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Trash Hero attends Global Plastics Treaty talks in Paris

by Seema on 12/06/2023 No comments

Key outcomes

Member states agree on a mandate to develop a draft treaty

Presence of industry lobbyists and lack of access for rights-holders, scientists and civil society remains a concern

Ongoing debate over the rules of procedure could continue to delay progress on the treaty

In 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly made an historic resolution to develop “an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment” – the Global Plastics Treaty – and gave member states just two short years to agree on the text.

And there is a lot of ground to cover, with ever-mounting evidence about the toxicity of plastic, from extraction to disposal; its significant role in planetary warming; its destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity; the impossibility of material circularity; and the disproportionate impacts of all of these issues on the Global South and vulnerable communities.

Member states must also agree on the implementation of any agreed measures – whether they will be voluntary or binding, how they will achieve compliance and how they will be financed.

Trash Hero World has just returned from INC-2, the second of five sessions to resolve these issues, held from 29 May – 2 June 2023 in Paris.

To see what we believe the treaty should look like, see this short video:

https://www.tiktok.com/@trashheroworld/video/7241141663110925570

What did Trash Hero do at the treaty talks?

It was Trash Hero World’s first time attending a UNEP event, as a recently accredited civil society organisation, and it was a huge honour to represent our volunteers and work alongside committed and knowledgeable colleagues in the Break Free From Plastic and GAIA networks.

Trash Hero World and other NGOs have the role of “observers” at UNEP: we cannot decide anything that goes into the treaty, but we are allowed to be present and – to some extent – heard at the negotiations, both formally and informally through discussions with official government delegates.

We were able to meet with the representatives from our major countries of operation – Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Switzerland – as well as several others. We also joined many side events to hear from experts in the fields of plastic toxicity and recycling (among others) and from indigenous leaders from the Global South.

With meetings starting early morning and negotiations going on well into the night, it was an intense and fruitful week, despite some early setbacks. Here are the key talking points:

1. Voting vs. consensus
Precious negotiating time was lost as a bloc of oil and plastic producing nations reopened an old discussion about the rules of procedure. They called for all treaty decisions to be made by “consensus”, i.e. unanimous agreement, rather than the 2/3 majority vote provisionally agreed at INC-1 in Uruguay, and refused to move forward until this point was resolved. Others present at the meeting observed that consensus would:

a) give any individual country veto power over the rest and
b) likely result in a weaker and / or voluntary set of measures being adopted, due to the difficulty of accommodating all interests

After more than 2 days of deadlock, a temporary compromise was reached, whereby the bloc’s objection to voting was mentioned in a footnote to the rule. This left less than 3 days for discussion on content – as well as the possibility that the issue could rear its head again at subsequent meetings.

2. Upstream vs. downstream
From the outset, countries have been divided over whether the treaty should focus on stronger, upstream measures to end plastic pollution (such as reducing the production of plastic and its associated chemicals and promoting reuse with safe alternatives) or instead look to weaker, downstream measures (such as reducing “leakage” and “improving*” waste management).

At INC-2, it was encouraging to see a majority of countries, including the EU, Switzerland, many small island developing states, Mexico, Senegal, New Zealand and others, openly support more ambitious upstream solutions. 135 out of 180 countries also called for the final rules to be globally binding for all countries. Countries who produce fossil fuels, petrochemicals and plastic unsurprisingly favoured downstream measures and a “bottom up” approach, where individual countries could pick and choose which measures to adopt.

Despite these fundamental differences, at the end of the week, a mandate was given to the INC secretariat to develop a first draft of the treaty to ‘reflect all viewpoints’. Although this will not be an easy task – especially if we are to keep the original ambition to regulate the whole life cycle of plastics, it was welcomed as a positive outcome and one that puts the negotiations back on track after the delays at the start of the week.

Intersessional work (informal meetings between now and INC-3) has also been mandated to make up for lost time and to set up scientific panels to advise member states on different issues. Who will sit on those panels will also be a topic for debate.

*”improving” in this context often includes false solutions such as incineration and chemical recycling.

3. Stakeholders vs. rights holders
UNEP reversed its decision to restrict access to civil society observers after an NGO action on the first day of the meeting, though access remains an ongoing issue for independent scientists, youth and indigenous peoples.

At the same time, at least 190 plastics industry lobbyists were present at the talks – some even joining official government delegations. UNEP regards this as normal “stakeholder” participation but this term, as GAIA notes, implies a “false symmetry […] between the perpetrators of plastic pollution and affected communities”. We should instead privilege the voices of “rights-holders” across the plastics life cycle. There is already a precedent for this, with WHO keeping the tobacco industry out of negotiations for the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control more than 20 years ago.

What happens now?
All eyes are now on INC-3 and the potential draft treaty that will emerge in the coming months, following the intersessional work and further submissions by member states and observers. The meeting is scheduled to be held in Nairobi in November 2023. We will have further updates on our social media channels @trashheroworld.

Group of volunteers smiling at the camera. ll are wearing Trash Hero -shirts

Our Impact up to 31st December 2022

by Lydia on 15/02/2023 2 comments

Every week volunteers around the world put on their yellow t-shirts and commit to working towards a world free from plastic pollution – but what does it really mean to be a Trash Hero?

