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Trash Hero Indonesia collaborates on first-ever sachet brand audit report

by Lydia on 02/05/2024 No comments

Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) released a first-of-its-kind report, and Trash Hero Indonesia co-produced it.

For the past six years, members of the BFFP movement have worked together, collecting information about who is responsible for the plastic pollution we find on our beaches, rivers, and towns. The annual brand audit report compiles global data and shines a light on the brands responsible for plastic pollution. This information can then be used to advocate for systemic change. In fact, when New York Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo for “polluting the environment and endangering public health through its single-use plastic bottles, caps and wrappers”, data from the brand audits was cited in the press release.

Previous brand audit reports have collected data on all types of plastic. However, sachet pollution has increased at alarming rates across Asia, leading many environmental groups to demand that companies phase out sachets. To better understand the scale and source of sachet pollution and to be able to push for real change, a group of BFFP NGOs from Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines came together to take action.

A sachet is an environmental nightmare. Most of them have an airtight inner plastic layer that protects the product, a foil barrier against moisture and heat, and an outer flexible layer that can be printed on. An adhesive holds it all together. The multiple layers make it impossible to recycle effectively. Their light weight means they often end up in forests, rivers, and oceans. From here, animals mistake them for food and get sick or even die after consuming them. Discarded sachets also worsen flooding by clogging waterways and drains, leading to more water-borne diseases. For something that is used for seconds, they have a very long-lasting impact! This devastating impact has been widely recognised, with even former CEO of Unilever, Paul Polman, stating, “We need to get rid of sachets for good”. Yet their use worldwide continues. Our article “Exposing the hidden cost of sachets” dives into the environmental and social issues of sachets in more detail.

Collecting the data

Between October 2023 and February 2024, 807 volunteers organised brand audits in 50 locations across India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Together, these volunteers from 25 organisations collected a total of 33,467 sachets

Alongside colleagues from YPBB, Ecoton and Greenpeace, Trash Hero Indonesia adjusted the brand audit methodology to suit sachets. They then collected and collated the data from the sachet brand audits in Indonesia and helped develop and draft the report.

Trash Hero Indonesia trained volunteers in the new process and rallied Trash Hero volunteers across Indonesia to participate. Data from Indonesia made up 29% of the total data published in the report. 476 volunteers took part, counting 9,698 sachets across 34 locations. 1,212 brands were identified. The Trash Hero Indonesia team collected and verified the data from all participating organisations in Indonesia. We want to say a big thank you to the 456 Trash Hero volunteers from 23 chapters who conducted sachet brand audits!

What did the report find?

The report identified the top ten brands responsible for sachet pollution across Indonesia, India, Vietnam and the Philippines:

Unilever
Wings
Mayora Indah
Wadia Group
Balaji Wafers Private Limited
Procter & Gamble
Nestlé
Yes 2 Healthy Life
JG Summit Holdings
Salim Group

The audit identified 2,678 brands in four countries—India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam—highlighting the extensive use of this problematic single-use packaging format.

The report also revealed a concerning trend in sachet material composition. Over half (57%) of the collected samples were multilayer sachets, while only 41% were single-layer. This is important because multilayer construction, combining different materials, makes recycling these sachets virtually impossible.

Members of the BFFP movement attended the fourth round of official negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty and were able to present the report to country delegates.

What should corporations do?

Urgent action needs to be taken now to stop producing sachets. We, along with other members of the Break Free From Plastic movement, call on corporations to:

Take immediate action to phase out or quit sachets, to effectively address the environmental, social and economic impacts of these single-use plastics.
Reveal their plastic use by providing public data on the type and quantity of packaging used in different markets, and the chemicals in that packaging.
End support for false solutions such as burning plastic and chemical recycling. Sending sachets and other plastic packaging to cement kilns isn’t recycling.
Redesign business models away from single-use sachets and other single-use packaging of any type – including novel materials such as bio-based or compostable plastics.
Invest in accessible, affordable reuse, refill or packaging-free product delivery systems in all markets, while ensuring a just transition for all relevant workers.

