Collaboration | Trash Hero World

Trash Hero Commits to I Care Initiative

by Leslie Finlay on 02/12/2017 No comments

Trash Hero is proud to announce our participation in the global I Care initiative among various organizations, companies, associations and individuals around the world dedicated to a cleaner ocean.

I Care participants commit to tackle the problem of marine plastic through three steps:

Reduce daily consumption of disposable plastic items
Remove of plastic waste from our shorelines
Rescue animals injured by or caught in plastic marine waste

All types of marine life are affected by plastic entering our oceans

As Trash Heroes, we can honor this commitment in simple, everyday ways. Choose reusable and sustainable alternatives to items like produce bags, straws, plastic bottles, single-use coffee cups, personal care products containing microbeads, and synthetic clothing. Each individual commitment means less kilograms of plastic waste entering our oceans.

Live more sustainably by using reusable bottles and bags and clothing made from environmentally-friendly materials

I Care is a commitment developed by OceanCare, an organization working toward marine protection since 1989 through research, campaigns, environmental education and participation in international committees. Their work has been recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the organization granted Special Consultative Status on marine issues. Through this distinction, it advocates for updated policy and regulations to reduce plastic waste on national, regional, and global levels.

This video produced by OceanCare describes its mission and introduces I Care participants, including Trash Hero at the 10:00 minute mark! This compilation was recently shown to the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species in Manila #cmscop12 on 26th October 2017.

How do you demonstrate your commitment to a cleaner ocean?

Trash Hero Kid’s Book: Meet the Illustrator!

by Leslie Finlay on 29/11/2017 No comments

We have almost two thirds of our target funds to produce our #trashherokids book! Thank you to all who have donated so far. Not donated yet? Take that small step now: https://www.100-days.net/en/projekt/trashhero-children-s-book

Many people have commented on the beautiful illustrations in the book and indeed, we chose our artist for her evocative, sensitive treatment of the story, rather than the cartoon style so often seen in children’s environmental stories.

Here, we want to share with you Ewelina’s own story of how she came to the project.

*DREAMS COME TRUE*

“This project is very important to me, it’s very close to my heart, so I want to tell you the story how it all started for me. Maybe later you will become a part of the project too :).

I’m in love with nature, underwater life or forests are sacred for me. But these places are in danger.

Once I was swimming on the coral reefs and I saw an amazing, impressive giant blue starfish. I swam just a bit further and something blue took my attention again. I expected to see another beautiful animal, but what I found was just a blue plastic bag. Oh my, it was such a sad view. At moment like this you just want to cry. You are aware you are in such amazing world, but this world will disappear if we do not care enough.

After this experience I had a very specific dream – I dreamed about picking up trash in Bali!

In the beginning I felt little ashamed to tell it to anyone, my mom could have said “Hey kid, you should do bigger things than collecting trash!”. So I kept it secret for a while 😉

One year later I decided to move to Bali and it was the best time to realise the dream!

But of course I would feel awkward to do this alone. So I was ready to write an advertisement to find other crazy people to join me in this adventure. Then I found out about Trash Hero! First we were only three people, but after few months the group grew bigger, even kids from local schools were involved.

When I returned to Poland, a dear Balinese friend told me that Trash Hero World had the idea how to explain other kids why it’s important to take care of our world, and they looked for an illustrator. I applied for the contest. I wanted to take part in a project that is so close to my heart. I love this world and I want to make it better.

Together with Trash Hero we have prepared a wonderful, very inspiring book that stimulates the sensitivity of children to the surrounding world. I believe this book is giving important lessons of loving our planet and has to reach all children all over the globe, starting in Asia.”

Ewelina Wajgert is a Polish graphic artist, who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. Follow Ewelina here: https://www.facebook.com/wajgert/

#togetherwemakeadifference

Trash Heroes Join the International Coastal Cleanup

by Leslie Finlay on 18/09/2017 2 comments

This weekend was the International Coastal Cleanup, a global event organized by the Ocean Conservancy, and millions of volunteers worldwide took to the oceans and coastlines to remove waste.

