About Our Ocean Mission
It is O’Neill’s commitment to protect the oceans and marine environments. In 1952, Jack O’Neill invented his first wetsuit because he “just wanted to surf longer”—this passion inextricably connects O’Neill to the oceans. As a brand designed to enjoy nature, we see it as our responsibility to contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable world. Through our Ocean Mission, we stay close to Jack’s dedication to the oceans; it also underlines the responsibility we feel to support people and the planet and to make more responsible choices every day.
OCEAN MISSION PILLARS
01 MAKE BETTER PRODUCTS
We strive for continuous product improvement and innovation. As part of this commitment, we steadily increase the share of preferred materials in our collection. Our Product Team works with our Preferred Materials List, selecting materials based on impact scoring and future circular system preferences—this is a key tool in our development process.
02 SUPPLY CHAIN GOVERNANCE & POLICIES
We actively work to achieve full supplier compliance with our Code Of Conduct and to attain complete visibility and transparency in our supply chain. The ongoing collaboration in projects of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives remains a top priority, with the aim of enhancing and expanding our due diligence processes while fostering collaboration to improve working conditions across our value chain.
03 POSITIVE IMPACT
In 1996, Jack O'Neill launched O'Neill Sea Odyssey, an educational program emphasising the significance of ocean and environmental preservation. To this day, we continue to explore new ways to carry forward Jack's original legacy. Taking part in numerous projects, we are especially proud of our partnership with Save The Waves Coalition and Africa’s surf mentorship program, Surfers Not Street Children.
O'NEILL MATERIALS
O’NEILL PRODUCTS
At O'Neill Europe, we understand that our choice of materials determines a large part of the overall product impact on the environment. We are therefore committed to working with responsibly grown and manufactured raw materials. As part of this commitment, we have compiled our Preferred Material List, based on impact scoring and in accordance with our values. When a product's main fabric composition includes at least 50% of preferred materials, we qualify such a product as O'Neill Blue.
Furthermore, we are working towards ensuring that 90% of our collection meets the full product-weighed sustainable material criteria by 2030. Under these new criteria, we will assess a product's entire fabric composition weight, and the product as a whole must demonstrate a minimum use of 30% preferred materials to qualify as O'Neill Blue. We will begin implementing these new criteria in 2024 and provide more detailed information on how they will be measured.
Some Projects to Highlight
SAVE THE WAVES
O’Neill has partnered with the non-profit organisation Save The Waves Coalition to support their global efforts to preserve surf ecosystems. Both organisations share a joint mission focusing on protecting the oceans and the lasting legacy of surfing. In 2023, Save The Waves Coalition celebrated its 20th anniversary, gaining recognition for protecting, stewarding and defending surf ecosystems on an international scale with projects spanning across Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Costa Rica, the Maldives and beyond. O’Neill actively supports Saves The Waves Coalition’s goal to have 1000 surf ecosystems preserved by 2030 through various projects and activations.
REPREVE®
As part of our strategy to develop better products, we use innovative materials with a lower environmental impact compared to the conventional options. REPREVE®, yarn made from recycled PET bottles is one of these materials. By using REPREVE®, O’Neill has so far diverted more than 19.542.875 plastic bottles from landfills.
BLUEPRINT WINDFREAK SERIES
HIGH PERFORMANCE. LESS IMPACT.
THE O'NEILL BIOFIELD JACKET DESIGNED WITH THE END IN MIND
The O'Neill Biofield jacket is our most innovative, biodegradable* outdoor jacket. With technical features including 10K/10K waterproofing and breathability and PrimaLoft® insulation, it keeps you protected from the elements. And after years of enjoying your jacket, it can be biodegraded*.
*Under the ASTM D5511 testing standards, the O'Neill Biofield Jackets biodegrade 94% after 4.6 years.
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