DECIEM commits to remove 1M kilograms of plastic waste by 2028
Ocean-bound plastic waste is rising at an alarming rate, with millions of tons entering marine environments each year.
USA – DECIEM, the parent company of The Ordinary, has partnered with 4ocean, a global environmental cleanup organization, to pledge the removal of one million kilograms of ocean and ocean-bound plastic waste by 2028.
This commitment is equivalent to removing approximately 40 million plastic bottles, specifically compared to The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid 7% Exfoliating Toner bottles.
The partnership directly supports 4ocean’s global cleanup operations, funding the removal of plastic and trash from coastlines, rivers, and oceans.
DECIEM’s sustainability approach includes more than 85% of its packaging being curbside recyclable and keeping plastic to about 13% of total packaging materials.
Anika de la Flor, Director of Environmental Sustainability at Deciem, stated, “We are constantly working to reduce our impact on the planet. One of the ways we’re doing this is by increasing the use of recycled materials in our packaging to reduce waste and protect marine life.”
“Our partnership with 4ocean allows us to take this commitment further, helping us not only lower our plastic footprint as a business but also remove plastic from our oceans. These small but intentional actions matter – for our industry, our planet, and our shared future.”
Despite being a consumption-based company, DECIEM acknowledges the challenges of achieving full sustainability but is committed to minimizing its environmental impact.
Therefore, the partnership with 4ocean exemplifies its effort to actively address existing plastic pollution through tangible cleanup actions rather than merely focusing on reducing usage.
This initiative builds on DECIEM’s ongoing efforts to reduce waste and use sustainable materials while funding large-scale plastic cleanup to make a visible difference over the next three years.
Meanwhile, Ocean-bound plastic waste from the beauty and cosmetics industry is rising sharply due to excessive packaging, microplastics in formulations, and poor waste management near coastal regions.
According to CSIRO and the University of Toronto, an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic now sit on the ocean floor.
A 2025 study published in Nature found that microplastics are not just on the surface, but are distributed throughout the ocean, from surface waters to the deepest trenches.
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