It means that we are a global movement. Trash Hero is currently active in 139 locations in 17 countries. To date, our movement has mobilised 466,578 volunteers, 120,673 of whom were under 16! We are passionate about including a wide range of people in our activities, and we celebrate this diversity as much as possible.

Being a Trash Hero also means taking regular action against plastic pollution. In 2022 alone, Trash Hero volunteers organised 3,296 cleanups – an average of 9 cleanups a day and 45 kgs per event! This brings our total number of cleanups since 2013 to an incredible 18,206, removing a total of 2,302,862 kgs of trash

We help people reduce single-use plastic through our refill and reuse programmes. To date, we have distributed 106,188 reusable water bottles through our partner network, which includes 673 points where people can refill their bottle for free. This has prevented an incredible 38,8 million single-use plastic bottles from being used and has reduced 2017.572 tonnes of CO2 emissions. We have also distributed 29,520 reusable Trash Hero bags, preventing the use of 10.8 million single-use plastic bags

Trash Hero is also committed to inspiring a new generation of activists! Our dedicated kids programme, which began in 2018, has helped 23,330 kids build sustainable habits. This is done through our story and activities book

As well as hands-on action within communities, Trash Hero is committed to collecting data that can be used to influence policy change on plastic. Trash Heroes have conducted 402 brand audits that have been included in reports holding corporate polluters responsible. These reports have been submitted to the UN negotiations for a Global Plastics Treaty.

But it’s not just about the numbers. Being a Trash Hero means that we feel connected with your fellow volunteers, we are motivated to create change and we are thankful to everyone who supports and contributes to our movement.

And most of all, it means that we are family!

Thank you to all of our volunteers who have been part of the incredible impact that we have had. We can’t wait to see what 2023 brings!

We have been collecting data since December 2013; as of 31st December 2022 these are our numbers!

18,206 cleanups
139 active chapters in 17 countries
466,578 volunteers, including 120,673 under 16s
Responsibly collected and disposed of 2,302,862 kg of trash
As part of the Trash Hero Bottle program, 106,188 reusable bottles have been distributed, avoiding 38.8 million single-use plastic bottles and reducing 2,107 tonnes of CO2 emissions
As part of the Trash Hero Bag program, 29,520 reusable Trash Hero bags have been distributed, saving 10.8 million single-use plastic bags

Do you want to be part of a movement that is dedicated to creating change? Trash Hero cleanups are open for everyone to join – no cost, no sign-up, just show up! Find your nearest chapter here.

Winter is coming, plastic has to go: how the ongoing fuel crisis is linked to the plastics industry

by Lydia on 20/10/2022 No comments

A fascinating new report, ‘Winter is coming’ by Break Free From Plastic and CIEL, explores how the ongoing fuel crisis is linked to the plastics industry.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has affected energy supplies and, consequently, prices worldwide. This is especially true for European countries that rely on Russia for oil and gas – in 2020, Russia supplied 38% of the EU’s gas and 22% of their oil. By August 2022, it became clear to the EU that they were facing a severe energy crisis and limited supplies of oil and gas meant that prices continued to soar. There have been warnings of power cuts lasting up to 3 hours to try and save energy, and millions of people are concerned about how they can afford to stay warm over what could be a freezing winter.

In response to these concerns, the EU set a target for all member countries to reduce their energy consumption by 15% by 31 March 2023. To help achieve this, governments have been advising consumers about how they can reduce their energy use. For example, Germany recommended that its citizens take cold showers and limit the use of their heating. However, industrial use of oil and gas continues unabated, with no government advice or restrictions to date.

So how does this relate to plastic?

Currently, the plastics industry is the largest consumer of oil and gas in the EU, accounting for 8% and 9% of the EU’s final consumption in 2020, respectively ¹ . It overshadows any other industry, including steel, automobile manufacturing, machinery, food, and beverages. Within the plastics industry in the EU, over 40% of end-market plastics produced are instant waste – single-use plastic packaging.

The EU and its member states have been leaders in tackling the plastics crisis. In 2018 the EU released its Plastics Strategy, which aims to ‘transform the way plastic products are designed, produced, used and recycled’ and is described as ‘a key element of Europe’s transition to a circular economy’ ² . In 2019 they announced the Single Use Plastics Directive that set a collection target of 90% for recycling single-use plastic bottles by 2029. ³ This leadership was particularly evident at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022, when there was a historic advance in negotiations for a global agreement to tackle plastic pollution.

Despite all that the EU has tried to do to reduce plastic pollution, there has been no mention of placing a cap on the production of unnecessary plastic or restricting the activity of the petrochemical industry. This, despite their significant contribution to climate change and their continuing depletion of precious oil and gas reserves.

