Tide Ocean

About Tide Ocean

Tide Ocean SA is a Swiss company founded in 2019 that transforms ocean-bound plastic waste into a sustainable raw material for various industries. The company was established as a spin-off from the Swiss watchmaking industry by Thomas Schori, who leveraged his experience from his family's watch strap business, the Braloba Group, to explore using plastic waste as a resource. Along with co-founder Marc Krebs, Schori collaborated with the Swiss University of Applied Sciences to create a mechanical upcycling process that regenerates plastic waste into high-quality granules, yarn, and filament without the use of chemicals.

The company's business model is built on creating social, environmental, and economic value. Tide Ocean establishes collection networks in regions heavily affected by plastic pollution, such as Southeast Asia and Mexico, paying local communities and fishermen to collect plastic waste from coastlines and islands. This waste is then processed at local facilities, such as the one established in partnership with the Jan & Oscar Foundation in Thailand, ensuring a traceable and controlled supply chain. The resulting award-winning material, #tide ocean material®, is used by over 80 global brands, including Tom Ford, Maurice Lacroix, and Hugo Boss, for products ranging from watches and furniture to apparel and automotive parts.

Tide Ocean provides a sustainable alternative to virgin plastics, claiming its process reduces CO2 emissions by up to 80%. The company sells its recycled materials in the form of pellets for plastic injection, yarn for textiles, and filament for 3D printing to a global client base of manufacturers and brands. The company has received multiple awards for its approach, including the Swiss Plastics Award and the Swiss Ethics Award. It has also secured funding and support from entities like the Swiss Technology Fund to scale its operations.