Our story
Our origins
It was during a surfing session on the Australian east coast in 2018 that Marco realized the lack of resources implemented to recycle neoprene wetsuits.
After just one session, his wetsuit tore at the crotch. He went to the shop where he had bought it the day before to have it repaired, but when the salesman told him it would be thrown away, not repaired, he was shocked.
He then decided to find an alternative to recycle the approximately 32 tonnes of wetsuits thrown away and burned each year (including his own).
This is when Oceneo was born.
It took hundreds of prototypes and nearly four years of research and development to successfully transform soft neoprene into a strong, flexible material.
Our secret lies in combining wetsuit shredder with a bio-sourced resin made from pine oil. This combination allows us to preserve the physical properties of neoprene while continuing to work with sustainable and natural products.
The crew
Today, a team of six people grows Oceneo on a daily basis, covering all aspects: production and industrialization, sales, marketing and communication.
A visionary and passionate man, Marco is the very essence of Oceneo. His love for the ocean was forged over the waves, surfboard under his feet. It was during a session in Australia, where his wetsuit ripped, that the idea for Oceneo was born: he decided to create an eco-responsible brand that would combine his passion for surfing and his commitment to protecting the oceans. Between surf sessions and moments of reflection by the water, Marco drives each of the company's projects with his boundless energy and determination, guided by his sustainable vision.
An airline pilot and sales engineer, Théo perfectly embodies Oceneo's spirit of innovation and precision. Aware of the irony of working in a polluting profession, he counteracts his impact by devoting himself fully to Oceneo. Between flights, he devotes all his energy to developing more sustainable solutions, proving that it is possible to dream of a greener world.
A true nautical enthusiast, Pierre is the strategic pillar of Oceneo. Between his sea voyages and his moments of strategic reflection, he found his calling by joining Oceneo, where he uses his expertise to optimize every aspect of our production.
Always smiling and bursting with energy, Solène is a true ray of sunshine at Oceneo. As a marketing communications intern, she plays a key role in showcasing our projects and communicating our values. Creative and full of ideas, she collaborates closely with Antonin to develop original and impactful campaigns that reflect our commitment to the environment.
Her cheerfulness is infectious, and her humor hits the mark at every opportunity, creating a warm and motivating atmosphere within the team. Curious and passionate, Solène doesn't hesitate to think outside the box to bring a breath of fresh air to everything she undertakes. Thanks to her dynamism and initiative, she is a valuable ally in our quest for a more sustainable world.
Founder
A visionary and passionate man, Marco is the very essence of Oceneo. His love for the ocean was forged over the waves, surfboard under his feet. It was during a session in Australia, where his wetsuit ripped, that the idea for Oceneo was born: he decided to create an eco-responsible brand that would combine his passion for surfing and his commitment to protecting the oceans. Between surf sessions and moments of reflection by the water, Marco drives each of the company's projects with his boundless energy and determination, guided by his sustainable vision.
Sales Director
An airline pilot and sales engineer, Théo perfectly embodies Oceneo's spirit of innovation and precision. Aware of the irony of working in a polluting profession, he counteracts his impact by devoting himself fully to Oceneo. Between flights, he devotes all his energy to developing more sustainable solutions, proving that it is possible to dream of a greener world.
Strategy Consultant
A true nautical enthusiast, Pierre is the strategic pillar of Oceneo. Between his sea voyages and his moments of strategic reflection, he found his calling by joining Oceneo, where he uses his expertise to optimize every aspect of our production.
Communications Officer
Always smiling and bursting with energy, Solène is a true ray of sunshine at Oceneo. As a marketing communications intern, she plays a key role in showcasing our projects and communicating our values. Creative and full of ideas, she collaborates closely with Antonin to develop original and impactful campaigns that reflect our commitment to the environment.
Her cheerfulness is infectious, and her humor hits the mark at every opportunity, creating a warm and motivating atmosphere within the team. Curious and passionate, Solène doesn't hesitate to think outside the box to bring a breath of fresh air to everything she undertakes. Thanks to her dynamism and initiative, she is a valuable ally in our quest for a more sustainable world.
Oceneo is the association of the words “ocean” and “neo”.
“Ocean” because it is our inspiration, our playground.
Surfing is an integral part of our brand's soul: passionate about it, we spend most of our free time surfing the waves of our beautiful region.
By choosing to include part of this word, we seek to pay tribute to our precious environment and hope to promote its preservation.
And “neo,” in reference to our raw material, the one we “upcycle”: neoprene wetsuits that we 100% revalue to create new, innovative and sustainable accessories. It’s the embodiment of the idea of renewal. We believe in the possibility of giving a second life to products initially destined for landfill and a second chance to people who need it (people with disabilities, etc.)
Our process
Recovery of neoprene suits
At Oceneo, recycling end-of-life wetsuits goes far beyond a simple ecological initiative. Working with surfing, sailing, and diving schools, as well as individuals, we collect these wetsuits to give them a new lease on life. Each wetsuit, rich in stories and memories, begins an exciting new chapter in our hands. You can even transform your own wetsuit into a unique pair of goggles, personalized to your liking right here. Would you like to contribute and send us your wetsuits? Click here to join the Oceneo adventure.
Washing, Sorting, Cutting
The transformation of wetsuits into eco-friendly sunglasses and accessories begins with careful sorting of end-of-life wetsuits. Each piece is washed, disinfected, and then precisely cut to maximize the use of each fragment. Nothing is wasted: each step contributes to the creation of sustainable, unique, and environmentally friendly products.
Crushing of the material
Crushing plays a vital role in our wetsuit recycling process. After careful sorting, washing, disinfection, and cutting, the wetsuits are shredded into fine particles. The more damaged seams and areas are processed by Neobriiks, an Oceneo subsidiary dedicated to creating advertising blocks. This method optimizes the use of neoprene while significantly reducing textile waste, ensuring a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production process.
Placing under plate
In our wetsuit recycling process, a key step is transforming the crushed particles into a strong, durable sheet. After crushing, we blend them with a natural pine oil-based product, creating a robust and eco-friendly material. This combination strengthens the material's strength while minimizing its environmental impact. The resulting solid sheet serves as the basis for our sunglasses. This method maximizes the use of recycled materials while producing high-quality, eco-friendly products that are in line with our commitment to the planet.
Manufacturing of glasses
Our manufacturing process for eco-friendly sunglasses and accessories is distinguished by meticulous craftsmanship at every step. After transforming wetsuit particles and pine oil into solid sheets, we begin a precise manufacturing process. Each component is cut with extreme precision using high-tech CNC machining. We then perform meticulous hand sanding to ensure a smooth and pleasant-to-the-touch surface. To top it all off, we integrate certified lenses offering high protection (CAT 3 UV 400, with a polarized option available). Craftsmanship is at the heart of our approach, ensuring that each pair of glasses is unique, combining style and durability. Made with passion in the southwest of France, near the Arcachon Bay, our eco-friendly products reflect our commitment to quality and the environment.
They talk about us
This is the amount of wetsuits we have already recycled since our creation, including 2.3 tons in 2023 alone. At Oceneo, our ambition is to reduce the environmental impact of surfing by recycling used wetsuits. By working exclusively in short circuits with ESATs and local tailors, we guarantee the use of sustainable products and materials, such as bio-sourced French resin made from pine oil, recycled cardboard packaging, and recycled neoprene cases. Located as close as possible to the ocean, we are determined to show that there are solutions for recycling neoprene, a material often discarded or landfilled, with nearly 400 tons of waste each year.