The Buoy Story
Buoy transforms waste OceanBound plastic into BPA-free, food-grade recyclable drink products — replacing single-use products made from virgin plastic with a far more sustainable alternative.
Discarded plastic is recovered from communities, coastlines and waterways where inadequate waste management puts it at risk of entering the ocean. Manufactured in California in a facility using solar energy, Buoy is bringing the circular economy to life.
How do Buoy products help the plastic waste problem?
Affordable, durable and flexible, plastic pervades modern life, appearing in everything from packaging to clothes to beauty products. But it is thrown away on a massive scale and, according to the UN, every year more than 280 million tonnes of short-lived plastic products become waste.
Key findings from a 2022 OECD report were:
- Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years, driven by growth in emerging markets. Global plastics production doubled from 2000 to 2019 to reach 460 million tonnes. Plastics account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Global plastic waste generation more than doubled from 2000 to 2019 to 353 million tonnes. Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes from plastics with lifetimes of under five years, with 40% coming from packaging, 12% from consumer goods and 11% from clothing and textiles.
- Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled (15% is collected for recycling but 40% of that is disposed of as residues). Another 19% is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems and goes into uncontrolled dumpsites, is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in poorer countries.
- In 2019, 6.1 million tonnes (Mt) of plastic waste leaked into aquatic environments and 1.7 Mt flowed into oceans. There is now an estimated 30 Mt of plastic waste in seas and oceans, and a further 109 Mt has accumulated in rivers. The build-up of plastics in rivers implies that leakage into the ocean will continue for decades to come, even if mismanaged plastic waste could be significantly reduced.
All Buoy products are made from recycled OceanBound HDPE (high-density polyethylene) that has been collected, sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into bottles, coffee cups and food containers, offering a sustainable alternative to products made from virgin materials.
OceanBound Plastic
Beach and ocean cleanings are very important, but the primary need is stopping the flow of plastic into the oceans. Plastic must be intercepted in rivers and other watercourses before it can enter the oceans, rubbish must be collected in coastal regions where there is poor or no waste management, and local communities need to be educated about the environmental impact of ocean pollution.
Buoy has partnered with Envision Plastics, a global recycling company that is active in many countries collecting OceanBound plastic that can be recycled into new products. This effort leads to investment in these communities, funding infrastructure and giving paid work to local people.
HDPE plastic is more expensive to source, but it is essential for Buoy to have the most impact on the environment. Each Buoy bottle is made from approximately 214 grams of recycled HDPE plastic – rubbish that might otherwise have entered waterways or oceans.
Unique Bottle Design and Function
During the bottle design process, Buoy introduced a unique feature – a second opening in the middle of the bottle. This feature allows for easier filling and cleaning plus the ease of adding ice cubes, addressing a common complaint with reusable drink bottles.
There are 12 base colours in the range (see below), from primary colours to pastels, giving over 1700 colour combinations owing to the 3-part modular design. This offers plenty of scope for customising the look of a bottle as well as adding branding or patterns around the base section. Custom colours to match brand PMS colours are available on demand too.
Featuring clever design innovation led to the Buoy bottle receiving the prestigious Red Dot ‘Best of the Best’ Award in 2024. Read more here to find out why the jury made their decision.
Corporate and Organisation Branding
Makeadifference.Eco supports organisations that require drink bottles and other products for events, staff merchandise, trade shows plus sports teams, educational and other organisations. Please enquire for further details.
We look forward to speaking to you soon to see how we can help you in reaching your sustainability goals and, at the same time, providing a great looking product for your staff, customers and supporters.
Authorised Australian Distributor
Makeadifference.Eco Pty Ltd. is a registered Australian business and the sole authorised distributor for Buoy LLC products in Australia.
We are fully committed to supporting Buoy’s mission to create functional, modular and beautifully designed products for everyday life while keeping materials in circulation through thoughtful use, reuse and recycling.
The Buoy Range
