Where does 4ocean operate and who does it hire to clean the ocean?

4ocean is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and operates out of these locations:
- Boca Raton, Florida, USA
- Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
- Medewi, Bali, Indonesia
- Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia
- Banyuwangi, Java, Indonesia
- Puerto Barrios, Guatemala
- El Quetzalito, Guatemala
- San Francisco del Mar, Guatemala
- Las Vegas, Guatemala

Plastic pollution disproportionately impacts poor and marginalized communities around the world, so it’s especially important to us that our operations have a direct impact on social, environmental, and economic issues in the local community.

That’s why all of our captains and crews are direct hires who live in the same communities we serve. It’s also why all of our bracelets are handcrafted by local artisans in Bali and Guatemala.

The jobs we create provide the reliable source of income these folks need right now while creating new opportunities for education, growth, prosperity, and wellness for each employee and every member of their family.

What makes 4ocean different from other cleanup organizations?

4ocean is a company that hires full-time captains and crews to recover plastic waste and other man-made debris from the world’s oceans, rivers, and coastlines. We’re one of the only companies in the world that directly hires staff to clean the ocean 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

We have direct oversight of all cleanup operations and do not use volunteers or hird parties, and all of our captains and crews are full-time employees who receive a fair living wage, healthcare, and additional benefits.

Why? Because we hire our crews directly, we’re able to set ethical operating standards, establish proactive safety measures, enforce strict safety guidelines, and ensure that every member of our crew is of legal working age.

Our crews specialize in recovering plastic waste directly from the ocean as well as rivers and coastlines where plastic is at a high risk of entering the ocean. Our crews recover all types of plastic waste and man-made debris from the environment includin metal, glass, rubber, electronics, etc. Besides all this our crews follow a strict documentation process that allows us to trace the origins and handling of each and every pound of trash we recover.

All of our cleanups are certified through on-site visits and data audits conducted by trusted third parties like GreenCircle Certified and the Better Business Bureau to ensure we’re maintaining the highest degree of transparency, accuracy, and accountability.
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How do I know you’re actually cleaning the ocean?

Our captains and crews are required to follow a strict documentation process that allows us to trace the origins and handling of each and every pound of trash we recover from the world’s oceans, rivers, and coastlines.

The following data is recorded for every single cleanup: date, location, duration, crew members involved, the weight of each sack of recovered debris, and the total weight of all trash collected. We also document every cleanup visually with before, during, and after photos to prove we’re recovering plastic directly from the environment (versus a landfill or collection center).

All recorded data and photos must be reviewed and verified by the location manager before they are uploaded to the 4ocean TrashTracker. If data is inaccurate or incomplete, or the photos don’t meet our rigorous documentation standards, they are not uploaded into the TrashTracker or counted toward our total pounds pulled.

The 4ocean TrashTracker is a proprietary digital system that’s regularly audited by third parties like the Better Business Bureau and GreenCircle Certified to ensure we’re maintaining the highest degree of transparency, accuracy, and accountability.

What do you do with the plastic you recover from the ocean?

Recovered plastics are transported back to local facilities in Florida, Guatemala, and Indonesia where they are weighed, documented, washed, and sorted by type and color. What happens next depends on the type of plastic:

- Some plastics are shredded and/or recycled to create new 4ocean products that fund our cleanups and advance our mission.
- Some plastics are taken to a local recycling center where they are processed into raw materials that other manufacturers can use to create new products without using virgin plastic.
- Plastics that can’t be recycled may be extruded and used to create thing like plastic lumber.
- When we’ve exhausted every other option, plastics at the end of their lifecycle are either responsibly landfilled or sent to the Solid Waste Authority in West Palm Beach, Florida – one of the most advanced, efficient, and low-emission waste management facilities in the United States – where it’s converted into energy that powers thousands of homes and businesses in our local community.

How is the Clean Ocean Club different from other 4ocean subscriptions?

Our other subscription offerings include:
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​- The Bracelet of the Month Club, which gets you a new 4ocean bracelet every month, while pulling 10 pounds of plastic from the ocean for $24, and

- The Plastic Offset Program, which allows you to pull 5, 9, or 18 pounds of plastic from the ocean each month, for $10, $18, and $36 a month, respectively.