Read the full report here

20 surprising everyday things that contain plastic

by Lydia on 25/03/2024 No comments

Have you ever thought about how much plastic is in our daily lives? We know to avoid plastic bags and bottles, but what about the plastic hiding in everyday items? Here are 20 surprising things that contain plastics, along with some tips for how to avoid them.

Clothes: 60% of our clothes contain synthetic fibres such as polyester, acrylic or nylon – forms of plastic. Even cotton items can hide plastic – anything labelled “wrinkle-resistant” likely has a plastic coating. Shedding during washing and wear, and at the end of their life contributes to microplastic pollution.

How to avoid: Choose clothes made from 100% natural fibres like linen, cotton or wool. Opt for a cold, short cycle to minimise shedding when washing synthetic blends.

Tea bags: Tea bags look like simple paper pouches. Unfortunately, many of them contain a type of plastic called polypropylene. It is used to heat-seal the edges and keeps them from falling apart. Others are made entirely from plant plastic – which contains all the same additives and chemicals as regular plastic.

How to avoid: Ditch the bag altogether and enjoy loose-leaf tea.

Nail polish: Plastic gives nail polish its strength and staying power. Two key ingredients are resin, a type of plastic that forms a hard, protective layer, and plasticisers, which keep the polish flexible and prevent chipping.

How to avoid: Finding nail polish that is entirely plastic-free is impossible. But, water-based polishes tend to contain less plastic than others. Or let your nails go naked!

Chewing gum: The satisfying chew is thanks to its “gum base”. This usually contains synthetic elastomers like polyvinyl acetate, the same plastic found in glue.

How to avoid: Keep an eye out for plastic-free gum brands.

Tampons(and pads): The absorbent core of a menstrual pad uses superabsorbent polymers, similar to those in diapers, and the leak-proof backing is plastic film. Even “cotton” top sheets usually contain synthetic fibres. Tampon applicators are typically plastic.

How to avoid: Reusable menstrual cups or period underwear are not plastic-free but used over time will vastly reduce the pollution caused by single-use products.

Car tyres: Modern car tyres are around 1/4 synthetic rubber, a petroleum-based plastic. As the tyres wear down, they release microplastics into the environment – they are likely the biggest source of plastic pollution in the ocean.

How to avoid: Reduce car use whenever possible to minimise wear and tear on your tyres.

Toothpaste: Manufacturers often use tiny plastic beads for exfoliation, and plastics are added as thickeners. Most toothpaste tubes are non-recyclable plastic, too.

How to avoid: Plastic-free toothpaste options are available. You can also check the ingredients for “poly-”, which indicates plastic.

Glitter and sequins: Those shimmering dots are usually made of PET plastic, the same as water bottles, coated with aluminium for shine.

How to avoid: If you must use loose glitter, try coloured sand or salt. But don’t throw away any sparkly clothes or accessories you already own: the longer you wear them, the longer you’ll keep them out of landfill

Sponges: Sponges were traditionally made from cellulose. But now, most kitchen and bathroom sponges contain plastic for durability and absorbency.

How to avoid: Look for sponges made of natural materials.

Wet wipes: The base materials of these wipes are usually synthetic fabrics such as polyester.

How to avoid: Opt for natural, reusable cloth wipes instead.

Cigarette butts: The filters in cigarettes are made from plastic fibres packed tightly together, adding to the chemicals you’re breathing in with the smoke. Read more about it here.

How to avoid: There’s no plastic-free alternative to cigarette filters.

Sun cream: Plastic is added to sun cream for several reasons. It stops it from splitting, makes it easier to apply and helps with water resistance.

How to avoid: Explore mineral-based sun creams that are often plastic-free. Keep an eye out for ingredients that start with “poly-” or end with “-lene”, as these indicate plastic.

Paper cups: Paper cups have a thin layer of plastic, usually polyethylene or PLA, to prevent leaks. These layers make them difficult to recycle and hot drinks increase the transfer of toxins into your brew.

How to avoid: Invest in a safer, reusable cup for your takeaway coffee or tea, or choose to dine in instead.

Aluminium can: Inside aluminium cans is a layer of plastic that prevents the metal from reacting with the beverage and extends shelf life. This video on Instagram shows the plastic inside a Coke can.