The report found that if plastic packaging was reduced by 50% and the target of 90% recycling was achieved, this would lead to a reduction of 6.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) of fossil gas and 8.7 million tonnes of oil at the EU level compared to 2020. These figures are equivalent to the oil and gas consumption of the entire Czech Republic in 2020.⁴

The report concludes that, rather than seeking new trade deals for fossil fuels, this situation presents the EU with a unique opportunity to address the energy, climate and plastic crisis. Immediate and drastic action should be taken to reduce the production of unnecessary and excessive virgin plastic by implementing the Plastics Strategy from 2018 and the Single Use Plastics Directive from 2019. In turn, this would significantly reduce greenhouse emissions, reduce plastic pollution and free up the limited energy supplies. The oil and gas that would have been used to produce plastic could instead supply millions of people with reliable and more affordable energy over the winter.

You can read the Executive Summary of the report or the full report.

Footnotes & further reading:

Programmes Administrative Assistant – Full Time, Remote

by Seema on 07/09/2022 No comments

Trash Hero World is hiring! Please see below for job description. 100% remote, so all locations considered, though (other things being equal) preference will be given to candidates resident for tax purposes in Thailand, Indonesia or Myanmar.

This is a full time position (40+ hours a week), available immediately. Applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Salary
– Based on location (local salary rates) and experience

About Trash Hero
Trash Hero World leads, supports and governs the global Trash Hero volunteer movement, which works for a clean world, free from plastic pollution.

The movement started with a beach cleanup project in Thailand in 2013 and has now grown to around 160 chapters (local groups) in communities in 17 different countries. A weekly cleanup is still the main focus, but volunteers also do other activities such as running a water bottle refill network, kids’ education and various forms of community outreach and zero waste advocacy.

Trash Hero World is registered as a non-profit association in Switzerland; registered Trash Hero country organisations also exist in the UK, Czech Republic, Serbia, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. Our global coordination team consists of around 10 people, with both full-time staff and volunteers.

Work Culture
We have an open, friendly and supportive work culture, with staff and volunteers working together at all levels of the organisation. We live the values of our Trash Hero Family and we are all personally committed to a zero waste future.

Our team works remotely, across borders and cultures. We have no physical offices. Team members connect over chat and meet regularly online during the week, at times that accommodate our respective time zones.

Working hours are flexible and overtime and occasional weekend / out of hours work are considered part of the job. All working hours need to be documented.

Role description

This is a data support role inside the Programmes team. This means that you will be responsible for the collection, storage and management of all programme-related data and materials.

You will work with Trash Hero country coordinators and chapter leaders to ensure that data is collected regularly, efficiently and accurately.

And you will support the Programmes team with reliable data that allows us to make informed decisions and communicate our activities and results to volunteers, funders, partners and the general public.

Having access to quality data is essential both to the efficient running of our organisation and to demonstrating our impact.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Checking and management of data relating to:
- Cleanups, including waste and brand audits
- Bottle refill points & refill point map
- Trash Hero Kids programme
- Trash Hero Communities programme
- Any other Trash Hero activities or events (e.g. Family Meetings)
- Accounting for country organisations and events (in coordination with country coordinators and chapter leaders)
Administration associated with the creation of new Trash Hero chapters
Maintenance of chapter map and chapter minisites
Updating website resource library with new materials
Creation and maintenance of volunteer contact lists
Creation and maintenance of programme materials list
Collating social media and website analytics for monthly review
Assisting with the production of monthly, quarterly, yearly and ad hoc data reporting as required
Updating and maintenance of team filing systems
Identifying new or improved ways of data collection and reporting, file organisation etc.
Undertaking training and development and other activities to support the Programmes team as required

Experience & Skills
Essential

Upper intermediate level of English (B2) both written and spoken; other languages an advantage
High level of accuracy, efficiency and organisation
A proven background in administration
Data entry and record management experience
A good level of numeracy
Clearly presented work
Able to organise and prioritise work methodically and independently
Good knowledge of Excel (formulas), Word (and Google equivalents)
Comfortable with cross-cultural communication

Desirable

Knowledge of Mailchimp, Salesforce and database software
Willingness to try different projects alongside their day to day work when required
Experience of working in a non-profit environment
Understanding of issues surrounding plastic pollution, zero waste and circular economy
Familiarity with Southeast Asian culture

Applications & recruitment timeline
STEP ONE: Applications should be made by email to info @ trashhero.org and include:

your CV with 2 references
a cover letter
a short (< 2 minutes) video introducing yourself and explaining why you want to work for Trash Hero (simple recording with phone, no editing needed)

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

STEP TWO: Successful candidates will be contacted for an initial online interview.

STEP THREE: The second round will involve a period of (part-time) volunteering. Trash Hero is an organisation that depends entirely on volunteers, so this is a great opportunity to understand that dynamic, as well as allowing both sides to get to know each other before making a commitment. If all goes well, a formal job offer will follow.

Trash Hero Thailand Country Coordinator – Full Time, Remote

by Seema on 07/09/2022 No comments

Trash Hero Thailand is hiring! Please see below for job description.

This is a full time position (40+ hours a week), open to Thai citizens only.
Available immediately – applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Salary
– Based on location (local salary rates) and experience

About Trash Hero
Trash Hero Thailand (THT) is a registered association that leads, supports and governs the Trash Hero volunteer movement within Thailand, working for a clean world, free from plastic pollution. It is part of the Trash Hero World (THW) network, which has been active since December 2013.

