Next Level Burger Bites Back at Plastic with Ocean Blue Project
Next Level Burger Bites Back at Plastic with Ocean Blue Project
Ocean Blue Project and Next Level Burger are serving up more than just plant-based goodness—they’re cooking up cleaner oceans! By combining Next Level Burger’s eco-conscious mission with Ocean Blue Project’s ocean cleanup expertise, this partnership exemplifies corporate responsibility in action. Through this fresh partnership, every bite of a Next Level burger boosts ocean cleanup efforts, proving that delicious meals and a healthier planet go hand in hand. Together, they’re turning sustainability goals into real environmental impact.
Who is Next Level Burger?
Founded in 2014, Next Level Burger (NLB) was America’s First 100% Plant-Based Burger Chain, serving up non-GMO, all-organic veggie burgers for a better world. In 2024, they expanded their impact by acquiring Veggie Grill, growing Next Level Burger into North America’s largest wholly-owned plant-based restaurant company. With 27 locations and counting, founders Matt and Cierra de Gruyter are still hands-on daily, ensuring that every burger, shake, and fry positively impacts people, animals, and the planet. NLB is dedicated to fighting climate change through innovative, 100% vegan fare featuring responsibly sourced, all-organic ingredients.
For Next Level Burger, every burger is a step toward a more sustainable world. Their partnership with Ocean Blue Project highlights a shared dedication to reducing plastic waste, preserving marine habitats, and making it easier for everyone to choose eco-friendly dining.
Read more about Next Level Burger’s story here.
How Ocean Blue Project’s Collaboration with Next Level Burger Began
In May 2021, Next Level Burger and Ocean Blue Project launched their partnership, intending to remove plastic waste from oceans and support cleanups nationwide. Each April, for Earth Month, NLB amplifies its support by donating proceeds from special Ocean Blue menu items to plastic removal projects led by Ocean Blue Project. What started as an annual Earth Month promotion has extended to June for World Ocean Month and has become a continuous, impactful partnership celebrated by NLB’s customers and communities.
Impact and Achievements
Collective efforts have led to significant accomplishments:
- May 1, 2021 – Partnership launch
- July 13, 2023 – Donation milestone: $2,000 contributed, removing over 10,000 pounds of ocean plastic
- June 2024 – NLB’s Ocean Blue campaign, removing 9 tons of plastic—equivalent to a medium-sized city’s daily plastic waste!
Future Plans and Environmental Goals
Next Level Burger and Ocean Blue Project will continue to expand their annual campaigns and introduce new initiatives, making each customer purchase count toward cleaner oceans. Upcoming projects will focus on further beach and ocean plastic cleanups, educational programs, and a push to recycle more plastics collected during events. Together, they aim to inspire even more significant change, educating communities and driving impactful environmental actions.
Join the Ocean Blue Project Movement
Ocean Blue Project is a community of environmental enthusiasts and volunteers dedicated to preserving oceans and waterways. By joining the mission, individuals become part of a collective effort to make a difference, one cleanup at a time. Support and participation are crucial to its success. With partners like Next Level Burger, Ocean Blue Project is making waves of impact and looks forward to making an even more significant difference with additional help.
Let’s make a difference, one cleanup at a time.
