnes of plastics that end up in it each year.”

NextWave Member companies are committed to having maximum impact today and currently are on track, in alignment with UN SDG 14.1, to have diverted 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. There is currently more than 86 million tonnes of plastic in our ocean. And each year, up to 12 million tonnes of new plastic will enter the ocean. Given this crisis, NextWave Members are continually looking for ways to have more impact.

For more information on NextWave, visit www.nextwaveplastics.org. You can also connect with NextWave on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Bureo

Bureo, based in the US and Chile, is focused on finding solutions for the growing issue of plastic pollution in our oceans and initiating social change. Bureo’s Net+Positiva program provides fisherman with environmentally sound disposal points, while Bureo receives highly recyclable and durable raw materials. Headquartered in California, Bureo is a certified B-Corporation, a member of 1% for the Planet, and is a participating company in Patagonia's Tin Shed Ventures Fund, an internal fund supporting likeminded start-up companies having a positive impact on the environment. To find out more visit: www.bureo.co.

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies is a unique family of businesses that provides the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important asset, information. The company services customers of all sizes across 180 countries – ranging from 99 percent of the Fortune 500 to individual consumers – with the industry's most comprehensive and innovative portfolio from the edge to the core to the cloud.

About General Motors (NYSE:GM)

General Motors is committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Cadillac, Chevrolet,Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, Maven, its personal mobility brand, and Cruise, its autonomous vehicle ride-sharing company, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

About Herman Miller

Herman Miller is a globally recognized provider of furnishings and related technologies and services. Headquartered in West Michigan, the 113-year-old company has relied on innovative design to solve problems wherever people work, live, learn, and heal. With recognizable designs as part of museum collections worldwide, Herman Miller is a past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and has been ranked number one on Contract Magazine’s list of “Brands that Inspire” for four straight years. Known and respected for its leadership in corporate social responsibility, Herman Miller has earned numerous global sustainability and inclusivity awards including the Human Rights Foundation’s top rating in its Corporate Equality Index for 11 years in a row. In fiscal 2018, the company generated $2.38 billion in revenue and employed nearly 8,000 people worldwide. Herman Miller trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR. www.hermanmiller.com/about-us

About HP Inc.

HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com.

About Humanscale

Humanscale leverages new technology and functional design to transform traditional offices into active, intelligent workspaces. As the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products, Humanscale improves the health and comfort of work life. Committed to making a net-positive impact on the earth as well as our customers, Humanscale offers award-winning products designed with a focus on function, simplicity and longevity. For more information, visit www.humanscale.com.

About IKEA

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently 419 IKEA stores in 49 countries, including 48 in the U.S. IKEA has been included in rankings of “Best Companies to Work For” and strives to be an employer of choice. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.

About Interface

Interface Inc. is a world-leading modular flooring company with a fully integrated collection of carpet tiles and resilient flooring. Its modular system helps customers create interior spaces while positively impacting the people who use them and our planet.

Interface’s mission, Climate Take Back™, invites industry to join the company as it commits to running its business in a way that is restorative to the planet and creates a climate fit for life. For additional information: interface.com and blog.interface.com. Follow Interface on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and Vimeo.

About Lonely Whale

Lonely Whale is an award-winning incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful market-based change on behalf of our ocean. Founded in December 2015 by Adrian Grenier and Lucy Sumner, Lonely Whale is inspired by the power of community to create the change needed to ensure a healthy planet. Lonely Whale is working towards a new era of radical collaboration, together facilitating the creation of innovative ideas that push the boundary on current trends in technology, media and advocacy that positively impact the health of our ocean. Lonely Whale’s work has been recognized by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, the Shorty Awards, and the ADDY Awards. Lonely Whale is a proud supporter of the UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign. To learn more and support, visit www.lonelywhale.org or follow @LonelyWhale.

About NextWave Plastics

NextWave Plastics is a collaborative and open-source initiative convening leading technology and consumer-focused companies to develop the first global network of ocean-bound plastics supply chains. Since its launch, NextWave member companies have been developing their product use cases to demonstrate the viability of integrating ocean-bound plastics found in areas such as Indonesia, Chile, Philippines, Cameroon and Denmark, into their supply chains. To learn more, visit www.nextwaveplastics.org or follow @NextWavePlastics.

About Trek Bicycle

Headquartered in Waterloo, Wisconsin, Trek Bicycle Corporation is a global leader in bicycle design and manufacturing. From the original hand-built steel touring frames introduced in 1976 to the revolutionary OCLV Carbon first introduced in 1992, Trek’s passion for innovation, quality, and performance leads the industry with next-generation thinking and cutting-edge technology.