Sukabumi is now on the map as part of the solution for plastic waste.
Earlier this month, a ribbon was cut outside of a collection centre in Sukabumi, Indonesia. The new build centre is the 12th to be officially opened as part of Prevented Ocean Plastic’s 25 by 2025 initiative. It will process more than 100 tonnes of plastic waste every month, create up to 30 new direct jobs, and continue the franchise model’s mission to prevent plastic from ever reaching rivers or coastal ecosystems.
Sukabumi, in the West Java province, faces significant plastic pollution challenges, particularly impacting its coastal areas and the Cimandiri River. A study on Sukabumi beaches revealed that 85% of litter was plastic. The Cimandiri River, a major watershed, carries plastic waste not effectively collected in inland areas to the coast, contributing to marine pollution.
The establishment of this facility is part of Prevented Ocean Plastic’s commitment to expanding standardised and high-efficiency plastic waste collection and sorting infrastructure around the world. The team at Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia see Sukabumi as a strategic location in the PET plastic collection chain from local communities. This plastic waste collection centre has been built to high standards, including sorting systems, contaminant separation, and the output capacity of high-quality PET bales. This effort also supports the Indonesian government’s targets to reduce plastic waste by 30% and manage the remaining 70% in the coming years.
“The impact of what we do is not only environmental but also societal,” said Daniel Lawrence Angelo Law, CEO of Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia. “Our goal is to ensure plastic does not end up in the ocean while building systems that support the circular economy. This facility also opens sustainable job opportunities, strengthens the local supply chain, and adds value for plastic bottle collectors in the field up to the recycling industry level”.
The Centre will operate with the production of cold-washed flakes and uphold principles of sustainability and social inclusion. The facility employs local workers who all receive the applicable minimum wage and are equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE) and a safe working environment. The workspace is also designed to be protected from extreme weather, providing comfort and safety for the workers.
Raffi Schieir, founder of Prevented Ocean Plastic™, expressed his excitement over this progress. “I’m thrilled to be part of a team that continues to promote the Prevented Ocean Plastic franchise model, bringing controlled collection systems and creating job opportunities in communities like Sukabumi. We dream that one day, every community across Indonesia’s islands will have access to this kind of infrastructure”.
Prevented Ocean Plastic™ is high quality, compliant recycled plastic that has been collected from coastal communities at risk of ocean plastic pollution. Used by supermarkets and brands around the world, it meets regulatory health and safety standards, is traceable back to source and can be identified on-pack through its distinctive triangular logo. Prevented Ocean Plastic™ supply major manufacturing partners such as Groupe Guillin, Spectra Packaging, and Berry Global for offerings across multiple product categories, including food and drink, personal care, pet products and home cleaning. Prevented Ocean Plastic™ is an award-winning, three-time Earthshot Prize nominee, and has collected over 2.5 billion plastic bottles from where they don’t belong since 2020.
