Sustainable Materials

And

Product Development

Oceans Materials Consulting supports product teams developing eco-friendly products by providing materials expertise across early feasibility, material validation, and hands-on product development. We help identify sustainable material options, evaluate real-world performance and risk, and translate promising materials into functional, manufacturable product concepts.

Our work is focused on reducing technical uncertainty early—before teams commit to tooling, certification pathways, or large capital investments.

Close-up of scattered green plastic pellets or granules on a white surface.

Sustainable Materials Selection & Feasibility

Choosing a sustainable material is rarely straightforward. Compostable, recyclable, and bio-based materials often introduce tradeoffs in performance, processing, cost, and regulatory complexity.

We help teams evaluate material options objectively and early, with a focus on real-world feasibility rather than marketing claims.

This service typically includes:

  • Identification of relevant compostable, recyclable, and bio-based material families

  • Supplier vetting and review of technical data sheets and certifications

  • Regulatory and food-contact considerations (FDA, EU, infant-adjacent use where applicable)

  • High-level assessment of mechanical performance, durability, and processing constraints

  • Early risk identification and material downselection

The outcome is a clear, defensible shortlist of materials that are technically viable for the intended application.

Close-up view of a mechanical laboratory instrument with metallic components, mounted on a base, against a green background.

Material Validation & Performance Testing

Once promising materials are identified, we validate performance through hands-on evaluation. This step is critical for uncovering failure modes, hidden risks, and performance limitations that are not obvious from data sheets alone.

Testing at this stage is intentionally practical and focused on feasibility rather than full certification.

This service may include:

  • Qualitative evaluation of material behavior and surface characteristics

  • Bench-level testing under representative use conditions

  • Flex, fatigue, compression, or deformation screening (as relevant)

  • Exposure testing (e.g., warm liquids, oils, or environmental factors)

  • Identification of performance gaps or geometry sensitivities

The goal is to confirm which materials can realistically move forward, and which should be eliminated, before deeper engineering or regulatory investment.

A collection of dental care items including a toothbrush, razor blades, a small black container, a white and red container, a black round container, an empty paper cup on a green saucer, and green dental floss picks.

Product Development & Prototyping

Material decisions only become meaningful when translated into physical parts. We support early-stage product development by helping teams prototype and evaluate material choices in real geometries.

This work bridges the gap between material science and product design, with an emphasis on manufacturability and risk reduction.

This service may include:

  • Guidance on geometry and material-appropriate design considerations

  • Selection of suitable forming or molding processes

  • Coordination of simple tooling and early prototype fabrication

  • Evaluation of form, function, and assembly feasibility

  • Documentation of processing behavior and early failure modes

Prototypes produced at this stage are not final designs. They are learning tools used to validate assumptions and inform next development steps.

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