4ocean Bracelets Review: Wearing Your Impact on Your Wrist

Hey there, eco-fashionistas! If you‘re looking for a way to accessorize while also making a positive impact on the planet, you‘ve probably heard of 4ocean bracelets. As someone who is always on the hunt for stylish and sustainable jewelry, I had to get my hands on a few of these bad boys to see what all the hype was about.

In this ultimate 4ocean bracelet review, I‘ll dish on everything you need to know, including:

What 4ocean is all about and how the bracelets are made
The different bracelet styles and designs available
How much plastic each bracelet actually removes from the ocean
Honest customer reviews and experiences (including my own!)
Pros and cons to consider before buying
How 4ocean stacks up to other sustainable jewelry brands
Outfit inspiration and styling tips

By the end, you‘ll have all the info you need to decide if 4ocean bracelets are the perfect eco-friendly accessory to add to your wardrobe. Let‘s dive in!

About 4ocean: Jewelry with a Purpose

In case you‘re not familiar, 4ocean is a purpose-driven company founded in 2017 by two surfers who were horrified by the amount of plastic pollution in the ocean. Their mission is to end the ocean plastic crisis by cleaning up existing trash and changing consumption habits to prevent more plastic waste from entering the ocean.

The 4ocean signature product is a bracelet made from recycled materials, including ocean plastic and glass bottles. Each bracelet sold funds the removal of one pound of trash from the ocean and coastlines. To date, 4ocean has removed over 10 million pounds of trash and counting!

As a Certified B Corporation, 4ocean meets rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. So you can feel good knowing your purchase is supporting a company that cares about people and the planet.

How 4ocean Bracelets Are Made

As an accessory addict, I‘m always curious about the materials and craftsmanship behind the jewelry I wear. And I have to say, I‘m pretty impressed with the quality and story of 4ocean bracelets.

Materials

Each 4ocean bracelet is made from a combination of recycled materials:

The clear plastic beads are made from 95% recycled glass bottles and 5% ocean plastic
The colored plastic beads are made from 100% verified post-consumer recycled plastic bottles
The charms are made from 95% recycled stainless steel

So while the bracelets aren‘t made entirely of ocean plastic, they are taking plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or the ocean and repurposing it.

Craftsmanship

The bracelets are hand assembled by artisans in Bali, providing jobs and income to local communities. I love that 4ocean is supporting traditional craftsmanship and creating a positive social impact beyond the environmental cleanup.

Each bracelet is adjustable, waterproof, and comes with a small 1-pound charm to represent the amount of trash removed. They seem to be pretty durable too – I‘ve worn mine surfing and swimming and haven‘t had any issues.

4ocean Bracelet Styles

Indigo blue bracelet with sea turtle charm
Ocean blue bracelet with whale tail charm
White bracelet with polar bear charm
Sea green bracelet with manta ray charm

4ocean offers a variety of bracelet designs to suit different styles and ocean animals. Some of the most popular ones include:

Signature Blue: The OG 4ocean bracelet features clear and blue beads with a 4ocean logo charm
Sea Turtle: Vibrant green beads and a silver sea turtle charm
Whale: Deep navy blue beads with a silver whale tail charm
Polar Bear: Icy white beads with a polar bear charm
Shark: Grey and white beads with a hammerhead shark charm

They also release limited edition bracelets for different oceans, marine life, and conservation causes, such as the Great Barrier Reef bracelet and the Earth Day bracelet.

Personally, I‘m a fan of the sea turtle bracelet – I mean, how cute is that little turtle charm?! But I also love how the signature blue can be paired with pretty much any outfit.

The Impact: Is It Really One Pound?

Of course, the big selling point of 4ocean bracelets is that your purchase pulls one pound of trash from the ocean. That sounds amazing, but how legit is that claim?

According to 4ocean, they calculate the one pound metric by dividing the total amount of trash collected by the number of products sold. In 2019 alone, 4ocean says it recovered 2.3 million pounds of ocean plastic and sold 2 million products.

While it‘s hard to verify the exact amount tied to each bracelet, 4ocean does seem to be making a real impact. Through their cleanup efforts, 4ocean has:

Collected over 10 million pounds of trash since 2017
Employed over 300 people in the US, Indonesia, and Haiti
Hosted over 250 community cleanups
Donated over $500k to ocean conservation non-profits like the Coral Restoration Foundation and Project AWARE

That‘s some serious proof of impact beyond the one pound promise, which I can get behind. And even if one bracelet isn‘t removing a full pound, it‘s still contributing to a larger movement to clean up the ocean and raise awareness.

