Launches “Ocean Partner” Program to Explore New Model of Marine Conservation

Recently, CHINAPLAS 2025 International Rubber and Plastics Exhibition was held in Shenzhen. At the show, a unique eco-friendly giveaway — a pen made from recycled buoys by Topcentral®’s “Ocean Partner” initiative — became a popular attraction.

This eco-pen is made from discarded buoys, creatively redesigned and processed to gain new practical value. “As global resources become increasingly scarce, circular economy is bound to become a core industrial theme. A simple pen actually embodies our deep understanding and innovative practice of environmental sustainability,” explained Mr. Ma Yiming, founder and CEO of Topcentral® and initiator of the “Ocean Partner” program.

During the event, the China Recycled Plastics Industry Development Report (2024 Edition) was released. As a core contributor, Topcentral® has been dedicated to advancing plastic recycling and low-carbon economy since its inception. The company owns multiple proprietary technologies spanning materials R&D and process optimization, injecting advanced insights and practical examples into the report.

Topcentral® currently operates four main product lines — Taosu®, BIDA, Bettercom, and Kaisar — covering nearly all plastic types. These high-performance recycled materials are widely used in 5G fiber optics, consumer electronics, automotive, household goods, and apparel industries. “Unlike traditional methods that sacrifice performance for recyclability, we’ve used advanced recycling technologies, AI algorithms, ultra-clean filtration, and functional modification to achieve both performance stability and circularity,” said Ma.

Topcentral® transforms plastics of various sources, types, and qualities into recycled pellets (Topcircle®) via a system of recovery, preprocessing, extrusion, and modification. These high-quality recycled plastics are suitable for a wide range of industrial and consumer applications.

Further downstream, these recycled pellets are turned into aesthetically pleasing and functional products: smart toothbrushes from fishing baskets, baseball caps from fishing nets, and T-shirts from ocean plastic bottles. The “Ocean Partner” eco-product cabinet showcases these items, each equipped with a digital label that displays carbon reduction data. With a simple scan, consumers can trace the origin and production of the marine plastics used.

“By integrating IoT and digital tech, we track real-time product carbon footprints and establish traceability via blockchain. This improves both production efficiency and product transparency,” Ma explained. From “single-material recycling” to “full life-cycle loops,” Topcentral® is committed to innovation-driven value-added and scalable plastic reuse, contributing to global carbon reduction goals.

To date, the “Ocean Partner” initiative has established 10 coastal sites across Ningbo and Zhoushan. Through a network of eco-capsules, collection hubs, and satellite stations, the project has effectively solved the issue of scattered marine plastic waste, recovering over 1,400 tons.

Remarkably, some “Ocean Partner” smart eco-capsules have become trendy local landmarks.

In Qifeng Village, Chunhu Subdistrict of Ningbo's Fenghua District, a container-style SeaHi® Eco Capsule stands out. With a beep, a fisherman earns carbon points for recycling old fishing gear. Visitors like Ms. Wang can redeem collected beach plastics for coffee at the upstairs SeaHi® Café.

“We’ve pioneered a multi-scenario experience model that integrates recycling, eco-education, circular economy, and cultural tourism. By building a carbon points platform, hosting clean-up drives, and promoting awareness, we’re creating a new paradigm of public participation,” said Ma. Collaborating with government, enterprises, social groups, and individuals, the “Ocean Partner” initiative is becoming a comprehensive model for marine conservation, environmental governance, and resource recycling.