Sustainable Brands I Love: Oceanfoam

A foam roller made with algae? Say WHAT?! 🤯

I’m always interested in the places where sustainable living overlaps with things I already enjoy. Movement is one of those things. So when I learned about Oceanfoam—a company incorporating algae and recycled materials into workout products—it felt VERY aligned with what I love sharing here. (Shoutout to Lifetime Fitness for supporting and working with this newer, rad brand!!) 🙌🏼

First, how the frick does algae become a foam roller?

Oceanfoam works with BLOOM™, a material that helps clean water ecosystems while reducing reliance on traditional plastics. The algae gets turned into an ingredient manufacturers can use in foam(!).

Want more? Okay… so algae is collected, dried, ground into powder, and blended with polymers to make pellets. Those pellets can then be used to manufacture foam products. BLOOM™ algae comes from nutrient-polluted water sources including areas of excess growth and water treatment facilities.

Algae is an important part of aquatic ecosystems, but excessive growth can cause problems. (did you know: algae is the fastest growing plant on the planet?!) Harvesting the excess algae can help address that overgrowth while providing a material that replaces some conventional fossil-based ingredients.

That’s the part I LOVE: taking something (A) that can be a problem in one setting and finding a beneficial use for it (B), while ALSO reducing reliance on something else we want to quit using (C). 🤓

So what’s actually in the roller?

Oceanfoam says its rollers have an outer layer made with 15% BLOOM™ algae foam pellets, blended with EVA foam. The inner core uses 80% recycled foam sourced from material left over during yoga-mat manufacturing. 👏👏👏

Even though the entire roller isn’t made from algae, it’s refreshing to get this level of detail.

These products still contain some conventional foam. What I appreciate is that they are finding ways to replace some virgin material AND use another product’s leftovers in something functional. Hello circularity!

The cleanup commitment

Oceanfoam also funds the removal of one pound of ocean plastic per order through its partnerships with 4ocean and Ecodrive. This is a separate initiative from the recycled content in the rollers; and a commitment to giving back in another meaningful way!

Why I care

As a business owner, I’m always interested in learning how companies build sustainability into the products and services they sell in a profitable way. Many people think it will always cost more, but when you look at the bigger picture, that isn’t the case.

Oceanfoam is coming at this in a really unique and exciting way.

If your current roller is doing its job, keep using it. But if you’re looking for one—or a useful gift for someone who loves movement and recovery—check out my friends at Oceanfoam! They also sell yoga blocks, ball rollers, workout mats, beach totes + more 🤩

Check out Oceanfoam’s products and materials here.

With less waste and lots of love,

Ali