In Thailand, there are around 30 Trash Hero chapters (local groups) in communities all over the kingdom. Activities focus on a weekly cleanup involving the local community, but volunteers are also involved in other projects, such as running a water bottle refill network, kids’ education, outreach work and zero waste advocacy.

Our country coordinator manages those chapters and activities and works closely with the global programmes team, which includes around 10 people, both volunteers and full-time staff.

Work Culture
We have an open, friendly and supportive work culture, with staff and volunteers working together at all levels of the organisation. We live the values of our Trash Hero Family and we are all personally committed to a zero waste future.

The Trash Hero Thailand country coordinator will work remotely from home (we do not have any offices). Team members connect over chat and meet regularly online during the week, often with international colleagues from Southeast Asia and the global programmes team.

Working hours are flexible and overtime and occasional weekend / out of hours work are considered part of the job. All working hours need to be documented.

Role description

The Trash Hero Thailand country coordinator helps to support and deliver our programmes within Thailand. It is a demanding position that will suit someone who enjoys multi-tasking and using a wide range of skills from people management to admin.

Country coordination requires a high level of organisation, excellent communication and networking skills, experience in (volunteer) training or coaching, as well as a passion for, commitment to and knowledge of zero waste and the Trash Hero mission.

You will work both independently, and as part of the global programmes team, to ensure that our operations in Thailand run smoothly, that our work is consistently of a high standard and that it creates the maximum impact possible. You will report directly to the Trash Hero World Programme Coordinator.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

PROGRAMMES SUPPORT & DELIVERY

Mentor new chapters and provide day-to-day support to existing chapters
Manage and expand bottles & bags and kids & education programmes
Monitor activity of existing chapters and identify potential issues with compliance; or good work that deserves praise or mention to THW
Stay informed about issues related to plastic pollution, zero waste, national policies, and potential solutions.
(With support from THW) Prepare and lead webinars, workshops and other volunteer training activities
(With support from THW) Create training materials, presentation slides and other programme materials as needed
Send out and collect chapter and programme surveys as required
Provide input for programme improvement to THW

PROGRAMMES ADMIN

Coordinate with suppliers and organise delivery of Trash Hero products and marketing materials
Process orders from volunteers and customers and make sure they know and follow correct procedures for payment etc.
Maintain stock reports of bottles, bags, kids books and other programme materials
Maintain a national contact database of refill points
Maintain up to date local language versions of all written and graphical programme materials (e.g. chapter handbook)
Collate and check cleanup data for all chapters on a monthly basis
Collate and check brand audit data for all chapters on a monthly basis
Produce weekly cleanup schedule for social media
Collate best photographs of all activities for THW image library
Administer the Meta Business Manager for all chapter social media accounts

COMMUNICATION

Act as first point of contact for the public, volunteers and other stakeholders
Filter emails, calls and social media messages and reply or forward to relevant people
Be in regular contact with chapter leaders via group chats and private channels
Write and send any general THT correspondence (e.g. invitation letters, thank you letters)
Manage THT’s social media channels, including developing and posting daily content
Analyse and report on social media engagement
Coach chapters to use the correct brand voice and narrative and monitor their (social) media posts

FINANCIAL ADMIN

Prepare all expenses claims to Trash Hero standards
Monthly and annual bookkeeping for the Association
Organise salary, insurance and tax payments and related admin
Lead the accounting at Family Meetings
Give input for the Association annual budget

GENERAL ADMIN

Organise volunteer Family Meetings (invitations, hotel, travel, meals, other logistics)
Organise regular meetings for the Board, mentor team, THW etc.
Take minutes at meetings i.e. Board and family meetings
Translate (or arrange translation of) key documents into Thai / English when required
Keep contact info, organisation chart and other records of the country up to date
Organise travel for Board and chapter leaders as required

Experience & Skills

Essential

Thai native speaker, with good English (B2 level)
Excellent communication skills (written, spoken and non-verbal)
10-12+ years of work experience, in an administrative, customer service or communications role
Good IT skills (Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Google equivalents, including Forms)
Basic design skills (Canva)
Ability to work with people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures
Good time management and ability to prioritise tasks
Accurate, thorough and efficient way of working

Desirable

Experience of volunteering with Trash Hero or other NGO in a similar field
Networking skills
Public speaking / presentation skills
Translation skills (English to Thai)
Video editing skills

Applications & recruitment timeline
STEP ONE: Applications should be made by email to info @ trashhero.org and include:

your CV with 2 references
a cover letter
a short (< 2 minutes) video introducing yourself and explaining why you want to work for Trash Hero (simple recording with phone, no editing needed)

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

STEP TWO: Successful candidates will be contacted for an initial online interview.

STEP THREE: The second round will involve a period of (part-time) volunteering, alongside the current country coordinator. Trash Hero is an organisation that depends entirely on volunteers, so this is a great opportunity to understand that dynamic, as well as allowing both sides to get to know each other before making a commitment. If all goes well, a formal job offer will follow.

