Following up with plastic keepers driving our mission forward

What do educational games, plastic flower crafts, and a small fishing island have in common? They all offered a glimpse into our growing movement to keep plastic out of the ocean.

Recently, our team visited three Material Hubs in Batam: Teluk Sepaku, Teratai Putih, and Pesona Laguna, to reconnect with the Plastic Keepers from those communities and see how their household waste management systems continue to evolve.

In Teluk Sepaku, a small fishing community, children took part in games focused on plastic pollution and proudly shared what they had learned. They impressed the team with their understanding of plastic pollution and its impact on the places they call home.

At Teratai Putih and Pesona Laguna, we gathered with some Plastic Keepers for a candid creative workshop where we transformed plastic waste into colorful flowers. Meanwhile, households demonstrated the collection process in action, from bringing in sorted plastic to weighing and recording materials through the system.

The visit also provided an opportunity to see Free The Sea’s new brand brought to life across the hubs. But the strongest impression came from the communities themselves, whose commitment, pride, and enthusiasm continue to strengthen the system year after year.