Lonely Whale

This Spring, the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize, a rigorous, global competition powered by Lonely Whale to source and vet marine-safe alternatives to traditional thin-film plastic, awarded three winners.?Today, we are delighted to announce our next phase – the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator. Together with The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and TOM FORD BEAUTY, we will support the winning innovators at Sway, Zerocircle, and Notpla scale their marine-safe, seaweed-derived alternatives to traditional thin-film plastics. Join us as we work together to #UnwrapTheFuture! unwrapthefuture.org

We’re excited to return to See Change Sessions' flagship event this September 17–19 to participate within the #packaging track. Created in partnership with our friends at Atlantic Packaging, See Change Sessions' packaging track will be led by Brandi Parker and will include a diverse lineup of innovators, from Sebastien Bregeaud of the Prize-winning innovation team at Notpla to experts like Eric Liedtke, Wes Carter, Caroline DeLoach, as well as influential venture capitalists like Bridget Croke of Closed Loop Partners. Join us and learn more about our collaborative efforts to #UnwrapTheFuture! Use code LONELYWHALE at https://lnkd.in/eBkDtfms

At #Glastonbury this weekend? Stop by the bioluminescent seaweed pavilion at Silver Hayes for a sneak peak of our forthcoming documentary directed by Jake Sumner: SEAWEED STORIES. Hosted by our friends at WaterBear Network, this special preview screening is a truly unique opportunity bringing together art and advocacy to help #unwrapthefuture. We couldn't be more excited!! See you in the fields and stay tuned to learn more about the film...

Over the last year you may have wondered: How do I use my #skills to support #solutions to thin-film #plastic? ?? Well, here's your chance! Peruse the open positions at Sway, Zerocircle and Notpla at the links below. ?? Sway is seeking a Seaweed & Sourcing Specialist https://bit.ly/4cuOLZi ?? Zerocircle is seeking a Graphic Designer https://bit.ly/3VCZ1Yx ?? Notpla is seeking a Head of Formulation & Process https://bit.ly/4btoOIE #jobopportunity #innovation #hiring #plastic #seaweed #solutions

We're thrilled to celebrate the launch of Sway x Florence Marine X's collaboration. Born out of the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator, this pilot is a showcase of how we can collaborate to advance new materials and #unwrapthefuture of innovation. Florence's pilot with Sway's seaweed-based packaging debuts with the limited edition board short which founder John John will be rocking this summer on sport’s biggest stage in #Tahiti. It was an honor to have had John Florence as an inaugural Prize Judge and thrilled to see his continued leadership alongside his team at Florence through this pilot. We can't wait for what's next! ?? #innovation #seaweed #biomaterials #collaboration

This #WorldOceansDay, we are honored to celebrate the impact driven by our TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator program. Since awarding the Prize winning innovators Sway, Zerocircle, and Notpla at the Green Carpet Fashion Awards in March 2023, we have collaborated with our coalition of 19 Early Adopter brands to help advance market adoption of their trailblazing seaweed-based materials. We are delighted to share a glimpse into the impact we’ve achieved so far – but this is just the beginning. In order to #unwrapthefuture we need widespread adoption of alternatives and a dramatic reduction of traditional thin-films in order to reduce #plastic waste so that life below water can flourish. Dive deeper on unwrapthefuture.org and join us. Narrated by Prize Judge Danni Washington.

Unwrapping the future this #WorldOceansWeek. To celebrate the close of our TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Accelerator program, we brought together our community of partners and Prize winners in New York City to showcase their innovations designed to displace traditional thin-film plastic. Nearly all of this flexible material is made from a fossil fuel-based feedstock – but not the innovative materials from our three Prize winners: Sway, Zerocircle, and Notpla. Thank you to our partners TOM FORD BEAUTY, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Phillip Sarofim’s Trousdale Ventures for supporting our initiative to #UnwrapTheFuture; to the The Explorers Club for hosting us and to MOSS Sea Moss Beverage, The Lost Explorer, and Il Palagio Wines for donating dynamic refreshment.

We look forward to celebrating #WorldOceansDay tomorrow at the United Nations. Now, more than ever, it's time to #AwakenNewDepths of action and innovation that puts the ocean first. Join virtually: UNWorldOceansDay.org

We are delighted to see NextWave Plastics' impact recognized by the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership and KPMG’s latest report: “Circular Industry Solutions for a Global Plastics Treaty.” Since 2017, #NextWave members have worked in collaboration to divert 25,000 tonnes of #oceanbound plastic by the end of 2025 in line with #SDG 14.1 and in support of a #circulareconomy. We are honored to have co-founded this initiative with Dell Technologies and continue to amplify its efforts alongside our partner, and #NextWave's current convener, The Circulate Initiative. #plastictreaty #circularity #oceanboundplastic

Last month we had the opportunity to join Sway at their #EarthMonth x #ClimateWeekSF labwarming. We were delighted to have had Tim Silman, MPP, MBA share more about the TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize, powered by our team, and Sway’s first place win. The magical alchemy of real-world connections is potent - and the diverse community of attendees showcased the power and importance of radical collaboration to help #unwrapthefuture.