World Refill Day: How you can have an impact

by Lydia on 16/06/2022 No comments

Plastic production is increasing, how can we – as concerned citizens- change this? We want to inspire you to make small changes and demand bigger ones so that globally we have a meaningful impact.

This World Refill Day (June 16th) we’re taking a closer look at refill and reuse and discovering why they are the key to reducing plastic pollution. We’ll share what we’ve been doing to support refill and show you how you can also make an impact with your actions. We’ll show you how to encourage the support of businesses who are providing refills, motivate you to examine the way products are sold and ultimately inspire you to integrate more refillables into your household and routine.

So why do we need to refill?

Currently, 380 million tonnes of plastics are produced each year ¹_, over half of which are single-use plastics ² . Around 9% of this plastic gets recycled, with less than 2% being effectively recycled³. The rest is littered, landfilled, burned or shipped around the world for someone else to deal with. The sheer volume of waste being generated means even improved recycling is not a practical solution – even if plastic manufacturers would like us to think it is.

The only solution that we know works is to reduce the amount of plastic being produced, especially single-use plastic. Refill and reuse of containers and packaging is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to reduce the amount of plastic needed in the world. Making refill the norm can start at an individual level and then must be supported by the local business community, government infrastructure and eventually by big consumer goods companies.

The benefits of refill are not just limited to reducing plastic waste in the environment. Reducing plastic also has a positive climate impact by reducing CO2 emissions. Plastic production and use currently accounts for around 4% of global carbon emissions, more than the entire airline industry. Integrating more refills into your routine will also have a positive impact on your wallet. Refilling as much as you need rather than buying pre-packaged amounts often works out cheaper, as does refilling drinking water. Many businesses also offer discounts for people who bring their own containers for takeaway food and drink.

So what can I do as an individual?

Make refilling a habit

Think about your daily routine – where do you eat lunch? What items do you regularly buy in single-use plastic? Then try and find ways in which you can swap the single-use for reuse or refill.

The simplest way is to switch to a reusable water bottle. If you already own one, you can encourage others to do the same!

There are many places that offer free water refills, especially in countries where you can drink from the tap. Even in those where you can’t, local refill networks such as the one created by Trash Hero (see below) often exist to help people stay hydrated while avoiding single-use plastic.

To see the impact you have when using a refillable water bottle you can use our free Bottle Impact Calculator. Share your results online to inspire others – and don’t forget to tag us @trashheroworld!

It’s not just water bottles

Let’s remember, It’s not just water bottles that can be refilled and reused! You can bring your own reusable cups and containers at many takeaway places and markets and more and more stores are offering refills of day-to-day essentials such as toiletries, cleaning products and groceries.

Even without a local refill store you can still take action: try a reusable container for your lunch (home made or takeaway) and a thermos for your coffee. You don’t necessarily need to buy anything new to start this, there are things in our houses that will do the job! Old takeaway containers are great to reuse for a packed lunch and old jam jars are perfect for home-made instant noodles – there are endless options and ideas out there! Have a look through your cupboards and see what can be repurposed for your refill journey.

reusable plates, world refill day — Reusable plates – Trash Hero Indonesia Family Meeting

refillable pots, world refill day — Reusable plates – Trash Hero Indonesia Family Meeting

Start a conversation

Talking about refill and how easy it is helps to make the idea accessible and normal for people around you. Make it your aim to research as many places as possible in your local community that allow you to bring your own container for purchases, or ask your friends and neighbours if they have any recommendations for water refills or other reuse tips. Share your findings with your network so that others are encouraged to try.

If there isn’t currently any refill store in your area, maybe there is a friendly local business that you can approach. Try bringing your own cup or container and start a discussion or brainstorm ways in which they could trial refills in their stores. A conversation is the first step to changing behaviour and consumer feedback is extremely powerful.

Support businesses that care

As we’ve mentioned, your feedback as a consumer holds power. This isn’t just about refusing single-use plastic in bigger stores, but supporting those businesses that are offering refills. Be sure to tell them you love what they do, share their sites on social media and encourage others to go there too.

A great resource for refill and reuse programmes is the Living Landscape of Reduse Solutions database – it provides fantastic information about the different ways refill works to eliminate waste, as well as an up-to-date list of refill and reuse providers. You can use it for research or submit your favourite store to their database.

Demand change

It is important to remember that refill is not a new idea. In fact, not so long ago refill was the norm in most countries. For example, products such as milk and soft drinks were delivered in refillable glass bottles. It’s easy to revive these systems and even improve them with new technology and materials.

Whenever you hear a company talking about more or better recycling, remind them and those around you that the real solution is to reduce and reuse / refill. Only when they realise people understand the link between their products and pollution and climate change will they change their packaging and delivery systems.

It may feel overwhelming at times, but together we have the power to demand change and show commitment to that change in our daily habits and purchases.

So what are Trash Hero doing about refills?

