Fighting Plastic Pollution with Tom Jackson | Ep 178

Packaging Unboxd with Evelio Mattos

Discuss your packaging with Evelio Mattos

Tom Jackson is the co-founder of Honest Ocean, a company focused on managing the supply chains of recycled plastics from source to manufacturing. Based in Indonesia, Tom works closely with local communities and recycling centers to collect and process ocean-bound plastics, aiming to transform waste into valuable materials for various industries.

In this enlightening episode, Evelio Mattos sits down with Tom Jackson, co-founder of Honest Ocean, to discuss the harsh realities of plastic pollution in Indonesia and its devastating impact on the environment and local communities. Tom shares his journey from working on private superyachts to founding a company dedicated to recycling and repurposing ocean-bound plastic, offering insight into the complexities and challenges of the recycling process.

Throughout the conversation, Tom explains how Honest Ocean collaborates with local coastal communities to collect plastics, which are then processed and sold to brands committed to sustainability. He touches on the dire state of Indonesian beaches, clogged with waste, and highlights the importance of creating a circular economy. The episode delves into the technical aspects of processing different types of plastics and the efforts to find innovative solutions for unrecyclable waste. Tom also discusses the crucial role of technology and the need for significant investment to effectively tackle plastic pollution on a global scale.

• Plastic Pollution Crisis: Indonesia’s beaches are inundated with plastic waste, significantly affecting local communities and the environment.
• Community Collaboration: Honest Ocean empowers local communities by employing them in the collection and processing of ocean-bound plastics.
• Comprehensive Recycling: The company processes a variety of plastics, including PET, PP, and HDPE, and is working on solutions for unrecyclable waste.
• Impactful Partnerships: Brands can significantly contribute to environmental sustainability by sourcing recycled plastics from Honest Ocean, creating positive social and economic effects.
• Innovative Solutions Needed: There is a pressing need for advanced technology and investment to manage and repurpose waste efficiently.

1. "Now you change it from fish to plastic and try to pay them, if not more than what they were getting it for before." - Tom Jackson
2. "The first seven to eight foot of the beach is plastic mixed in with that seaweed." - Tom Jackson
3. "United States, UK, Germany, we're all still exporting waste to countries like Indonesia." - Tom Jackson
4. "Changing lives through plastic collection, it's not just plastic recycling." - Tom Jackson
5. "We're not at that scale. You know, we do a couple of hundred tons a month, and that really takes up all of our time." - Tom Jackson

• Tom Jackson on LinkedIn

Delve into the full episode to uncover the fascinating journey of turning ocean-bound plastic waste into valuable resources and the significant strides Honest Ocean is making towards a sustainable future. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes from our podcast/web series.