The Jembrana regency—where hilly jungles full of life meet beautiful beaches on Bali’s northwest coast—is often touted as a hidden gem. The Ijo Gading River that runs through the regency is the island’s largest ocean plastic contributor, accounting for 12% of Bali’s plastic waste leakage. On its banks are the Jembrana and Negara subdistricts, home of our first Indonesian programme.

Ideas come from anywhere in the world. That’s why we partnered with Plug and Play Tech Center in 2019 to develop the End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform—to foster startups from across the plastic value chain, and transform plastic waste management around the world.

Closing the Loop works by supporting local entrepreneurs from vulnerable communities in the coastal city of Accra in Ghana. The model is simple and effective. Plastic waste is collected and sold to CASH IT!, regrinded, and sold to be reused in products such as household or building materials. Not only are the waste management issues alleviated in Accra, but the unlocked value of plastic waste is channeled back to these communities in the form of jobs and new income streams.