The Trash Hero bottle refill programme offers a safe and affordable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. We provide stainless steel water bottles at cost price to local businesses, who then sell them on and provide free drinking water refills to any bottle owner. We have a network of more than 700 refill points, predominantly in Southeast Asia, but also in Czech Republic. A study looked at the impact of refilling the Trash Hero bottle alongside the equivalent number of single-use plastic water bottles and concluded: ‘As a direct comparison between packaging systems, the Trash Hero reusable bottle reduces your [CO2 emissions] by around 95% vs. single-use plastic.’ ⁴ To date, we have sold 102,470 bottles and estimate that 37 million plastic bottles have been avoided as a result of the programme.⁵

Another Trash Hero refill project saw us partner with Swiss cosmetics company, Schnarwiler AG, to launch a range of refillable beauty products with 100% natural ingredients. Essential items such as hand and body soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are packaged in recycled glass bottles and refilled in local stores from bulk containers that are also washed and reused. Since the project started in 2018, the refill network has grown to 84 outlets and 11 hotels, including a popular national chain store, demonstrating that such projects can be implemented on a large scale. It is estimated that 52,882 plastic bottles (200ml) have been avoided thanks to refill.

We’d love to hear from you about your refill journey. Any great refill or reuse ideas that you’ve found helpful? Any stores in your area that you want people to know about? Share in the comments below or tag us on social media!

Footnotes and references:

Growing Plastic Plants: Microplastics in Agriculture

by Lydia on 06/06/2022 No comments

Plastic coming into contact with our food has been a source of concern for many years, but it would seem the contamination starts much earlier than the final packaging

It is common knowledge that microplastics pose a serious threat to environmental and human health. Not only have microplastics been found in our drinking water, food supply and even the air we breathe, but recent studies have also found microplastics in human blood and lung tissue (you can read more about that here). Their presence in the cosmetic industry has been exposed and many countries have introduced, or are working to introduce, microplastics bans in cosmetic products such as toothpastes and face washes. However, something that has not been much discussed is the presence of plastic and microplastics in the agricultural industry. The Centre for International Environmental Law (CIEL) recently published a report on the role of microplastics in agriculture, and the information is concerning.

The use of plastic is visibly prevalent in agriculture – it is used to cover crops, package products, and construct greenhouses and landscaping. This use of plastic is obvious and clear for everyone to see. However, what is not so obvious is that microplastics are being intentionally used as part of the fertilisation process.

Marketed as being key to sustainable and ‘climate friendly’ agriculture, fertilisers are coated in microplastics to help control their release once in the soil. This is achieved through microencapsulation, the process of wrapping a nutrient or chemical in a synthetic polymer material (a form of plastic) to create a small pellet. Controlled-release fertilisers (CRFs) use these coatings to slowly release their contents over a longer period of time. The coatings remain in the soil once the fertiliser has been released and does not degrade. The toxins they contain accumulate in the soil, ready to be absorbed by the crops, or leaked into the air and water supply

This CRF technology is not new – it was introduced in 1970 ¹ – but recently producers have been strongly pushing its use as a ‘planet-safe option’. No mention is made in the new-style marketing of the impact on the soil and food chain; instead they claim greater efficiency, without any solid data to back this up. In fact, according to the CIEL report, these plastic-coated fertilisers are unnecessary. There are effective and more climate-friendly alternatives that exist, methods that reduce the use of synthetic (fossil- fuel- based) pesticides and fertilisers altogether

How much microplastic is being used?

It will likely come as a surprise to hear that it is not the cosmetics industry that is responsible for the majority of primary microplastics currently being used (primary microplastics are microplastics that are intentionally produced, secondary microplastics are those that come from plastic breaking down). In a 2019 report from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) it was found that microplastics intentionally added to fertilisers, pesticides and seed coatings accounted for an estimated half of the 51,500 tonnes of microplastics used each year in the European Economic Area (EEA). They estimated that 22,500 tonnes were used in fertilisers and 500 tonnes used in pesticides ². These numbers show that, within the EEA, the agricultural sector uses more microplastics than any other industry.

Not only are they using more microplastics than any other industry, but these microplastics are being placed directly into the natural environment, affecting our health as well as that of the fauna and flora worldwide.

How do microplastics impact us?

These plastic-coated agrochemicals directly introduce microplastics into the environment and potentially into our food supply. Even prior to being coated in plastic, there are risks to the environment and our health from using synthetic fertilisers and pesticides – much like plastic itself they are derived from oil and gas and are seen as some of the most harmful and toxic substances used globally.³

Some of the health concerns from microplastic exposure include: increased cancer risk, cellular mutations or cell death, heart disease, chronic inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and more. ⁴

What can be done?

Primary microplastic pollution is preventable, however regulation is severely lacking.

‘The current level of action is not yet adequate for addressing sound management of intentionally added microplastics’
An Assessment Report on Issues of Concern,
UNEP⁵

It is vital that as we go forward, as we continue our war on plastic, that those with the power to implement regulations and rules in regards to microplastics across all industries do so. The use of primary microplastics must be stopped in the agricultural sector, and indeed across all manufactured products. This cannot just be on the national level, but something that must be implemented globally. Global treaties are the key to impactfully reducing plastic and a comprehensive global approach must be developed and enforced.