How to avoid: Currently, there are no aluminium cans without plastic linings, so drink from glass if available – especially as aluminium has a very high environmental footprint. And always recycle your can!

Paint: The vast majority of household paints contain plastic binders for improved durability and moisture resistance.

How to avoid: Water-based paints often have reduced plastic; or use lime-based or other mineral-based paint for a plastic-free, breathable finish.

Make-up (and other beauty products): Make-up and toiletries contain microplastic in two primary forms – tiny plastic particles added as exfoliants or glitter, and liquid plastic ingredients that thicken products and help to create a smooth texture on our skin or hair. Most are also packaged in plastic.

How to avoid: Check the ingredient lists on your products and try to avoid those containing words starting with “poly-” or ending with “-lene”. Purchase cosmetics in bar form or in refillable or reusable packaging wherever possible.

Foil wrappers: These are used for packaging everything from chocolate to laundry liquid and often have a thin layer of plastic on one side to make it more pliable and prevent tearing.

How to avoid: Choose food and other products in reusable, paper or no packaging.

Store receipts: These are printed on special thermal paper with a plastic coating containing bisphenol A (BPA). When the paper runs through the cash register, a print head heats the paper to create the letters and images you see on the receipt, which saves on ink.

How to avoid: If you’re given the option, refuse a receipt and get digital copies instead.

Non-stick pans: The non-stick coating on many popular cookware options is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon, a type of synthetic plastic.

How to avoid: Use pans made from stainless steel, cast iron or enamel materials.

Pillows: The filling in all synthetic pillows is made from plastic – usually hollowfibre polyester, but sometimes foam. Manufacturers favour this because it’s cheaper and holds its shape well.

How to avoid: Try pillows with natural fillings such as feathers, wool or buckwheat hulls.

Being aware of hidden plastic allows us to make more informed choices regarding reducing plastic consumption daily. Which of these surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.

Family meetings to support and celebrate our amazing volunteers

by Lydia on 15/01/2024 1 comment

Trash Hero Kota Kinabalu leader, Zurainee, was excited to meet her volunteers in a different setting: “it felt good spending time with heroes in a different and ‘cleaner’ platform”.

It’s true that when they usually meet – before, during and after cleanups – Trash Hero volunteers are engrossed in the task at hand. Most of their training is done on the job.

Our Family Meetings, which were most recently held during the last quarter of 2023, give them a chance to spend time together in a different way. They allow for more in-depth discussions, planning and knowledge-building, as well as providing an opportunity to develop stronger friendships and support systems.

During November 24 – 26, Trash Hero Indonesia hosted its second Family Meeting of the year in Bali, for all active chapters within the country. Seventy participants joined the three-day event from 33 different locations.

Seventy participants from 33 locations joined the 3-day event in Indonesia

The country team delivered a packed agenda focused on the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of our activities. The volunteers learned the basic principles of zero waste communities and about the impacts of plastic pollution on climate, human health and biodiversity through interactive games and mini-workshops. They also honed their skills in effective communication, community engagement and strategic planning.

Rima Agustina, Trash Hero World’s Programme Coordinator, who led the event, said: “It was probably our most successful family meeting to date in terms of engagement. I am so inspired by our volunteers’ energy and willingness to learn these challenging topics.”

Feedback from the volunteers confirmed this impression. Clara Keban, a participant from Trash Hero Belu, said that she “learned many things from great friends and mentors […] Other than that, the most important thing that I got from this activity is kinship, cohesiveness and togetherness”.

Trash Hero World covers all the costs for the national Family Meetings, including the participants’ travel, accommodation and food, as well as the planning and logistics.

In other parts of the world, chapter leaders hosted local Chapter Family Meetings. These were first introduced in 2022 when COVID-19 restrictions eased, but travel restrictions meant we couldn’t host national Family Meetings. The feedback we received from volunteers was fantastic, so we have made them a regular event. The budget is again provided by Trash Hero World and, in some cases, local sponsors.

Participants working together, Trash Hero Langsuan

Chapters can make their own agenda for the meetings: some focused on team building with active volunteers, while others extended invitations to the public, community leaders and local government representatives, to broaden and strengthen their support base.

