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Project name: Cambodia Plastic Waste Removal
Location: Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Technology: OBP Plastic Neutrality
Standard: Social+ OBP Neutrality Standard
Impact highlights: Removing ocean-bound plastic, creating a circular solution, enhancing livelihoods

Context: Ocean-bound plastic problem

Sihanoukville, founded in 1964 as Cambodia's first deep-water port, became a tourist hotspot by the 1990s. Rapid development led to land disputes, poor waste management, and plastic pollution, harming coastal areas and ecosystems. Investment also displaced locals and worsened social inequalities. These issues remain complex and unresolved despite efforts to improve waste management and regulations. Action needs to be taken to prevent the growing impact on communities, wildlife, and the ecosystem.

Solution: Plastic waste collection and upcycling

Together with our local partner TONTOTON, we’re supporting the Cambodia Plastic Waste Removal Project. This project actively engages the local community in removing and repurposing both recyclable and orphan plastic waste in polluted coastal areas. The goal is to ensure the comprehensive clean-up, disposal, and recycling of all plastic waste. This empowers local communities by creating jobs and improving living conditions. Additionally, the recycled plastic is repurposed to create resources such as furniture, small homes, or schools that benefit vulnerable and underserved groups in the community.

Impact:

Removing ocean-bound plastic:

Ocean-bound plastic refers to plastic waste at risk of ending up in the ocean. It is estimated that ocean-bound plastic generates 80% of plastic marine litter (obpcert.org). It consists of a small fraction of commercially recyclable plastic waste, along with a majority of non-commercially recyclable plastic waste (also known as “orphan plastic”). This project’s goal is the collection of all Sihanoukville ocean-bound plastic waste, which will significantly reduce land and marine pollution.

Creating a circular solution:

At TONTOTON's Material Recovery Facility, the first of its kind in Cambodia, the collected plastic is either upcycled, recycled or utilised as an alternative energy source, creating a fully circular solution. In the end all plastic waste is repurposed, preventing it from ending up in a landfill.

Enhancing livelihoods

This project is supporting a local initiative focused on enhancing livelihoods across various areas such as education and social welfare. Upcycled materials are repurposed to construct schools or renovate homes for community members. Plastic collectors are employed and provided with benefits like health insurance for themselves and their families, as well as access to additional training opportunities. The broader community benefits from awareness initiatives and educational programs focused on managing ocean-plastic waste.

To ensure the highest impact and project progress standards, independent third-party verifiers will closely monitor and evaluate all the impacts above. In addition, our team of project experts conducts regular site visits, reaffirming our commitment to maintaining exceptional project quality.