Our latest membership program, the Clean Ocean Club, pulls more plastic from the ocean (25 pounds per month) and does so at a lower cost per pound (just $1.92) than any other 4ocean subscription.
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​It also comes with 5 exclusive membership benefits:

- Monthly Q&A Calls with Alex Schulze
- Monthly $15 Credit + FREE U.S. Shipping at 4ocean.com
- Quarterly Situation Report
- Access to the 4ocean Community
- The 4ocean Legacy Plaque (after 1 year)

​…and if you join the Club today, you’ll also receive the Clean Ocean Club Welcome Kit, with $134 worth of 4ocean gear, for FREE.

In short, the main reasons to join THIS membership are:

- You’ll have a greater positive impact on our cleanup operations.
- You’ll get access to greater membership benefits.

I’m already a member of another 4ocean subscription program. Can I still join the Club?

​Yes, of course! You can be a member of several 4ocean subscription programs at the same time. Alternatively, after joining the Clean Ocean Club, you can reach out to our Support Team at info@4ocean.com to cancel your previous membership.

Unfortunately, due to a difference in the systems used to facilitate the programs, we can’t simply upgrade you from our other programs to the Clean Ocean Club. Going through the order process and then reaching out to Support is the only way.
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When will I be charged?

Our system will then charge your card monthly or annually for renewals, depending on which plan you have selected.

​When you sign up for the Clean Ocean Club, your card will be charged the first month’s membership fee immediately. If you choose the annual plan, you’ll be charged the first year’s membership fee immediately.
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How can I pause or cancel my membership?

You can cancel your membership at any time by emailing info@4ocean.com.

A self-serve Customer Portal for the Clean Ocean Club is coming soon, where you’ll be able to update your payment info, as well as pause or cancel your membership without needing to contact our Support Team.
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How can I change my membership preferences and payment info?

A self-serve Customer Portal for the Clean Ocean Club is coming soon, where you’ll be able to update your payment info, as well as pause or cancel your membership.

​Expect this to launch before your first membership renewal date. In the meantime, our Support Team will be glad to assist you at info@4ocean.com with any of your membership-related questions.
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What is your refund and return policy?

Due to the nature of the Clean Ocean Club Membership, we can’t issue refunds for membership fees once they’ve been paid, as they support ongoing cleanup operations.

You can cancel your membership by emailing info@4ocean.com. Canceling means that your membership will expire at the end of the current billing cycle, and will not automatically renew.

What is your shipping policy?

As the Clean Ocean Club Membership doesn’t include any physical products, there is no need for shipping on a monthly basis. However, you can opt-in to receive the FREE Welcome Kit, to which the following applies:

United States
Orders to addresses within the 48 contiguous U.S. states (and Washington D.C.) will be shipped for FREE. Excludes Hawaii, Alaska, and all international destinations.

International
For international orders, a small shipping & handling charge applies, and will be calculated after you’ve entered your shipping address. If you’d prefer to join the Clean Ocean Club without the need to pay for shipping, you have the option of NOT selecting the Welcome Kit on the Order Form.

Please note that many international orders are subject to tariffs/duties that are not included in your order total at the time you checkout; these fees vary based on location and are the sole responsibility of the consumer. To eliminate surprises, please familiarize yourself with your country’s rules, regulations, tariffs, and duties before placing your order.

How long will it take to deliver my Welcome Kit?

The Welcome Kit will be delivered to U.S. addresses within 3-7 business days, and to international addresses within 7-14 business days. Please note that weekends and holidays do not count as business days.

How will I receive my store credit?

Included with the Clean Ocean Club is a monthly $15 store credit, redeemable at 4ocean.com.

Store credit will be rendered in the form of a unique discount code via email.

Each discount code will be valid for one month from the date of its issuance. Once a discount code expires, a new one will be generated and sent via email. Several discount codes can’t be used together or stacked, but they can be combined with other promotions at 4ocean.com.

Please note: store credit can only be used to purchase physical products listed at 4ocean.com; it can not be used to purchase subscriptions or to offset shipping costs.

The shipping policy that applies to orders made using your store credit can be found at 4ocean.com or by clicking here. For U.S. addresses, you’ll have access to free shipping as long as you remain a member of the Clean Ocean Club.