For example, Trash Hero Mersing in Malaysia organised a zero waste picnic at their local beach. They invited kids who had previously joined their cleanups – and their friends. The picnic, with fun games and prizes, was a great example of how to host events without creating waste, as well as a nice way to thank the children for their participation and engage more kids in their activities. Other Malaysian chapters, Trash Hero Cherating and Trash Hero Tuaran, also organised zero waste picnics for their teams.

Trash Hero Langsuan in Thailand held a full day of activities for their volunteers and involved representatives from the local government, temple and even the district hospital who gave a presentation on the health dangers of trash.

Trash Hero Tha Sala, Thailand, Trash Hero Bern, Switzerland and Trash Hero Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, used the Chapter Family Meeting to reflect on what they achieved in 2023 and what they hope to accomplish in 2024.

Chapter Family Meeting numbers so far:

Thailand: 28 adults, 21 kids, 4 locations

Malaysia: 31 adults, 32 kids, 4 locations

Switzerland: 8 adults, 1 location

Chapter Family Meetings continue to take place in early 2024.

Thank you to everyone who participated in, organised and supported these events. Now we are fully charged and ready for another year of action!

26 October: monthly news roundup

by Lydia on 26/10/2023 No comments

Our roundup of the month’s most important stories

Myanmar communities drowning in world’s waste

Trash from Lidl supermarkets in the UK and other stores in Poland and Canada has been discovered at illegal dumping sites in Myanmar. Residents of the vulnerable communities are concerned about their health

Cleanup technologies do more harm than good

New research shows that complicated cleanup technologies cause more harm than good. They can damage marine life and impact the livelihoods of local communities.

K-Pop marketing create huge plastic waste problem

Fans of K-Pop are told to buy lots of albums to help their favourite bands get to the top of the charts. But this has caused a big increase in plastic waste. “No K-Pop on a Dead Planet” wants businesses to do things differently.

Microplastics “clogging the systems” of ocean carbon capture

Tiny sea creatures called plankton are important for getting rid of carbon in the atmosphere. However, microplastics are “clogging the systems”, which is bad news for ocean life and the climate.

Trash Hero Jakarta’s cleanup featured on AFP News

Trash Hero Jakarta’s cleanup was featured on AFP news! Volunteers shared their motivations for reducing plastic pollution.

What do you think about these stories? Let us know in the comments!

Who are the Trash Hero volunteers?

by Lydia on 12/10/2023 2 comments

The results of our big volunteer survey are in! Discover who volunteers for our movement – and what motivates them.

Trash Hero volunteers are the driving force of our mission to create a world free from plastic pollution. To find out more about the incredible individuals who dedicate their time and energy to the movement, we conducted a survey of volunteers in all countries worldwide. We collected demographic information, asked about their motivation for joining Trash Hero and how their experience has impacted them and those around them.

We received 177 responses (approximately 70% of active volunteers). They make for inspiring reading and give some fascinating insights into the kind of people Trash Hero attracts – let’s dive in!

Volunteer demographics

Impact of volunteering

The survey revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback about how volunteering has helped people in multiple areas: making new friends, learning new skills and gaining knowledge about plastic pollution, as well as feeling happier and more confident! This confirms our experience that volunteering with Trash Hero is good for both the planet and your personal wellbeing.

Note: these statistics are self-reported.

Volunteer experience

Meet some of the volunteers who responded to the survey below:

Sabine, Trash Hero Basel, Switzerland Sabine found out about Trash Hero online and decided to join to help prevent plastic pollution. Before Trash Hero, she was already trying to reduce her plastic use, but since joining Trash Hero she has felt more confident to speak to others about the issue. She loves her team and the attitude of Trash Hero and hopes to volunteer with us for years to come.

Aziz, Trash Hero Mersing, Malaysia Aziz is a teacher who joined Trash Hero because he liked the vision and mission. Aziz wants to be a role model for people to reduce plastic use at home and school – he carries his Trash Hero water bottle wherever he goes! Thanks to Aziz, a friend chose an alternative to polystyrene plates at his wedding, avoiding a lot of plastic waste.

