Local clothing shop owner pledges to clean environment for each purchase made
PORT CLINTON - When Alec Ochs picks up litter around the Lake Erie shore in Port Clinton, he is not only caring for the environment, but he is also keeping a promise to his customers. Ochs, a Catawba resident, has created a business that embraces environmental protection from every angle.
His apparel and accessories company, From Stream to Bay, sells sustainable products through environmentally friendly means and ties an eco-conscious promise to each purchase: Every time an item is bought, Ochs heads outside to pick up litter.
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When a customer buys a T-shirt or tank top from the Mountain and Surf Collection, Ochs pledges to pick up two pounds of litter from streams and coastlines. For every purchase of a beanie or hoodie from the Alpine Collection, he will pick up one pound.
Ochs launched Stream to Bay in 2021
Since launching From Stream to Bay in 2021, Ochs has picked up countless pieces of trash.
“I’ve picked up just under 1,600 pounds of litter so far, mostly from western Lake Erie,” he said.
Ochs describes his business as “eco-conscious apparel and accessories, inspired by the outdoors.” The clothing is not only environmentally friendly, but it is fun. In addition to outdoor themed shirts and hoodies, From Stream to Bay also offers beanies, stickers and Making Waves Bracelets. The all-cotton bracelets are handmade in Ohio by Yanz Jewelry, and all of the clothing is designed by Ochs.
His goal is to use as little plastic in his company as possible.
Shop uses eco-mailers for products
“Our eco-mailers are made of recycled paper, and our tagging has no plastic. If at all possible, we use recyclable,” he said.
Ochs, a 2015 Port Clinton High School graduate, has been concerned about the environment since he was a child.
“It’s just a part of who I am,” he said. “I was born and raised in Port Clinton, and everywhere I went, I’d find myself picking up litter.”
When COVID stymied professional opportunities after Ochs graduated from college, he decided to launch From Stream to Bay.
“Finding a way to turn my passion into a profession has always been on my mind. There was a hiring freeze in my career field, so I went for it,” he said.
Ochs travels and picks up litter in states he visits
Now, the world is nearly 1,600 pounds lighter of litter. Ochs picked up litter in California, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Michigan. Mostly, he’s removed litter in Northwest Ohio, doing beach cleanups at lake shore spots such as North Bass Island State Park, the Camp Perry Beachfront and Port Clinton City Beach. A progress map on the From Stream to Bay website tracks how many pounds of litter Ochs has picked up and where he found it.
“My company’s goal is to pick up 1,000,000 pounds of trash by 2035,” he said.
From Stream to Bay products can be purchased at Newport Clothing & Gear in Port Clinton, Chicklet’s Closet on Kelleys Island, Put-in-Bay Surf Shop, and Paddle & Climb in Sandusky. The company's items are also available online at fromstreamtobay.com.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: From Stream to Bay is a local environmentally friendly apparel company
