Sponsor Update 2016 (Part I): Trash Hero Bottles

September 26, 2016 – Trash Hero World

As we wrap up 2016, we wanted to reflect on the considerable progress made this year. This success was made possible by the many volunteers who help every week and by the generosity of donors.

The world’s mounting waste problem threatens public health, pollutes the environment and impairs development in poorer countries, and yet awareness of the scope of the problem is alarmingly low. Donations received this year have enabled Trash Hero World to launch sustainable, actionable programs to tackle those issues and ultimately change the behaviour toward waste management through awareness and education, notably in both Indonesia and Thailand.

One of these programs is the “Love Thailand Water Bottles” initiative, which Trash Hero World supported with USD 4’300. This program aims to sustainably reduce the amount of plastic bottles that end up on beaches. The bottles are sold for no profit to businesses in Thailand. The businesses sell it with a 3$ profit and in return agree to provide free drinking water refill for all Trash Hero bottles. More than 20’000 bottles have been sold since December 2014 by the communities of Koh Lipe, Koh Lanta and Chiang Mai.

Trash Hero World recently extended the project to nine additional locations in Thailand with a distribution of 1’500 bottles. We look to continue the program’s expansion to Indonesia as well. Bottle production requires two months, which is why an initial investment is necessary in order to make the bottles available to businesses. Once the bottles are sold the next order is placed.

Koh Tao for example bought 60 “Love Thailand” Bottles to convince businesses to participate and have now launched their own “Love Koh Tao” bottle with 15 participating businesses and 1’000 bottles.