Read the full report: Sowing a Plastic Planet – How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future

[Update 29.06.23] Further reading on this topic can be found here: Why agri plastics are bigger threats than they appear to be

See more updates from CIEL :

Footnotes:

Trash Hero Indonesia Country Coordinator – full-time, remote

by Seema on 09/05/2022 No comments

Trash Hero Indonesia is hiring a new Country Coordinator for their programme management team. The majority of work is carried out remotely, from anywhere within Indonesia, though occasional travel to Bali or other locations will be required.

The positions are open to Indonesian citizens, residing in Indonesia only.

This is a full time position (40+ hours a week), available immediately. Applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Salary range

– IDR 14-16 million, depending on experience

About Trash Hero

Yayasan Trash Hero Indonesia (THI) leads, supports and governs the Trash Hero volunteer movement within Indonesia, working for a clean world, free from plastic pollution. It is part of the Trash Hero World (THW) network, which has been active since December 2013.

In Indonesia, there are around 60 Trash Hero chapters (local groups) in communities all over the country. Activities focus on a weekly cleanup involving the local community, but volunteers are also involved in other projects, such as running a water bottle refill network, kids’ education, socialisation and zero waste advocacy.

Our country coordination team consists of two members of staff. Together they manage our volunteers and activities. They also work closely with the global programmes team, which includes 8 people, both volunteers and full-time staff, one of whom is also based in Indonesia.

Work Culture

We have an open, friendly and supportive work culture, with staff and volunteers working together at all levels of the organisation. We live the values of our Trash Hero Family and we are all personally committed to a zero waste future.

All work is done remotely from home (we do not have any offices). Team members connect over chat and meet regularly online during the week, often with international colleagues from Southeast Asia and the global programmes team.

Working hours are flexible and overtime and occasional weekend / out of hours work are considered part of the job. All working hours need to be documented.

Role description

As our chapter network grows, the Trash Hero Indonesia programmes team is searching for a new Country Coordinator who, together with our Programmes Administrator, will support and help deliver our programmes.

The position has a demanding workload that will suit a competent multi-tasker, with a broad range of skills. Being part of the coordination team requires a high level of organisation, excellent communication and proven experience in volunteer management. You will also have a passion for, commitment to and knowledge of zero waste and the Trash Hero mission.

You will work both independently, and as part of two different teams – the country coordination and the global programmes team – to ensure that our operations in Indonesia run smoothly, that our work is consistently of a high standard and that it creates the maximum impact possible. You will report directly to the Trash Hero World Programmes Coordinator and the Board of the Yayasan.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

PROGRAMME & VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT

Mentor new chapters and provide day-to-day support to existing chapters
Monitor activity and results of existing chapters and identify potential issues with compliance; or good work that deserves praise or mention to THW
Manage and support the expansion of the bottles & bags and kids & education programmes
Prepare and lead workshops, webinars and other volunteer training activities
Create training materials, presentation slides and other programme materials as needed
Provide input for programme improvement to THW
Stay informed about issues related to plastic pollution, zero waste, national policies, and potential solutions.
Work closely with the Programmes Administrator to ensure the smooth operation, monitoring & reporting of all activities.

COMMUNICATION

Act as first point of contact for the public, volunteers and other stakeholders
Filter emails, calls and social media messages and reply or forward to relevant people
Be in regular contact with chapter leaders via group chats and private channels
Write and send any general THI correspondence (e.g. invitation letters, thank you letters)
Manage THI’s social media channels, including developing and posting daily content
Analyse and report on social media engagement
Coach chapters to use the correct brand voice and narrative and monitor their (social) media posts
Send out and collect chapter and programme surveys as required
Provide assistance to volunteers and customers ordering THI merchandise or marketing materials

GENERAL ADMIN

Supervise the organisation of twice-yearly volunteer Family Meetings (invitations, hotel, travel, meals, other logistics) and other meetings as necessary
Translate (or arrange translation of) key documents into Indonesian / English as required

FINANCIAL ADMIN

Support the annual bookkeeping for Yayasan
Lead the accounting at Family Meetings
Give input for the Yayasan annual budget

PROGRAMMES ADMIN

Maintain up to date local language versions of all written and graphical programme materials (e.g. chapter handbook)
Administer the Meta Business Manager for all chapter social media accounts

GRAPHIC DESIGN (OPTIONAL)

Design work for chapters, social media and special events as necessary

VIDEOGRAPHY (OPTIONAL)

Create videos about Trash Hero activities for PR, education and fundraising (guidelines will be provided by THW)

Experience & Skills

Required

Indonesian native speaker, with good English (B2 level)
Excellent communication skills (written, spoken and non-verbal)
Comfortable with public speaking and moderation
10-12+ years of work experience, in a community-based, people management or communications role
Good IT skills (Excel, Word, Powerpoint and Google equivalents, including Forms)
Basic design skills (Canva)
Ability to work with people of different ages, backgrounds and cultures
Good time management and ability to prioritise tasks
Accurate, thorough and efficient way of working
Ability to work independently and take initiative when needed

Desirable

Experience of volunteering with Trash Hero or other NGO in a similar field
Networking skills
Translation skills (English to Bahasa Indonesia)
Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign
Video editing skills

Appointment process

STEP ONE: Applications should be made by email to info @ trashhero.org and include:

your CV with 2 references
a cover letter OR personal video introduction (< 2 minutes) addressing why you want to work for Trash Hero

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

STEP TWO: Successful candidates will be contacted for an initial online interview.

