O'Neill Blue - Our Ocean Mission

OUR OCEAN MISSION

O'Neill Blue is O'Neill's commitment to protect the oceans for generations to come. Our Ocean Mission is to minimise the impact on our planet and become a front runner on sustainability. This began in 1996 when Jack O'Neill founded the Sea Odyssey charter as a commitment to educating the youth about ocean conservation. Today, O'Neill carries on the spirit of Jack in protecting our playground.

"The ocean is alive and we've got to take care of it"

– Jack O'Neill

OUR MISSION PILLARS

MAKE BETTER PRODUCTS

We strive for continuous product improvement and innovation. As part of this commitment, we steadily increase the share of preferred materials in our collection. Our Product Team works with our Preferred Materials List, selecting materials based on impact scoring and future circular system preferences – this is a key tool in our development process.

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SUPPLY CHAIN GOVERNANCE & POLICIES

We actively work to achieve full supplier compliance with our Code Of Conduct and to attain complete visibility and transparency in our supply chain. The ongoing collaboration in projects of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives remains a top priority, with the aim of enhancing and expanding our due diligence processes while fostering collaboration to improve working conditions across our value chain.

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POSITIVE IMPACT

In 1996, Jack O'Neill launched O'Neill Sea Odyssey, an educational program emphasising the significance of ocean and environmental preservation. To this day, we continue to explore new ways to carry forward Jack's original legacy. Taking part in numerous projects, we are especially proud of our partnership with Save The Waves Coalition and Africa’s surf mentorship program, Surfers Not Street Children.

OUR BLUE INITIATIVES & MATERIALS

O’Neill Blue is our product collection containing sustainable materials. We are proud to say that from wetsuits and lycra to outerwear and apparel, our product line is transitioning to a larger offering of sustainable products. But we won’t stop there... we are dedicated to our long-term mission to move 100% of our product line into our O’Neill Blue collection.

More Sustainable Wetsuits

All our Hyper Series wetsuits are built using more sustainable and recycled materials, and hence are a part of our O'Neill Blue range. Hyper Series wetsuits feature Recycled Plastic, Recycled Oyster Shells, Solvent Free Lamination, Dope Dyed Yarn, Limestone Neoprene and Eco Carbon Black to reduce our carbon footprint.

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More Sustainable Wetsuits

Yulex® Plant-Based Rubber

Yulex® foam requires less energy to produce than traditional neoprene, and uses renewable plant-based ingredients. In combination with recycled internal and external jerseys, the carbon footprint of each & every wetsuit featuring Yulex® is greatly reduced.

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Yulex® Plant-Based Rubber

REPREVE® Recycled Fabrics

We use REPREVE® made from recycled PET bottles cleaned and woven into our yarns. The yarn is then spun using the highest quality recycled fibre chips and flakes certified by U TRUST® to verify claims. This form of synthetic fibres relies on fewer greenhouse gases and conserves water and energy in the process.

REPREVE® Recycled Fabrics

BLOOM™️ Algae

BLOOM™ algae biomass is a natural component added to the existing EVA of our sandals footbeds as an alternative material resource.

BLOOM™ reclaims harmful algae blooms and turns them into something useful. This process cleans water, lessens CO2 pollution and restores aquatic habitats.
Algae is naturally found in almost every ecosystem in the world and does not compete for freshwater resources or land that is required to grow food. It also produces more oxygen and captures more carbon than forests. BLOOM™ Algae is harvested from environmental restoration and protection projects in North America and Asia.

BLOOM™️ Algae

ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon

We use ECONYL® from regenerated nylon to help close the loop. Made from waste, it's infinitely recyclable and can offer many possibilities for reuse. It's all part of the ECONYL® brand vision to make the world a better place by pioneering closed loop regeneration processes and delivering more sustainable products.

ECONYL® Regenerated Nylon

Recycled Polyamide

We use recycled polyamide to divert materials away from our oceans and towards long-lasting garments. Since virgin polyamide is known for its difficulty in breaking down, we see its reuse as a solution towards reducing waste and ocean pollution. Additionally, by using recycled fibres, fewer greenhouse gasses are emitted and water and energy are conserved in the process.

Recycled Polyamide

Recycled Polyester

We use recycled polyester to give a second life to materials that are not biodegradable and would otherwise end up in landfills or the ocean. When compared to virgin polyester, recycled polyester can achieve the same finished quality using less energy and reduced CO2 emissions.

Recycled Polyester

Animal Welfare

Even though O’Neill only has few styles containing wool materials, we have set a strict animal welfare policy in our purchasing requirements. To guarantee this, all virgin wool we use should be either organic or certified on yarn level according to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or an equivalent standard.

Animal Welfare

Recycled Boardshorts

Nearly all our board shorts are made from recycled materials, whilst delivering best in class performance.

Recycled Boardshorts

Recycled Snow Collection

100% of our snow jackets and pants now feature recycled materials.

Recycled Snow Collection

Recycled Sun Protection

Our women’s Bahia collection of rash vests and surfsuits are now made from recycled lycra.

Recycled Sun Protection

Recycled Wetsuit Packaging

The protective bags that our wetsuits are shipped in are 100% recycled plastic protective bags.

Recycled Wetsuit Packaging

Save the Waves Coalition

O’Neill has partnered with the non-profit organisation Save The Waves Coalition to support their global efforts to preserve surf ecosystems. Both organisations share a joint mission focusing on protecting the oceans and the lasting legacy of surfing. In 2023, Save The Waves Coalition celebrated its 20th anniversary, gaining recognition for protecting, stewarding and defending surf ecosystems on an international scale with projects spanning across Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Costa Rica, the Maldives and beyond. O’Neill actively supports Saves The Waves Coalition’s goal to have 1000 surf ecosystems preserved by 2030 through various projects and activations.

Save the Waves Coalition

Sea Odyssey

In 1996, Jack established the O’Neill Sea Odyssey (OSO), a marine and environmental education program. A living classroom was created onboard the 65-foot catamaran sailing the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, where 4th-6th grade students receive hands-on lessons about the marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment. It is free of charge, but students earn their way into the program by performing a project to benefit their community.

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Sea Odyssey

Surfers Not Street Children

O’Neill is a proud supporter of Surfers, Not Street Children, a non-profit organisation that helps vulnerable children in Durban, South Africa and Tofo, Mozambique. The SNSC program fuses surfing, mentorship, and care to transform children's futures as they build a life of self-sustainability and independence.

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Surfers Not Street Children