“We believe trash barriers are the quickest and most cost effective way to eradicate plastic pollution by activating communities on land. Rivers are the perfect connection point between life on land and our ocean.” – Sungai Watch.
When Handprint began its mission to focus on regenerating the planet, and making sustainability for business simple, we knew the largest impact would involve thinking globally.
Indonesia contains 17,508 islands and is the world’s second-highest level of biodiversity after Brazil. Handprint views this as an ideal location to find impact partnerships that make a difference every day, so our clients can elevate their regeneration goals tomorrow.
Did you know more than 80% of plastic pollution in the ocean comes from rivers and streams? The ocean produces over half of the oxygen in the world and is responsible for contributing to climate regulation. The United Nations refers to the ocean as the “lungs of the Earth”, and we need to focus our contributions to ensure everyone is breathing easier tomorrow.
Why Do We Need To Protect The Ocean To Restore The Future?
The ocean covers 70% of the world’s surface. As such a massive component of the planet, Handprint values impact partnerships that protect and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Sungai Watch was founded in 2020 by Gary, Kelly, and Sam Bencheghib in Bali, Indonesia. Over the past three years, the team has grown to include over eighty employees passionate about creating solutions and being river warriors and regeneration advocates.
Many smaller villages in Indonesia lack the education and waste management infrastructure to properly recycle plastic. As a solution to overflowing landfills, river banks have become the core location for garbage, which becomes problematic with heavy rainfalls pushing these piles into the rivers.
How Does Sungai Watch Organise Daily River Clean-Ups?
Sungai Watch chose Indonesia as the organization’s base due to the proximity of 90 out of the world’s 1,000 most polluted rivers. The solutions Sungai Watch builds every day will be used for future expansion into other regions of Asia and South America.
Learn How Sungai Watch Purifies The Veins Of The Ocean
Step One: Daily Barrier Cleanups
Every day, Sungai Watch warriors begin by bringing all the plastic and waste back to their various stations. After experimenting with several different types of barriers, the technology Sungai Watch utilizes today has helped to clean over 100 rivers. The technology is flexible and scalable due to the size and location of the river. Sungai Watch’s current goal is to have a barrier in every Indonesian river by 2025.
Step Two: Sort And Categorize Each Item Of Trash Removed
After removing the plastic and waste collected by the barriers, Sungai Watch sorts each item and categorizes their daily finding. This is imperative for local outreach and to showcase the impact a river clean-up brings to communities.
Step Three: Analyze Trash Data Collection To Share With Local & Global Stakeholders
Sungai Watch stakeholders receive up-to-date data on plastic and waste collection – plus different findings regarding materials or location-based cleanups. Sungai Watch will also do emergency cleanups to assist with highly polluted areas.
Learn more about these successful Sungai Watch cleanups:
Step Four: Wash And Prepare For Removed Waste To Be Recycled
While Indonesia lacks recycling infrastructure and waste management, it is still possible to safely recycle. Sungai Watch takes extra care to ensure items removed from the river cleanups are recycled or upcycled properly.
Step Five: Innovative Products Made From Removed Waste
Sungai Watch will reveal products created from recycled plastic bags, hard plastics, cups, sandals, and glasses. Each product that will be released has been created by the team at the Sungai Watch recycling plant proving innovation and creativity never lose steam when combined with passion.
Why Does Handprint Partner With Sungai Watch?
Part of regeneration is to push ourselves further than the traditional 3Rs of Sustainability. Instead of utilizing Reduce-Reuse-Recycle, Handprint suggests a change of mindset with Reserve, Restore, and Rewild, finding new solutions to the current climate crisis that is easily integrated into our clients’ daily routines.
Handprints analytics quantifies each impact partnership for transparent data that clients review in real-time. Handprint technology allocates units to every actionable item of impact and will also link clients chosen impact partnerships with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
We encourage you to ignite innovation and join the regeneration movement for a clean and clear future. With Handprint, regeneration is easy. Get in touch with Handprint to learn how your company can start making an impact today.