STEP THREE: The second round will involve a period of (part-time) volunteering. Trash Hero is an organisation that depends entirely on volunteers, so this is a great opportunity to understand that dynamic, as well as allowing both sides to get to know each other before making a commitment. If all goes well, a formal job offer will follow.

Are we all plastic people now?

by Seema on 14/04/2022 No comments

Until recently, coverage of the impact of plastic pollution has tended to focus on marine debris and harm done to wildlife. Recent developments, however, indicate that the species most widely affected by plastic could well be us: humans.

A series of reports published over the last month highlight how far plastic has travelled – not only into the Antarctic, or the Mariana Trench, but deep inside our own bodies.

On 24 March, it was announced that 4 out of 5 people may already have tiny pieces of plastic circulating in their blood. 77% of the samples tested in a study funded by the NGO Common Seas came back positive for plastic – mainly PET, polystyrene and polyethylene – common plastics found in clothing and food packaging.

Common Seas admits the finding raises more questions than answers. Does the plastic accumulate in our bodies over time? Can it travel into our organs? Will it trigger diseases such as cancer? It has called on the UK government to invest £15 million (USD 19.7 million) in further research to uncover the links between plastic and our health. This research is urgently needed as many scientists believe that plastic may be the next public health crisis, much like asbestos and smoking in the past. Findings in lab conditions have already shown that microplastics cause damage to human cells.

In early April, another British study found that 11 out of 13 people sampled had microplastics lodged deep inside their lungs. The study was the first of its kind conducted on tissue from living people, who were undergoing surgery. Here, the most common particles found were polypropylene (23%) and PET (18%), again both common types of plastic to which we are exposed on a daily basis. Two previous studies had found microplastics at similarly high rates in lung tissue taken during autopsies.

Although it has been known for some time that microplastics can be inhaled, this is the first time that they have been found in the lower regions of the lungs. According to one of the report’s authors, Laura Sadofsky, they should normally have been trapped or filtered out of the airways before getting that far.

The final report, released by Plastic Soup Foundation (PSF) on World Health Day, 7 April, gives us an indication of another way plastic may be entering our bodies. We are literally rubbing it into our skin, hair and teeth! PSF’s analysis of 7,704 cosmetic products from popular brands in the EU revealed that 9 out of 10 contained some form of microplastics.

Microplastics are commonly defined as solid particles, under 0.5mm in length. They usually come from textiles (fibres shed from synthetic clothing, carpets etc.), larger pieces of plastic that have degraded, or – in the case of cosmetics – “microbeads”. Microbeads are tiny pieces of plastic (usually polyethylene and polymethyl methacrylate) added to products to aid exfoliation.

What PSF discovered was that there are also plenty of invisible microplastics in our products. Liquid and semi-liquid polymer-based ingredients are routinely and deliberately added to help foam, smooth and bulk out various toiletries and treatments. As these are blended in, they can’t be seen: they are only discovered by reading the small print on the ingredient list. In some cases, up to 90% of a cosmetic product may be comprised of microplastic ingredients.

In the report, Plastic: The Hidden Beauty Ingredient, PSF calls for the EU to expand its current definition of microplastics, which will be used to regulate the cosmetics industry, to include liquid and semi-liquid plastics as well as solid plastic particles. This will, they say, close glaring loopholes and make our personal products safer for both the environment and our health.

The cosmetic industry in Europe alone uses 8,700 tonnes of microplastics every year, with an estimated 3,800 tonnes going down the drain and into the waterways. At least some of the rest will be in our bodies – and the health impacts remain unclear. Right now, reducing the amount of plastic we produce and use, in both products and packaging, is the safest option to protect ourselves and future generations from harm.

If you’d like to take further action, both Common Seas and Plastic Soup Foundation have petitions to which you can add your voice. Click on their names to sign.

Trash Hero World receives UN Environment accreditation

by Seema on 24/03/2022 No comments

Trash Hero World is honoured to have been granted formal consultative status at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA). This “observer status” is awarded through an accreditation from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which we received on 16 March 2022.

UNEP has been working for 50 years to protect the environment, fight climate change and support sustainable development. It sets the environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UNEA is its governing body, comprising of 193 member states, representatives from civil society, businesses, and other major groups and stakeholders. It is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.

The full list of UNEP-accredited organisations, including Trash Hero World, can be found on the UNEP website.

As an official observer, we are now among 500+ NGOs globally who can give input to policy discussions and participate in the UNEA sessions and those of its subsidiary bodies. With the announcement of a legally binding global plastics treaty at the recent UNEA-5.2 in Nairobi, it is a very exciting time to join and to be able to give voice to the needs and views of our grassroots volunteer network, many of whom are working on the frontline of the plastics crisis in Southeast Asia.