Happy anniversary POPSEA! Five years ago, Prevented Ocean Plastic™ established its first collection operations in Southeast Asia, cementing a new approach to tackling plastic pollution by connecting coastal collection communities with the global recycling supply chain.
Since then, Prevented Ocean Plastic Southeast Asia- or POPSEA to its friends- has grown into a core part of the Prevented Ocean Plastic network, supporting collection centres across Indonesia and beyond, and helping create opportunities for local collectors while recovering discarded plastic materials that can be recycled and reused.
Reflecting on five years of progress, POPSEA Director Daniel Lawrence said:
“The people behind our collection network are the foundation of everything we do. Every bottle collected represents the dedication of individuals who work tirelessly every day to support their families and contribute to a cleaner environment.
As we continue to grow, our responsibility goes beyond expanding our operations. It is about ensuring that our growth creates more employment opportunities, provides fair and reliable compensation for collectors, and strengthens the recycling value chain. Our hope is to help build a market that is more stable and predictable, giving collectors the confidence that their hard work will continue to be valued today and for years to come.”
On an emotional call with Prevented Ocean Plastic HQ in London on the evening of the anniversary, Mr Lawrence also described himself as “overwhelmed, honoured, so proud”.
POPSEA has generated hundreds of direct jobs, supported tens of thousand of worker hours, collected over 2 billion plastic bottles, and has been a pivotal part of collecting discarded single-use drinking cups to power the Prevented Ocean Plastic food-safe rPP innovation. And their work is not done.
As POPSEA looks ahead to the next five years, the focus remains on strengthening the foundations of the Prevented Ocean Plastic franchise model, as well as the wider recycling value chain- investing in collection infrastructure, supporting communities, and helping create a more reliable supply of recycled materials for businesses around the world.
Prevented Ocean Plastic Director, Raffi Schieir, said: “Congratulations to the entire POPSEA team on five incredible years of progress. This milestone is a testament to the commitment, resilience and dedication of the people who make our collection network possible every single day. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past five years, and excited for what we can continue to build together.”
Prevented Ocean Plastic, together with partners like POPSEA, customers, businesses, brands, and shoppers, will continue working towards a future where every bottle is counted and every person counts.
About Prevented Ocean Plastic™: POP 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