According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic has been found in 62% of all sea birds and 100% of sea turtle species. The organization records what types of trash are removed from the oceans to help guide awareness.

The top items collected globally are:

Source: The Ocean Conservancy

This year volunteers also found four drones, 56 toilets, eight microwaves, five selfie-sticks, and a piano.

Trash Heroes around the world were out this weekend, as they are every week, making big changes in their communities.

Trash Heroes in Borneo joining the International Coastal Cleanup on a camping cleanup trip

Trash Hero Kertalangu joined a cleanup event called AKSOMA at Biaung Beach in Indonesia removing more than 100kg of trash with community leaders, students of all ages, and the Indonesian National Army.
Trash Hero Bangkok hauled out their paddleboards to clean Khlong Bang Phli (Taco Lake,) removing 80 kilograms.
Trash Hero Borneo joined the International Coastal Cleanup for a two-day camping trip as part of the largest coastal clean up in Sabah. Volunteers gathered along Simpang Mengayau collecting waste along beaches spanning 8 villages.

Paddleboard cleanups in Bangkok.

Did your community participate in the International Coastal Cleanup? Let us know! We want to hear your stories and successes!

47,183 Volunteers Strong

by Leslie Finlay on 11/09/2017 No comments

This year, the Trash Hero family has swelled to an amazing 42 chapters across nine countries – Thailand, Indonesia, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar, China, and the USA. More than 47,000 volunteers have removed 345,203 kilograms of trash from our oceans, waterways, roads, beaches and communities, and that number grows every single day through the efforts of heroes like you. Nearly 10,000 of these volunteers were children.

New chapters like Trash Hero Kertalangu, started just two months ago, are gaining momentum every week. More than 1,700 heroes have already supported the new chapter. Trash Hero Thailand’s bottle project distributed more than 3

3,000 stainless steel reusable water bottles to curb single-use plastic usage. More than 181 businesses joined in to supply free water refills, the whole effort saving an estimated 12 million plastic bottles from entering the ecosystem. The project is set to launch across other chapters this year!

Come join the movement with us. If there is no chapter yet in your area, you can organize your own team to clean, educate and change your community. We provide the resources and guidance, you provide your heroism. To make a difference in your community and join our global family, contact us at info@trashhero.org to take the first step toward a cleaner future.

It Only Takes One Hero to Make an Impact – From Bali Beaches & Beyond

by Leslie Finlay on 29/08/2017 No comments

Esther Thomet recently attended the National Geographic Student Expedition, a student travel program run through various locations around the world that aims to inspire and educate middle school and high school students.

While in Tulamben in Northeastern Bali, a representative from Trash Hero introduced the student group to the organization before they took to the beaches to help clean alongside local Balinese children. During the presentation, Esther said that the group was shown video of a sea turtle with a straw up its nose.

“I cried because it was devastating to watch the harmful human influence on nature,” she said. “I knew then that I wanted to help.”

While she participated locally, the spirit of Trash Hero instilled within Esther long after her trip. She said that the strongest part of Trash Hero’s message is not only that they actively clean and conserve, but they are teaching others in the process.

“From a single beach cleanup and small lesson I learned what kinds of plastics to look out for and where they are commonly hidden, how to help prevent the use of plastics in everyday activities, and what affects we will have on the ocean, and world in general, if we continue to use plastic at this rate,” she said.

Education of this sort is lasting and far-reaching, and inspires others, like Esther, that they can make a difference.

“I wanted to go home and fundraise because I was very inspired by the thought that someone like me could make an impact,” Esther said. “I wanted to spread Trash Hero’s message to my friends and family.”

Returning home, Esther coordinated donations totaling $500 for Trash Hero World, in the process living up to Trash Hero’s message of education and inspiration, eager to share what she had learned with others and incorporate changes into her everyday life.

“The trip mainly changed the way I view the world,” Esther said. “I am very conscious about how much trash I am producing, how to limit my trash production, and how to make others aware about how they can get involved and help as well.”