What Customers Are Saying

You know I had to scour the internet for some honest customer reviews before giving 4ocean my full endorsement. After reading through hundreds of reviews, here are the main takeaways:

The Pros

Cute, stylish designs that get a lot of compliments
Purchases support ocean conservation and cleanup efforts
Durable, waterproof and adjustable
Fun to collect the different colors/designs
Good customer service and fast shipping

The Cons

Some complaints of bracelets breaking or falling apart
Pricey compared to other bracelets (but it‘s for a good cause!)
Confusion around charitable impact and transparency
Doesn‘t necessarily reduce demand for plastic production

Overall, the reviews are mostly positive, with an average rating of 4.4/5 stars on Amazon. I‘ve personally had a great experience with my 4ocean bracelets and haven‘t had any issues with quality or customer service.

I think it‘s important to remember that while 4ocean is a business, it‘s also a mission-driven company that is making a positive impact. No company is perfect, but I appreciate 4ocean‘s commitment to transparency and ocean conservation.

Styling Your 4ocean Bracelets

Alright, let‘s talk styling. One of the reasons I love 4ocean bracelets (besides the whole saving the planet thing) is how versatile they are.

You can rock a single bracelet for a subtle pop of color, or stack multiple for a bold arm party look. I love mixing the different designs to create a unique combo that reflects my style and the causes I care about.

Some of my favorite ways to style 4ocean bracelets:

Pair the signature blue with a white tee and jeans for a classic, casual look
Stack the sea turtle and whale bracelets with some gold or wooden beads for a boho beach vibe
Wear the all-black shark bracelet as an edgy accent to a leather jacket
Mix the pink and purple bracelets for a girly, colorful look

Honestly though, you really can‘t go wrong – they look great dressed up or down, solo or layered. And they‘re a cool conversation starter to share the story behind the brand.

How 4ocean Compares to Other Brands

As sustainability becomes trendier, there are more and more brands hopping on the eco-friendly jewelry train. So how does 4ocean stack up?

Some similar brands I‘ve tried:

Pura Vida: Also makes bracelets from recycled materials, but focuses more on artisan empowerment than ocean cleanup. Super cute and colorful designs.
Lokai: Makes bracelets with beads of water from Mt Everest and mud from the Dead Sea. Donates 10% of profits to various charities. The clear beads look similar to 4ocean.
Cultura Bracelets: Uses recycled glass beads and donates a book to a child in need for each bracelet sold. More of a bohemian, earthy style.

I‘d say 4ocean bracelets are pricier than these other brands, but that‘s because you‘re funding a bigger impact with each purchase. The charity component of 4ocean also feels more directly tied to the product.

Ultimately, I think it‘s amazing that more brands are incorporating recycled materials and giving back. 4ocean is a pioneer in this space and still feels the most legit to me in terms of impact and transparency. But there are plenty of great options out there depending on your style and values!

The Verdict: Should You Buy 4ocean Bracelets?

So, are 4ocean bracelets worth the hype (and the price tag)? Here‘s my honest take:

4ocean might not be for you if:

You‘re looking for really fine, high-end jewelry (these are more on the casual, beachy side)
You‘re skeptical of how much impact your individual purchase has
You want a wider variety of designs and materials to choose from
You prefer to support smaller, local jewelry makers over a global brand

Personally, I‘m a fan of 4ocean and will continue to wear my bracelets with pride. I think they‘re a fun, accessible way to contribute to ocean cleanup and start conversations about sustainability. And even though I know my one bracelet isn‘t saving the world, it feels good to support a brand that has a real, measurable impact.

At the end of the day, no brand is perfect, and it‘s up to you to decide what kind of impact you want your purchases to have. But if you‘re looking for some cute, eco-friendly bling, I say give 4ocean a try!

Take Action Beyond the Bracelet

As much as I love my 4ocean bracelets, it‘s important to remember that they‘re just one small way to support ocean conservation. If you really want to make a difference, there are lots of other things you can do beyond rocking a cute accessory.

Some ideas:

Reduce your own single-use plastic consumption (straws, water bottles, bags, etc)
Participate in local beach cleanups or organize your own
Support ocean conservation non-profits and legislation
Educate yourself and others about the ocean plastic crisis
Make more sustainable choices in your diet, travel, and energy use

I hope this 4ocean bracelet review has given you some helpful info and inspiration to wear your impact on your wrist – and in your daily actions. Remember, we‘re all in this together, and every little bit counts.

So go ahead, treat yourself to a bracelet (or two, or three…) and join the #4ocean movement for cleaner oceans. And don‘t forget to tag me in your wrist shots – I‘d love to see how you style yours!

Until next time, stay salty and sustainable.

4ocean Bracelets Review: Wearing Your Impact on Your Wrist

About 4ocean: Jewelry with a Purpose