Rising Tides: We're Back!

Welcome 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 450+ ocean-based solutions and the innovative changemakers behind them.

If you have been with us since the launch of our LinkedIn newsletter in March 2024, first and foremost—THANK YOU for being an ally to our ocean, the species that call it home, and the people working every day to protect and restore it.

Second, you may have noticed our new name! We are excited to evolve this newsletter forward under the name Rising Tides .

Why 'rising tides'?

In the ocean-climate sector, we are often guided and motivated by the famous adage, "A rising tide lifts all boats." For us at Sustainable Ocean Alliance, we live and breathe this every single day as we work to elevate one another in our sector and beyond—to work intersectionally, intergenerationally, and intentionally.

So what will you gain from this newsletter?

Every month, we deliver top insights into the exciting progress and milestones from SOA’s portfolio of solutions , new opportunities to get involved in, and upcoming events and networking engagements within our diverse Network.?

It's been a minute, so we have a LOT to catch up on.

In this edition, we learn about the ocean-positive leather alternative hit the runway at this year's Paris Fashion Week , how to support advancements in underwater reef research stations , a Northern California city implementing a city-wide reusable cup program , and more.

Let's dive in.

During Paris Fashion Week 2024 , fashion designer Gabriela Hearst unveiled her Spring/Summer 2025 collection, showcasing INVERSA Leathers ’s humanely sourced alternative leathers that directly protect native species and restore biodiversity in critical coastal ecosystems.?

WWD Executive Editor Booth Moore wrote in her review of the show, "Speaking ahead of the show, Hearst was particularly proud of an eco-friendly material she was using for the first time on accessories — INVERSA Python, an ‘ethical exotic’ that protects the biodiversity of the Florida Everglades by hunting the invasive species for use as a leather product. There was something poetic about having the material crafted into her popular pointy Edwina pumps, letting goddess women slay snakes with every confident stride."

To learn more and explore how INVERSA? Ethical Exotics restore nature, visit www.inversaleathers.com .

Ocean restoration startup tēnaka is actively crowdfunding to launch their new underwater reef research station 16-1546 to improve the collection, transmission, and automation of data from the reefs.?

The campaign has now raised €14,270 of its €14,000 initial goal and the company is currently on track to roll out this program in Malaysia next year.?

The campaign is open for contributions through November 8, 2024 here .

Materials innovation startup Sway has announced the launch of a new partnership for compostable seaweed-based packaging with fashion brands Alex Crane , Faherty Brand , Florence Marine X , and prAna —a milestone collaboration enabled through Sway's production partner EcoEnclose .

This multi-brand partnership aims to disrupt the industry’s reliance on conventional plastic polybags with a new generation of packaging made with regenerative, renewable, and home-compostable ingredients.

“These brands [are] leading a movement towards products that come from nature and return to nature. Together, we’re demonstrating that solutions for plastic can meet the demands of global supply chains while delivering on performance, sustainability, and circularity,” said Sway CEO & Co-Founder Julia Marsh following the announcement at Sustainable Brands 2024.

Sway polybags will begin rolling out in brand supply chains between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025 and be printed using Living Ink ’s Algae Ink —a sustainable ink and pigment alternative derived from algae.

Cleantech Group , a leading global authority in global cleantech innovation, recently announced the release of its prestigious 2024 Cleantech 50 to Watch . The annual list highlights 50 early-stage companies from across the globe that are creating groundbreaking solutions to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and sustainability challenges.

Sustainable Ocean Alliance was honored to partner with Cleantech Group to nominate and review startups for this esteemed recognition. Three members of SOA's Ecopreneur Network made the list this year:?

• ALORA – marine aquaculture rice cultivation?
• CalWave Inc. – ocean wave energy
• FlexSea – seaweed-based bioplastic packaging?

In January 2025, recognized startups will have the opportunity to present their solutions at the upcoming Cleantech Forum in San Diego, California.

The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project , led by the NextGen Consortium , is a first-of-its-kind initiative to make reusable to-go cups the default option in more than 30 restaurants across the 60,000-resident city of Petaluma, California.?

Participating companies include Starbucks, Coca Cola, PepsiCo, Peet’s Coffee, Yum! Brands, as well as many local cafes and restaurants.

SOA Ecopreneur Network member Muuse was selected to manage all servicing and reverse logistics for the initiative, including more than 60 return bins across Petaluma. After use and return, the reusable cups are collected, washed, and recirculated for future uses by participating businesses and customers.?

“Transitioning to returnable packaging systems is a critical part of reducing single-use packaging waste, and we need to focus on supporting the operations behind it. These systems must be thoughtfully and responsibly implemented to ensure we are minimizing our impact of creating more waste in the process,” said Brittany Gamez , COO & Co-Founder of Muuse.?

