At Olive and Rufus, every bag we make starts with a simple question: what if the materials we use could do good before they even reach your hands? The answer, for us, is Ocean Bound Plastic — and we think it's one of the most important innovations in sustainable manufacturing today.
What is Ocean Bound Plastic?
Ocean Bound Plastic (OBP) is plastic waste that has been collected before it reaches the ocean. It's found within 50 kilometres of a coastline — in rivers, beaches, and communities where waste management infrastructure is limited. Without intervention, this plastic would almost certainly end up in the sea.
By collecting and recycling this plastic, we give it a second life — transforming what would have been pollution into something durable, functional, and beautiful.
Why Does it Matter?
Every year, an estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enters the world's oceans. Once there, it breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, harm marine life, and persist in the environment for hundreds of years. The damage is vast and largely irreversible.
Ocean Bound Plastic programmes tackle this problem at the source. By intercepting plastic before it reaches the water, we prevent pollution rather than trying to clean it up after the fact. It's a proactive approach — and a far more effective one.
Where Does Our Ocean Bound Plastic Come From?
The recycled Ocean Bound Plastic used in our bags is sourced from coastal communities, primarily in South Asia, where plastic pollution is most acute. Collection programmes work directly with local communities, providing income and infrastructure while removing plastic from the environment.
The collected plastic is then cleaned, processed, and spun into the high-quality recycled fabric used to make our daypacks. The result is a material that's strong, weather-resistant, and carries a story worth telling.
Our Certification — Not Just Our Word
We believe sustainability claims should be backed by independent verification. That's why both the Ocean Bound Plastic we use and our manufacturer hold official Ocean Bound Plastic certification. This means every step of the supply chain — from collection to production — has been independently audited and verified to meet rigorous OBP standards. When you buy an Olive and Rufus bag, you can be confident that our sustainability credentials are certified, not just claimed.
Is Ocean Bound Plastic the Same as Recycled Ocean Plastic?
Not quite. Recycled ocean plastic is collected from the ocean itself — a much harder and more expensive process. Ocean Bound Plastic is collected before it enters the water, making it more practical to collect at scale and process into high-quality materials. Both approaches matter, but OBP programmes can operate more efficiently and support more communities.
Why We Chose Ocean Bound Plastic
We could have used conventional recycled polyester, or even virgin materials. But we wanted our bags to stand for something more. Ocean Bound Plastic lets us make a product that's genuinely better for the planet.
Every Olive and Rufus bag diverts plastic from our oceans, supports coastal communities, and proves that premium design and responsible manufacturing aren't mutually exclusive.
Explore our full collection of Ocean Bound Plastic daypacks — made to last, made to matter.