OKEANOS
INNOVATION
CENTER

OKIV is the development hub for Okeanos’ world-changing sustainable technologies aimed at reducing plastic pollution and lowering our collective CO2footprint.

Located in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in the United States, under the direction of Dr. Russell Petrie, Chief Innovation Officer, and Mary Lehrter, VP of Innovation

OKIV is the development hub for Okeanos’ world-changing sustainable technologies aimed at reducing plastic pollution and lowering our collective CO2footprint.

Located in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in the United States, under the direction of Dr. Russell Petrie, Chief Innovation Officer, and Mary Lehrter, VP of Innovation

OUR
STATE-OF-THE-ART
FACILITY

OKEANOS WAS INSPIRED
BY THE CONCEPT OF BIOMIMICRY

Specifically the efficiency, strength, and degradability of nature’s perfect package – the eggshell, comprised of 97% CaCO3 held together by proteins.

Okeanos aims to reach an industrial equivalent that mimics the efficiency of the eggshell. This is supported by science with an expertise in process engineering.

OUR GOALS
ARE AS FOLLOWS:

OUR GOALS
ARE AS FOLLOWS:

OUR GOALS
ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Okeanos Innovation Center is an ISO 9001 certified facility.

OUR TEAM &
CAPABILITIES

BIOLOGISTS, MEDICAL DOCTORS, CHEMISTS
AND
ENGINEERS

MINERAL
BLENDING

AND
COMPOUNDING

FILM AND
INJECTION
EQUIPMENT

ANALYTICAL
AND
DEGRADATION
LABORATORIES

OUR TEAM &
CAPABILITIES

BIOLOGISTS, MEDICAL DOCTORS, CHEMISTS
AND
ENGINEERS

MINERAL
BLENDING

AND
COMPOUNDING

FILM AND
INJECTION
EQUIPMENT

ANALYTICAL
AND
DEGRADATION
LABORATORIES

TEAM
LEADERS

Mary Lehrter
VP Process Innovation

Previously Senior Engineer of R&D at Procter & Gamble, she was responsible for leading definition, development & commissioning new initiatives resulting in over $1Billion in revenue. Mary holds 7 patents (US, Europe & China) for inventions including printing processes for Press n’ Seal wrap & paper-like film with polymer/CaCO3 structures.

Dr. Russell Petrie
Chief Innovation Officer

Born in South Africa and emigrated to the United States as a child. Summers spent collecting fossils on the banks of the ancient Mississippi River and watching the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau created a passion for and lifelong love of the ocean. This passion led to the desire to become a marine biologist. Upon receiving degrees from UC Berkley in Biology and Economics, his love of the ocean was only eclipsed by his desire to help people, igniting a future career in medicine. Dr.Petrie received his medical degree from Mayo Medical School, completing an orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic, followed by a fellowship in Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently a practicing orthopedic surgeon and serves as a team doctor for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.

Ray Loflin
Director Degradation Innovation

Ray graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Biology and a specific focus on microbiology and chemistry. He is a member of the ASTM D20.96 subcommittee on Environmental Degradable Plastics and Biobased Products, and committee head of ASTM D20.96.14 - Anaerobic Biodegradation. He also, co-founded the Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics Federation, a trade group designed to promote biodegradable forms of plastic. His work in the field of biodegradable plastics is helping governments and corporations come up with sustainable plastic solution.