Tide ocean expands into Thailand

Tide ocean (#tide) is on the mission to collect more than 600'000 pounds of ocean-bound plastic in a year. The startup collects plastic from oceans and transforms it into sustainable products and by using what already exists, #tide is closing the circle of plastic production and saving fossil energy. Still, in its first operational year, #tide has already processed 150 tons of ocean-bound plastic. 

The startup is expanding its solution into Southeastern Asia where it has been working with the Jan & Oscar Foundation. Due to the high demand, #tide’s founder Thomas Schori signed a partnership agreement with the foundation to establish a circular economy system in the region. On 5 surrounding islands in the Andaman Sea, local fishermen are trained and paid for collecting and sorting plastic which is then registered, washed and sorted in Ranong before it is shipped to Switzerland with a carbon-neutral footprint. In Switzerland, #tide will upcycle the plastic and transforming it into granules and yarns that are used for new sustainable products. 

The newly established subsidiary will be led by the Swiss scientist Michel Pardos as the operational director. Pardos is already running a social enterprise in Ranong, which is being implemented and supported Jan & Oscar Foundation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Together with his associate, Joachim Ung, Pardos will help scale up #tide’s presence and supply chain in Thailand whilst guaranteeing the credibility, traceability and humanitarian background of #tide ocean material 

“We are more than happy about the partnership with Michel Pardos and the Jan & Oscar Foundation with whom we share the passion for nature, humanity and innovative business concepts”, said Schori.

(Press release/RAN)