Nan, Trash Hero Ao Nang, Thailand Nan joined Trash Hero in 2015 after hearing about the cleanups in Koh Lipe. She loved the positive attitude of the movement. Since joining Trash Hero, she has installed a water filter in her home so they don’t have to buy water in plastic bottles. She has also reduced her own use of plastic and noticed that her friends and family have followed her example.

Suta, Trash Hero Tabanan, Indonesia Suta saw another chapter, Trash Hero Yeh Gangga, organising regular cleanups and thought it was a great way to expand his social circle. Since starting his own chapter, Suta has learned about the issues of plastic pollution and is now organising cleanups because he recognises plastic’s impact on our health. Since being part of the Trash Hero movement, Suta has become more confident, knowledgeable, happier and has made new friends.

So what are you waiting for? Join the Trash Hero movement today! You can join an existing chapter, start your own or volunteer remotely.

Volunteer training 2023 kicks off with over 100 participants

by Lydia on 13/06/2023 No comments

The incredible impact that Trash Hero has had is due to the dedication and commitment of our volunteers. They are the movement’s driving force, and their positive attitude and hard work is inspiring

To keep this spirit alight, Trash Hero World holds regular on-site “Family Meetings”, which allow active volunteers inside our major countries of operation to meet and share new knowledge and experiences. In April and May this year, we hosted a one-day event in Switzerland and 3 x three-day residential events in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

“It was great to see the Swiss Trash Hero Family again, share different experiences, learn from each other and spend a great time together.” Fabio, Trash Hero Bern, Switzerland

In Southeast Asia, volunteers got to know each other through small group work and games, mixing serious learning with plenty of fun. The first day was spent introducing the principles of zero waste systems, including the importance of waste separation, debunking false solutions such as incineration and mapping the problem of waste management in a small island community. Of particular interest was the composting workshop: many participants were keen to try this out on their return home.

The focus of the second day was improving community engagement – exploring how the Trash Hero values and consistent approach establishes trust. This can then be built on to create long term change, for example with the kids’ book programme or the water bottle refill network. The workshops covered social media skills to help increase participation in activities and how to provide meaningful education through cleanups.

“Professional speakers and very good material for us to make improvements in our respective chapters”. Jack, Trash Hero Biak, Indonesia

On day three, volunteers were asked to reflect on the new knowledge and skills they had learned and prepare a strategic action plan to take back to their chapters. Together with support from our mentor teams, this will help to guide their activities over the next six months.

With new friendships formed and new energy found, we see the network stronger than ever moving forward. We are thankful to everyone involved in organising the transport, accommodation and food, creating, facilitating and presenting the sessions, and of course to all those who took time off work to join us.

“This Family Meeting is very extraordinary for each of us chapters to motivate each other more” Trash Hero Volunteer, Indonesia

In total 108 participants joined the Family Meetings from 54 chapters

Trash Hero Switzerland Family Meeting

Date: 23 April 2023

Location: Luzern, Switzerland

Participants: 15

Chapters: 6

Trash Hero Indonesia Family Meeting

Date: 5-7 May 2023

Location: Bali, Indonesia

Participants: 67

Chapters: 33

Trash Hero Malaysia Family Meeting

Date: 12-14 May 2023

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Participants: 9

Chapters: 4

Trash Hero Thailand Family Meeting

Date: 19-21 May 2023

Location: Pattani, Thailand

Participants: 24

Chapters: 11

Thank you to CFLI for supporting the event in Thailand

Brand Audit Report 2022: the results are in!

by Lydia on 09/12/2022 No comments

In November, Break Free From Plastic released their 5th annual Brand Audit report. As well as documenting which companies are responsible for the majority of plastic counted this year, it analyses which corporations have been responsible for the majority of plastic pollution for five consecutive years.

The 2022 report consisted of 397 brand audits on six continents; 14,760 volunteers participated, counting and auditing 429,994 pieces of plastic from 4,645 parent companies.

The reports found that these companies were the top polluters for 2022!

The Coca-Cola Company
PepsiCo
Nestlé
Mondelēz International
Unilever
Procter & Gamble
Mars, Inc.
Philip Morris International
Danone
Colgate-Palmolive

Trash Hero contributed significantly to these findings. We submitted 30% (120) of the brand audits used in the report, 6.8% (29,504) of the plastics counted, and 18.2% (2,968) of volunteers that took part were Trash Heroes!