Collaboration and togetherness are the clear keys to transformative progress. For other aspiring heroes, Esther believes that by remembering the reasons for why we work for a passion, we can achieve anything.

“I once had a teacher who told me that it doesn’t matter what career or life path I choose, as long as I do so with pride, dedication, and hope for the future,” she said.

“Trash Monsters” at Wonderfruit Festival Dazzle and Inspire

by Leslie Finlay on 23/08/2017 No comments

The three day “Wonderfruit Festival Pattaya” is the biggest music- and arts festival in Thailand with a mission to “encourage, develop and innovate creative solutions for sustainable living and bring together a global community to celebrate them. We use our platform to catalyze creativity and make a meaningful, positive impact.”

Alongside well-known musical acts, workshops, art installations, banquets and presentations are also held in the spirit of this ethos. Topics encourage participation and range from sustainability and the environment to social responsibility.

This year, well-known Thai artist Tom Potisit created a 3-meter long “trash monsters” on behalf of Trash Hero Thailand that came to life for several performances with the help of professional dancers.

The “Little Monsters”, named DukDik and KukKoo, were inspired by deep-deep sea animals such as Anglerfish and extinct shrimp-like animal called the Anomalocarididsx to raise awareness about how the waste we create affects all living organisms – even deep seas creatures. He worked to collaborate between active Trash Hero chapters along the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coast to collect trash from the ocean, including fishing equipment, lighters, toys, sunglasses, and more. His production team carefully assembled DukDik and KukKoo and created a personality for both creatures in order to make them truly come alive at the festival, fully equipped with LED lights to light up the campaign.

The founder of Wonderfruit, Pranitan “Pete” Phornprapha, was originally inspired by environmental projects from his community, but sought to celebrate social awareness in a fun, relevant and contemporary way.

The attitude is put into practice at the festival, as well. On-site water filtration allows festival-goeers to refill reusable water bottles on sale, and all drinks and food are served in biodegradable or reusable containers. A local organization, Thailand Young Farmers, provide locally-grown, organic produce for the banquets, and a portion of each ticket sale is contributed to the Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve in Borneo, Malaysia, to offset carbon emissions and make Wonderfruit a carbon neutral event. A collaboration between the festival and Johnnie Walker contributed a portion of drink sales to the planting of more than 1,000 mangrove trees in Myanmar. Several Trash Hero volunteers held presentations during the festival, as well, about their experiences in the field to raise more awareness about waste issues.

@Work Program in the (Swiss) News

by Amelia Meier on 06/01/2017 No comments

06 January 2017 – Trash Hero @Work Program

Our recent launch of the Trash Hero @Work program has just been written about in a Swiss newspaper from Lucerne. Read it here.

Trash Hero World’s @Work program creates a solid basis for reducing corporate and business waste to a minimum. In a first step, all office waste on an average day is analysed in detail. One by one, steps are then taken to reduce waste to a minimum. Employees might all commit to using our stainless steel bottles, or use their own containers to pick up their lunches. Slowly but surely, employees can move towards implementing a zero waste philosophy and can see how small changes make a big difference.

Launch of Trash Hero @Work Program

by Amelia Meier on 17/12/2016 No comments

17 December 2016 – Trash Hero Word & GKS Architekten + Partner AG

We have just launched the @Work program in cooperation with the architectural office GKS Architekten + Partner AG from Lucerne, Switzerland . The aim of the program is to reduce office waste to a minimum, and our project creates a solid basis for this. The 50 employees of the awesome architectural office GKS Architekten + Partner rang in a new era by committing themselves to the zero-waste philosophy, and will be doing everything they can to reduce their internal waste.

In a first step, team members examined the trash they as a company were producing daily. They estimated that they were using 2,600 disposable plastic dishes, 3,200 glas bottles, and around one ton of paper per year. Since this company takes corporate social responsibility seriously, they are all wenn under way to going zero waste: they will be avoiding trash wherever possible, strictly separating, and will try to use recyclable materials. To eliminate drinking bottles every GKS employee received a personalised Trash Hero bottle made of stainless steel as a Christmas present.

