Rising Tides: Seaweed skincare, ocean jobs, and wind-powered shipping

Welcome back to Rising Tides —a LinkedIn-exclusive newsletter brought to you by Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), featuring the latest news and highlights from our growing network of 470+ ocean-based solutions and the innovative changemakers behind them.

In this edition, we learn about award-winning seaweed-based skincare , the intersectional potential between degraded salt marshes and sustainable livestock feed , a company revolutionizing how we think of wind-powered shipping , and more.

Plus, discover exciting new career opportunities in the ocean sector, upcoming events, and more.?

Let's dive in.

OCEANIUM ’s seaweed-based bioactive skincare ingredient, OCEAN ACTIVES? C+ , has won the Best New Ingredient at the 2024 Pure Beauty Awards, recognizing OCEANIUM’s commitment to developing next-generation ingredients that support both human health and ocean health.

Clinically proven to reduce redness by up to 96% and 2.5x faster than untreated skin, this award-winning seaweed bioactive combines cutting-edge efficacy with unparalleled sustainability.

In a move to enhance global shipping fleet sustainability, bound4blue has secured a landmark contract with Danish shipping company 马士基 to supply and install twenty 26-meter eSAILs? across five separate Maersk vessels.

This is bound4blue’s largest wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) agreement secured to date and is expected to deliver double-digit percentage reductions in fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions per vessel.?

bound4blue CEO & Co-Founder, José Miguel Bermúdez Miquel , describes the opportunity as a “key milestone”, adding, “The trust Maersk Tankers has placed in our technology reinforces the proven capabilities of our solution in reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while contributing to CII and FuelEU regulatory compliance.”

Ecopreneur Network members Reefgen and Blue Ocean Gear were recently awarded at the Uplink Blue Horizons: Pitching for a Regenerative Ocean Economy Contest in recognition of their efforts in protecting marine and coastal ecosystems while promoting sustainability and economic growth.?

Following live pitches before an esteemed judging panel, Reefgen and Blue Ocean Gear were awarded CHF 40,000 and CHF 20,000 respectively to fund and further scale their innovative solutions.

Seawater Solutions Co-Founder, Yanik Nyberg , was on the Investing in Regenerative Agriculture podcast to discuss the intersectional potential of utilizing saltwater plants to regenerate native ecosystems while sustainably feeding the livestock industry.

Millions of hectares of degraded marsh ecosystems have succumbed to saltwater intrusion due to the negative impacts of coastal farming. Seawater Solutions is regenerating these ecosystems by growing salt-loving ‘halophytes’ that both restore the native habitats while also creating a sustainable feedstock replacement.

In the discussion with podcast host Koen van Seijen , Yanik shared, “So, we see halophytes in these ecosystems that can grow in virtually any condition, in some of the harshest conditions, like the Kalahari Desert, as the initial feedstocks that can help support the restoration. So, if we’re creating big farms with saltwater, then we can feed cattle. They can be managed better in less of a crisis mode. They can actually be managed properly and therefore also accelerate the restoration of the native rangelands.”

Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , and YouTube .

Plastic action platform rePurpose Global , in partnership with Upaya Social Ventures and Global Business Inroads , has launched the 2025 Circular Innovation Cohort as a part of the Dignified Jobs Accelerator —a 9-month accelerator program for early-stage entrepreneurs in the plastics, and textiles & fashion waste management sector in India and Kenya.?

This program aims to support passionate, early-stage entrepreneurs who want to build and scale their businesses to create jobs and livelihood opportunities across the waste and circularity sectors.?

Applications are open until November 15, 2024.

Ocean Career Opportunities

Careers in the sustainable blue economy are booming! Now is a great chance to join this impactful industry. The following companies in Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s network are actively hiring:?

Sustainable Ocean Alliance : Associate Director, Global Hub Network

???? Type: Full-time

?? Location: Remote based in San Francisco, CA

?? Salary: $100-140K

FlexSea : Extrusion Technician and Operator

???? Type: Full-time

?? Location: On-site in Wolverhampton, England

?? Salary: Dependent on experience

PlanBlue : Electronics Engineer

???? Type: Part-time (minimum 32 hours per week)

?? Location: On-site in Bremen, Germany

?? Salary: $55-75K

ChangeNOW Call for Solutions for the Planet

Our partners at ChangeNOW are actively seeking planet-positive solutions to become a part of their Official Selection of solutions for ChangeNOW 2025 in Paris, France. Selected solutions will receive international recognition and visibility as one of the best impact leaders in the world among 40,000 attendees, 10,000 companies, 1,200 investors, and more.?

Apply by February 15, 2025 here .

Join the Ecopreneur Network Class of 2025

Sustainable Ocean Alliance is now inviting ocean-positive startups and founders to join the Ecopreneur Network Class of 2025—a program of lifetime support that advances the world's most ambitious ocean startups and amplifies their efforts to achieve transformative planetary impact.?

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Learn more and apply here .

Know of a company that would be a great fit for the Ecopreneur Network? Nominate them here .

Investment Opportunities in SOA's Ecopreneur Network

If you are a mission-driven investor interested in connecting with and supporting any of the SOA’s startups , please contact Camila Vega ([email protected] ) or Matthew Mulrennan ([email protected] ).

November 14: Coast Summit – Laguna Beach, California

As part of the annual Coast Film & Music Festival , the 2024 Coast Summit gathers and celebrates visionary leaders who are pioneering solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. This one-day event features captivating panel discussions, active Q&A sessions, premiere film screenings, and more.

Julia Marsh of Sway will be speaking on the panel Seaweed Stories: The Power of a Miraculous Plant.

Register for the in-person event here .

November 20-22: Sun&Blue Congress – Almería, Spain

The Sun&Blue Congress is an annual meeting on blue tourism and the sustainable blue economy in Europe where industry professionals join efforts to move from theory to joint action, meeting to share strategies, success stories, and first-level relationships to innovate, differentiate, and stand out.?

Register for the in-person event here .?

To connect with SOA on the ground, please contact Benjamin Lesage ([email protected] ).

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