As this is the fifth annual brand audit report, Break Free From Plastic took the opportunity to analyse longitudinal data trends from the five years of data they have collected. They found that Coca-Cola, Nestle and Pepsico have consistently been the top single-use plastic polluters over that time.

Coca-cola has been the worst plastic polluter by a significant lead, with the amount of Coca-Cola branded plastic increasing each year! According to the report, they accounted for 31,000 pieces of plastic collected during the brand audits – representing a 61% increase since 2021! This is unsurprising as a recent report found that their plastic production has increased by nearly 10%!

Break Free From plastic members submitted data from this report at the first annual INC meeting – a meeting of UNEA member governments to discuss the global plastic treaty. This crucial meeting started the negotiation process for the treaty’s terms and included representatives from the plastics industry and civil society groups. The information from the report highlights the need for large corporations to take responsibility for their role in plastic pollution, and it shows that the only way to reduce plastic pollution is to reduce the production of plastic.

We are so proud to be part of such an important movement and play a role in influencing policies that will address the plastics crisis. We want to say a massive thank you to all of the Trash Hero volunteers who have contributed to this data over the years. We have been collecting data for this project since it began, and seeing it be part of such an important event makes the hard world worthwhile.

Thank you to Break Free From Plastic for analysing all the data and representing our views at the INC1 this week.

29 September: Monthly news round up

by Lydia on 29/09/2022 No comments

Our roundup of the month’s most important stories

Can reducing plastic production ease the energy crisis?

Winter is coming – a new report from CIEL and Break Free From Plastic reveals the link between plastic and rising heating bills

Or read this article about the findings

Refill and reuse schemes are flourishing in the Global South

Greenpeace showcases inspiring stories from five reuse champions in their latest report

Increase in ocean acidity linked to degrading plastic

Acidification leads to the destruction of coral and shelled marine life and can impact the whole food chain. Find out more in this interesting article

Children fall ill from work in Turkish recycling centres

Waste exports from UK and EU contribute to dangerous health and human rights impacts. You can find the full story here

Alliance to End Plastic Waste achieves just 0.04% of its recycling target

Household names that have pledged to end plastic waste are ‘barely making a dent’. Find out more here

Mike Bloomberg wages war against plastic

The businessman pledges $85 million to fight the expansion of the petrochemical industry in the USA – find out what that entails here

7 July 2022: weekly news roundup

by Lydia on 07/07/2022 No comments

Our roundup of the week’s most important stories

Festivals in Netherlands to stop using single-use cups

After successful trials, reusable cups will soon be the new norm for Dutch festival-goers. Find out more about how this system will work and people’s reactions to it here

Trash Hero Luzern’s brand audit makes the news

Tele 1 reporters joined the volunteers at their 25th cleanup in the Swiss city. The team conducted a cleanup and a brand audit. A brand audit records information about the companies producing the plastic found at cleanups and contributes to global research on corporate polluters. The full video, currently only available in Swiss German, can be watched here

A policy 4 years in the making: India bans single-use plastics

A step in the right direction, but are communities and corporations ready for the change? This interesting analysis looks at how the ban is working in practice and its long term prospects.

183 participants from 80 chapters join Family Meetings in May

by Lydia on 23/06/2022 2 comments

After two and a half years of online meetings, this year we were finally able to have our Trash Hero Family Meetings in person!

Family Meetings are our regular volunteer training and team-building events that celebrate our chapters’ achievements and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills that will benefit both their community and the wider Trash Hero mission.

It's great to know how people or companies contributing to pollution are distracting out minds, to know how to achieve our goals and know the extent of the situation or problem in each chapter. In addition, the whole meeting is very good for refreshing the slack spirit' - Mr Con, Trash Hero Tuaran, Malaysia, Mary 2022

Two trash heros at the meeting, one with a laptop the other smiling

Pre-pandemic they were held in person in our major countries of operation: Czech Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Switzerland and Thailand.