“It is through initiatives like this that we can identify what is needed to operationalize shared systems at this level and inform how reuse is implemented at scale.”?

Learn more about the project here .

Port of Friday Harbor in Washington State has received a $7 million grant to partner with Photon Marine to launch a new program of carbon reduction projects through the Washington State Department of Transportation 's Port Electrification Grant Program .

The partnership includes the deployment of Photon Marine advanced electric vessels , including a 24-foot electric pumpout vessel, a 24-foot electric workboat, and a 28-foot electric passenger transport boat.?

"Our mission to decarbonize marine propulsion is advancing with this collaboration, marking a key step toward cleaner, quieter, and more efficient vessel operations in the Pacific Northwest… We are thrilled to be contributing to this program that benefits the environment, the economy, and the maritime ecosystem," said Marcelino Alvarez , CEO & Co-Founder of Photon Marine.?

Up next, Photon Marine will be demonstrating this electric propulsion technology at this year's International Workboat Show in New Orleans from November 12-14, 2024. Find them at Booth 543!

Applications Now Open to Join the Ecopreneur Network Class of 2025

Sustainable Ocean Alliance is now welcoming applicants 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 .

2025 Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship in Tonga

Entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses based in Tonga are invited to apply to the 2025 Blue Prosperity Entrepreneur Fellowship —a year-long fellowship to support emerging leaders advancing local ocean and community health in Tonga.

This fellowship aims to support local ocean-oriented entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses through grants, entrepreneurship training, and mentorship opportunities.

Applicants can receive a grant of up to $8,000 to support their projects as well as access to capacity-building workshops and 1:1 mentorship.

Learn more and apply here by November 2, 2024.

This fellowship will run from January to December 2025 and is created in partnership with Sustainable Ocean Alliance , Waitt Institute , Tonga Ministry of Fisheries , and Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA).

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] ).

October 21-November 1: UN Biodiversity Conference COP16 — Cali, Colombia

Held every two years, the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) gathers international delegates to discuss and negotiate global efforts to protect global biodiversity. This year the conference is being held in Cali, Colombia, where key discussions are taking place following COP15's historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (protect at least 30% of Earth’s land and sea and restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030).

As an accredited organization, Sustainable Ocean Alliance is proud to support a delegation of 16 young ocean professionals who are currently on the ground at COP16 to advocate for ambitious and rapid ocean-climate action on behalf of the global ocean community and the future of young people everywhere.

If you are attending COP16 and want to get connected with our community in person, please contact Daniel Caceres ([email protected] )

November 5-7: Tomorrow Blue Economy World Congress – Barcelona, Spain

The Tomorrow Blue Economy World Congress is a global summit dedicated to promoting, developing, and advancing the potential of the blue economy. SOA Ecopreneur Network members Calwave and ARC Marine will be in attendance.

Learn more and register for in-person attendance here .

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

November 6-8: East Asian Seas Congress 2024, Xiamen World Ocean Week – Xiamen, China

The East Asian Seas Congress 2024 will be held in collaboration with the annual Xiamen World Ocean Week to promote the global maritime industry, the sustainable utilization of marine resources, and its commitment to enhancing public awareness of marine culture.

Learn more and register for in-person attendance here .

To connect with SOA on the ground, please contact Mary Jane Lamoste ([email protected] ).

November 7: SOA x Marmara Project Documentary Virtual Screening

On November 7, Sustainable Ocean Alliance and our Marmara Sea Hub will host a special virtual screening of MARMARA: A Dialogue Through Film and Oral History With SOA and The Marmara Project .

The documentary, which shines a spotlight on the critical conservation challenges facing the Marmara Sea in Türkiye, was created and directed by SOA Marmara Hub Leader, Dahlia J. , and was supported by SOA's Grants Program .

Register for the free virtual screening here .

November 11-24: UN Climate Conference COP29 — Baku, Azerbaijan

The annual UN Climate Conference (COP29) will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan this November, gathering international leaders, experts, professionals, advocates, and beyond from nearly 200 countries to negotiate and collaborate on global climate action.

Key frameworks of action for this year's COP29 include 1. accelerating rapid transition to clean energy, 2. advancing ambitious national climate action planning, 3. delivering on financial commitments, 4. ensuring inclusive outcomes, and more.

Will you be at COP29 this year? Let us know!

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

November 27-29: CommOCEAN – Malaga, Spain

CommOCEAN is an international marine science communication conference dedicated to fostering effective communication within the marine science community and beyond, bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding and facilitating meaningful dialogue and collaboration among communicators, scientists, policymakers, educators, and the public.

Learn more and register for in-person attendance here . To connect with SOA on the ground, please contact Sabrina Skelly ([email protected] ).

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