Even though the ocean garbage patch situation seems bleak, the good news is that DSM is partnering with a growing list of purpose-led companies, working to overcome this challenge. For instance, Pufferfish is partnering with DSM to develop premium tools for building sand castles using Akulon® RePurposed PA6, which is made using recycled fishing nets.
Lee Ott, founder of Pufferfish, came up with the idea of making high quality sand tools after he and his family took a Hawaiian vacation. While on vacation, Ott had difficulty finding quality sand shovels and pails to use at the beach with his children. The sand shovels he purchased broke as he was playing in the sand with his children.
“When I came home from the vacation, I started thinking about this experience and realized there are no quality sand tools—what is available are flimsy toddler toys,” explained Ott. “I wanted the nice version, but there wasn’t anything.”
To create a premium product Ott needed a materials solution that would stand up to wear and tear, and that was eco-friendly too. “We wanted to be eco-friendly from the start. We are committed to and want to make a positive effect on the environment.”
When Ott came across Akulon RePurposed, he thought it was the perfect materials solution for Pufferfish sand tools. “We wanted to use a material in which we are giving new life to something that would otherwise end up in the ocean, plus a material that is super strong.”
Pufferfish’s Super Scoop is an oversized and over-engineered version of the classic sand scoop and is made of Akulon RePurposed, and Pufferfish has an entire roadmap of future products made of the same.