In 2020 and 2021 we moved these meetings online, which allowed us to reach volunteers in other countries that had never previously attended a family meeting. They saw fantastic levels of attendance with 276 people in 18 different countries attending a series of online meetings in 2020. In 2021, 174 people from 15 different countries joined the Trash Hero global meeting, and Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Switzerland hosted their own Family Meetings. These meetings helped to keep our movement vibrant during a challenging period, but nothing could match the energy of in person discussion and interaction.

'It helped me develop my understanding of the essential meanings of Trash Hero - the importance of building consistency, commitment in doing an action and inspiring people while staying humble. The word "family" in “family meeting” showed its true meaning. We have never met, but it felt like we are old close friends, having fun without being awkward.' - Rara, Trash Hero Muba, Indonesia May 2022

Once restrictions eased, many chapters held their own Chapter Family Meetings which allowed them to build their local teams and address the particular issues they face in their communities.

Then, finally in May, we were able to plan and host a full series of face-to-face meetings with our volunteers in Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Czech Republic (13 – 15th), Batu Buruk, Malaysia (13-15th), Bali, Indonesia (20 – 22nd) and Chumpon, Thailand (27 – 29th).

After reviewing feedback from past Family Meetings, and from our own experience of our 2020-21 zero waste training, this year in Asia we aimed to increase the levels of interaction within the meeting – facilitating more discussions and increasing knowledge sharing.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to plan together with team members, in order to properly divide tasks and have people help each other – [it] makes the job a lot more fun and easier.”

Nan – Trash Hero Ao Nang, Thailand

The meetings started with introductions: after 2 and a half years there were some new faces joining us! It was fantastic to finally meet people in person who we had previously only met on a screen.

Then it was time to get to work! We explored our values as a movement, cleanup organisation, strategic planning, social media best practices, brand audits and the big picture of waste. The volunteers got to know Trash Hero World and the work we do globally and there were also sessions where they could share their experiences of delivering programmes on the ground. This provides essential input that helps to shape the way in which we work and our activities moving forward.

'The meeting was an inspiration. I made new friends sharing the same values. I received a lot of new knowledge and solved problems that had been weighing on me' - Chan, Trash Hero Patong, Thailand. May 2022

One of the most popular workshops was strategic planning, guiding the leaders through ways to increase the influence of their chapters and how to get more people involved. This started with a presentation, then a session to put their knowledge into practice and create a long-term plan. We encouraged the chapter leaders to assess their current situation, set goals and create a step-by-step plan for achieving their aims.

As well as being an opportunity to share knowledge, the Family Meetings help our volunteers form connections with each other – creating a fantastic network of support and ideas. The friendships formed at the events last far beyond the three days spent together.

Each Family Meeting was organised as a zero waste event. People who attended brought their own reusable water bottles, or there were glasses for use, and refill stations were readily available. All food and drink was served with reusable tableware and snacks were wrapped in banana leaves. Across the 4 events we had 183 participants from 80 chapters. This means, based on a conservative estimate of each participant having 2 water refills a day, at least 1,098 single-use plastic bottles were prevented from being used.

In Czech Republic, the meeting was held in an idyllic location just outside of Prague. The team listened to lectures from guest speakers, discussed ideas and visited the Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area. From their guide, Pavel Skala, who joined the Family Meeting as a representative of the Třesina association, they learned about local butterflies. Other guest speakers were Martin Trávníček from the Pestré Polabí association and Arthur F Sniegon from the non-profit organisation Save Elephant. It was also great to see a large number of the volunteers at the Family Meeting were Trash Hero Kids!

'We were so happy to see each other and we all agreed it was the best Family Meeting so far' - Monika, Trash Hero Czech Republic. May 2022

The feedback we received and the knowledge we gained during the events help us create a stronger global Trash Hero Family and will be used to shape our programmes as we continue our fight against plastic waste.

Malaysia: 27 Participants, 13 Chapters

Czech Republic: 35 Participants, 8 Chapters

Indonesia: 88 Participants, 45 Chapters

Thailand: 33 Participants, 15 Chapters

“I increased my knowledge about how polluted and how threatened planet Earth is. The most important thing for me from this meeting is how honest and transparent financial management is in THI and THW. I also felt the family atmosphere that is so close between the participants.”

Arnold – Trash Hero Nagekeo, Indonesia