United Against Plastic Pollution
Since our founding in 2018, our mission has been crystal clear: we work to protect the oceans. Together with our partner foundation, GOT BAG Indonesia, we tackle ocean plastic pollution at its source. But how exactly do we do that? What does the foundation’s work look like in detail? And what milestones did we reach in the past year?
The GOT BAG Mission Report 2024 offers a comprehensive look into our joint efforts and highlights the impact we’ve made so far.
The Ocean Plastic Problem: A Global Crisis with Serious Consequences
In many parts of the world, trash collection is unreliable or nonexistent. Waste often ends up in nature due to the lack of proper disposal systems. Rain, wind, and flooding carry plastic into rivers, which then flush it into the oceans.
An estimated 14 million metric tons of plastic waste enter the oceans every year. The World Economic Forum warned years ago that by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea. This massive volume of plastic waste not only damages ecosystems but also threatens wildlife. Many marine animals ingest plastic and die as a result.
Plastic pollution is a global crisis—and one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
Fighting Plastic Pollution at the Source: Our Partnership with GOT BAG Indonesia
To address this crisis, we work hand in hand with GOT BAG Indonesia, which runs its own clean-up program on the island of Java. This program targets pollution right where it begins.
The GOT BAG Mission Report 2024 outlines our shared efforts and documents the results we achieved in 2024.
Three Pillars of Impact: Collecting Plastic, Building Infrastructure, Promoting Environmental Education
Our approach is holistic. Alongside collecting ocean-bound plastic in coastal regions, GOT BAG Indonesia focuses on two additional key areas:
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Establishing waste disposal and recycling infrastructure
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Promoting environmental education to raise awareness and foster responsible waste behavior
Local Commitment Through a Dedicated On-Site Team
In 2024, a team of eight full-time staff members worked on the ground for GOT BAG Indonesia. The team collaborated with 19 coastal villages in Java to raise awareness about waste management and develop long-term disposal systems.
Intercepting Plastic Before It Reaches the Ocean
Most plastic pollution in the oceans originates on land. That’s why our focus is on stopping waste before it ever reaches the sea.
GOT BAG Indonesia collects plastic waste both in coastal waters and on land—through designated collection points in local communities. Residents can drop off their waste at these locations to prevent it from ending up in nature. Beach kiosks also participate by disposing of trash properly. Fishers bring back plastic caught in their nets, removing it from the ecosystem.
Additionally, GOT BAG Indonesia organizes clean-ups in mangrove forests—biodiverse coastal ecosystems where plastic often gets trapped.
Environmental Education as a Catalyst for Change
Sustainable change takes more than clean-ups and disposal systems. That’s why GOT BAG Indonesia also invests in education.
The foundation partners with schools in Java to raise awareness about the impact of plastic pollution. Since summer 2024, teacher Aen has joined the team to expand the educational program.
She regularly taught 131 students about environmental protection and waste management. Her lessons included field trips to learn about waste sorting firsthand and creative workshops where students turned plastic bottles into flower pots.
GOT BAG Indonesia also hosted a two-day Youth Environment Camp, bringing together young people from the region to spark creative solutions and inspire sustainable thinking.
GOT IMPACT 2024
In 2024, thanks to the clean-up program in Java, GOT BAG Indonesia collected 873,048 lbs of plastic waste—preventing it from polluting the ocean.
Mission 2025 and Beyond
Our goal remains the same: making a positive, long-term impact for ocean and environmental protection. That’s why we’re expanding our educational work in Indonesia. The aim is to engage even more children and equip them to share their knowledge within their communities.
In 2025, we’ll also increase collaboration with other ocean-focused organizations. Because we believe lasting change happens when many committed individuals and groups act boldly together.
👉 Read the full GOT BAG Mission Report 2024 with all data, milestones, and insights here: MISSION REPORT 2024
