Mission Statement
The Gogo Plastics Foundation is dedicated to supporting communities worldwide in establishing sustainable and socially impactful plastic recycling projects. Our goal is simple: give plastic a second life – and our planet a second chance!
Impact Areas
The Gogo Plastics Foundation focuses on two key areas of impact:
Ecological Impact
Over the past two decades, plastic production has more than doubled. The majority of plastic waste is buried, burned, or dumped in nature, with only 9.29% being recycled. Every year, between one and two million tons of plastic enter the oceans, causing devastating harm to wildlife and ecosystems.
Gogo Plastics Foundation works to assist local communities in setting up plastic recycling projects across the globe. By improving waste management, we aim to reduce pollution and decrease the demand for virgin materials. Recycling offers the opportunity to give plastic a second life. While we cannot halt plastic production overnight, we can continue seeking ways to keep plastic out of nature and repurpose it for beneficial uses.
Social and Economic Impact
Poor waste management in developing countries leads to health problems, such as air pollution from burning plastic and the spread of diseases through contaminated water and microplastics. Communities reliant on fishing or tourism suffer from environmental degradation and loss of natural resources.
The Gogo Plastics Foundation helps local communities establish sustainable recycling initiatives. These efforts not only contribute to cleaner living environments but also create economic opportunities. By fostering recycling and circular economy projects, we aim to strengthen local economies, generate employment, and reduce dependency on virgin materials.
Who We Are
The Gogo Plastics Foundation was founded by Max and Luka, a passionate and enthusiastic couple with a shared mission to make the world a better place. Together, we help communities worldwide establish plastic recycling initiatives.
Max brings expertise in plastic recycling and runs his company, Gogo Plastics, in Arnhem, where he transforms various waste streams into new, durable plastic sheets suitable for diverse applications. Max has extensive technical knowledge and enjoys finding tailored solutions that fit the local context.
Luka, a social geographer with experience in project management and international research, specializes in social impact. She focuses on ensuring that projects align with community needs and create meaningful social change. Making a difference through social impact is what Luka loves most!
What We Offer Our ambition is to support communities worldwide in starting plastic recycling initiatives. We aim to give plastic that would otherwise be burned, buried, or discarded in nature a new purpose through upcycling.
Fortunately, we don’t need to reinvent the wheel! We draw inspiration from the open-source platform Precious Plastics. Designer Dave Hakkens created this platform to share knowledge about plastic recycling globally. Precious Plastics provides accessible tutorials on recycling techniques and the machinery involved, along with a global map of community members (for more information, visit the Precious Plastics website: A Big Bang for Plastic Recycling).
While the foundation is there, the plans from Precious Plastics cannot be universally applied to every situation. Factors such as transportation, infrastructure, waste streams, market demand, and technical challenges often cause projects to stall. The Gogo Plastics Foundation acts as a bridge, providing tailored support to communities eager to start or scale their recycling projects.
Different climates and regions pose unique challenges. For example, a desert area may struggle with water scarcity for washing plastic, while the high humidity of the Himalayas makes drying plastic difficult. We see these challenges as opportunities to innovate.
By offering customized solutions, we strive to address local needs and circumstances, helping communities successfully set up plastic recycling initiatives.
Our Approach
Establish contact with a community interested in starting a recycling project, ensuring they have dedicated members.
Collaborate with the community to map out existing resources and gaps (e.g., waste streams, machinery, market opportunities).
Organize funding if needed.
Provide remote guidance for the initial stages of setting up recycling operations.
Visit the community to deliver tailored advice, workshops, and hands-on support based on local challenges and needs.
Mission for This Research Trip During this research trip, we aim to:
Visit locations already engaged in plastic recycling: What challenges do they face? How have they overcome certain issues? What are their needs?
Explore places interested in starting recycling projects: What obstacles do they encounter? What challenges lie ahead?
We believe recycling projects can also create social impact. By collaborating closely with local residents, we tailor our projects to their desires and needs – because the greatest impact is achieved together. Additionally, revenues from recycled products can become a valuable source of income for local communities.
What We Bring
Tailored advice – customized to the local environment and specific needs of each community.
Infographic Vision: A visual representation of the plastic chain and our role as the “missing link”:
Plastic waste in nature/burning → collecting plastic → shredding → pressing into new materials (e.g., construction materials or products for tourism).
Practical Goals
Establish an international online shop: Is this feasible given climate and logistical considerations?
Explore markets:
Construction materials (e.g., for builders, carpenters) for local or community use.
Tourist products: waste bins with compelling stories for restaurants/hostels or small items like carabiners or surf combs.
Document this trip with photos and videos to create a compelling pitch for funders.
Post-Trip Goals
Develop remote pressing techniques: Consider an electric roller press or using heat from burning leftover plastic and oil (though safety is critical).
Research regulations and requirements for becoming an ANBI foundation (tax-deductible nonprofit status in the Netherlands).
Inspiring Organizations
Bottle Up (Zanzibar): Explore their design approach and operations.
By taking these steps, we aim to empower communities and demonstrate the transformative power of sustainable plastic recycling projects.