We are grateful for this amazing collaboration with GKS! Other corporations have already voiced interest as well, and we hope to inspire many more businesses to implement sustainable changes in the future! Read the full press release here.

Bye Bye Plastic Bags MEETS Trash Hero World

by Amelia Meier on 02/12/2016 No comments

2 December 2016 – Trash Hero World

We had the pleasure of meeting with the guys from Bye Bye Plastic Bags recently, and look forward to collaborating with them in the future. Bye Bye Plastic Bags started in Bali with the simple goal of ensuring that plastic bags are banned. They are now going global, and we look forward to partnering with them. Stay tuned!

Trash to Treasure Seminar in Jakarta

by Amelia Meier on 26/11/2016 No comments

23/24 November 2016 – Trash Hero Indonesia

Roman Peter just participated in the Trash to Treasure Seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia. Organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment (The Netherlands) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Republic of Indonesia, and the Indonesian Waste Platform, the focus of this seminar was to discuss possibilities for reducing the influx of waste to our environment, explore solutions on reduction of single-use packaging and alternative packing materials, and to establish partnerships on reaching these goals.

Waste is a global problem: The current scale of contamination of the marine environment by plastic and synthetic debris is vast and poses a serious threat to our environment, health and wildlife. With an expected world population growth of 9.7 billion people by 2050 and ever increasing levels of consumption, the need for addressing waste, litter and marine debris is becoming more and more urgent. Tackling the complex issue of waste management and the Marine Debris problem in Indonesia is challenge for all involved: Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, located in the tropics and the equator is traversed by extensive sea. The sea area of Indonesia covers over 70% of the entire territory of Indonesia and has as many as 17,504 islands.

Most participants agreed that to establish an (economically) efficient system for reducing waste, all stakeholders should be included in future strategies. There should be a holistic approach. For example: decision makers should be informed and educated about recycling strategies and there should be a strong and determined political will to act. Businesses should be offered incentives to recycle and produce ‘green’ products and the entire public must be educated on how to participate in recycling and waste reduction. NGO’s involved in recycling and waste reduction should be encourage and supported. Many suggestions were made on how to improve the recycling system in Indonesia. All agreed that the current recycling system in Indonesia is lacking. Recycling 3 centres, equipment and technology need to be improved and they need to be made more widely available. It was suggested to start by having recycling centres in all major cities in the country but that in general all districts and sub-districts should be included in a general plan if the aim is maximum waste reduction and recycling.

A big part of discussion was education. All agreed that education plays a pivotal role in the reduction of waste. All members of society should be educated, not only children in school. For example, government officials need to be informed about recycling strategies and waste management in general if they want to create an efficient waste management plan and policies concerning waste. Within formal education a campaign should be started that includes ALL schools. This campaign should focus on the impacts of waste, specifically the impact of waste on health and hygiene. Teachers should also be trained since their behaviour influences their pupils. Within port settings fishermen, port workers and management should be educated on waste. To educate people in general the media and large-scale events can be mobilised because of their educational value. The power of media on public opinion should be harnessed in the mission to change people’s way of thinking about waste. Educational programs on waste for television can be created and producers can be supported/subsidised by the government. Media should be encouraged to report on waste issues. The importance of the role of businesses in reducing waste was also discussed and all agreed that future policy and enforcement needs to be formulated and increased. Some more ideas and suggestions: There should be incentives in place for businesses that engage in recycling and production using recycled materials. Going green should be profitable. There should be policy on the waste-management of businesses, etc. In general, producers should be held accountable for their actions concerning the environment. There should be strict policies and enforcement which are focused on the move towards a blue\circular economy: Energy should not be subsidised but optimised, production needs to become cleaner, remaining waste needs to be recycled, etc. All agreed that it was necessary to start establishing real action plans to deal with the influx of waste in Indonesia. For the health of its citizens, the environment and the economy (creation of jobs, tourism, etc).