Every year on June 8th and for the week that follows, the planet-conscious world comes together to celebrate the vast and vital life-force that is the ocean. Life as we understand it is intertwined with the ocean, whether we choose to recognise this or not. It’s easy to overlook the critical role that the ocean plays in sustaining our lives and ecosystems, and that’s why World Ocean Day is so important, especially to our team here at OCEANR. For one week of the year, we are allowed to shout about the importance of reviving our oceans even louder than we usually do!
At OCEANR, our work is rooted in a love for the sea and a desire to protect it for future generations by choosing to do business sustainably and ethically. We believe it is important to take a step back and look at the bigger picture — and that’s exactly what World Ocean Day allows us to do.
We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation — to us, this represents meaningful change towards doing business sustainably and ethically. We know that that fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world, but we also believe in fashion’s power to change, and we are proud to be a part of a growing wave of companies reimagining what it means to do business sustainably. Click here to read our Sustainability Report and learn more about our efforts.
We believe that every piece of clothing created in the OCEANR production facility is a statement. We are committed to producing premium, purposeful apparel that puts the planet first. We ensure that the planet is at the heart of everything we do. At OCEANR, every piece of clothing that we produce is a statement in environmental stewardship and sustainability. We are building a brand that puts the planet and the people on it first in our decision-making process. For World Ocean Day, we are taking a step back to remind ourselves that the ocean is at the heart of everything we do.
Where did it all begin?
Beginning in 1992, World Ocean Day was established by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean institute of Canada to celebrate the ocean and encourage the world to recognise its importance. World Ocean Day was initially observed by NGOs before becoming an officially recognised day on June 8th 2008 by the United Nations. Since then, World Ocean Day has evolved into a significant global event that brings together all areas of society, from environmentalists to policy-makers and even brands.
World Ocean Day works to effectively unite groups that would not typically collaborate under a single, shared mission — protecting the ocean for generations to come.
Why does World Ocean Day matter?
We don’t need to sink into conversations about climate catastrophe to acknowledge that over 8 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans each year. Combined with overfishing and rising sea temperatures, it’s plain to see how critical the situation has become for marine life. It’s equally important to recognise though, that damage to ocean ecosystems extends far beyond the water, affecting coastal communities and global economies.
World Ocean Day should be seen as a call to action. It brings global attention to the far-reaching effects that damage to our oceans has on the wider health of the world. There is truly no better time than World Ocean Day to call for tangible, meaningful changes in personal habits, business and government policies, and community practices. From beach cleanups, to educational programmes or community initiatives — every step in the right direction counts towards a positive, long-term change in ocean conservation.
Where does OCEANR fit into World Ocean Day?
At OCEANR, every decision that we make is rooted in our values – people, planet, product. We are committed to sustainability and our love of the ocean is what grounds us and propels us on our mission to create premium apparel that puts the planet first.
What began as a single day of celebrating the ocean has grown into an entire week of recognising the importance and power of the ocean. This week-long effort allows for a more inclusive and sustained approach to ocean advocacy. It also provides businesses, nonprofits, and communities a greater opportunity to highlight their ocean-positive initiatives and collaborate toward real-world solutions.
At OCEANR, every decision we make is guided by our commitment to sustainability and our love for the ocean. We believe apparel should not only look good but do good. As part of this global movement, we see World Ocean Week as a chance to amplify our mission and educate others on the power of conscious consumerism. Click here to read our Sustainability Report and learn more about our efforts.
By choosing eco-friendly materials, reducing our environmental footprint, and supporting marine conservation efforts, we are doing our part to turn the tide. But we know this can’t be done alone—it takes a collective effort. This World Ocean Day, we invite you to learn more, do more, and wear your values proudly. Together, we can each make a small difference that goes a long way towards protecting our planet.
Preserving our Oceans by Going Circular
We believe that future of the fashion industry is circular. This means creating products with their end-of-life in mind, actively working to ensure that they never become waste, ultimately entering our oceans. At OCEANR, we are actively working to implement systems that encourage reuse, repair, and recycling.
Our circular business initiatives include:
- Take-back programmes, so that worn OCEANR items can be returned and repurposed into new items such as laundry bags.
- Recyclable packaging and eco-friendly shipping practices, as proven by our recent DHL GoGreen Plus certification.
- Purposeful, premium clothing, built for longevity, ensuring that our partners buy and therefore waste less.
When fashion is built to last, the planet breathes easier, and the ocean is allowed to regenerate.
Giving Back to the Oceans this World Ocean Day, and Every Day
We understand that meaningful change goes beyond our own brand. That’s why we actively make an effort to partner with NGOs across the globe who make direct contributions to conserve our planet’s ecosystems.
With every OCEANR purchase, a portion of that sale is reinvested into our environmental partnerships, such as:
- Ocean clean-up efforts
- River plastic pollution clean-ups with our partner in Indonesia, Plastic Fischer
- Coastline preservation projects through planting mangrove trees with our partner in Kenya, SeaTrees
- Attending community events that celebrate sustainability efforts and boost education efforts
By aligning our mission with NGOs on the frontline of ocean conservation efforts, OCEANR becomes part of a greater ecosystem of change.
Using World Ocean Day to Recognise that our Choices Matter
Every time you purchase or wear a piece of OCEANR clothing, you aren’t just wearing apparel, you are wearing your values. Wearing sustainable clothing means that you are choosing to support a future where fashion is clean, ethical, and ocean-friendly.
This World Ocean Week, we encourage you to take a closer look at your wardrobe, your habits, and your impact. Whether you’re on a beach and decide to pick up some plastic, support other ocean-positive brands, or simply educate yourself and others about the wider impact of conscious consumerism, your actions matter.
Together, on World Ocean Day, we can each make steps and decisions to protect the thing that connects us all – the ocean.
