Q&A
ABOUT TONTOTON
It’s a human-centered approach where local households and independent waste collectors become the first line of defense against plastic pollution. By collecting and sorting all types of plastic at the source, focusing on low-value and non-recyclable ones, with TONTOTON’s training and social support, they prevent leakage into nature while improving their own livelihoods in areas lacking formal waste management.
For us, TONTOTON means “balance”, inspired by the concept of “Back-to-Back.” It reflects our guiding principle of “leaving nothing and no one behind”, addressing both recyclable and non-recyclable plastics while protecting and empowering communities most impacted by pollution.
TONTOTON operates in Cambodia, focusing on coastal areas with high plastic leakage. Our community-led programs engage households and independent waste pickers in addressing plastic pollution.
Low-value plastic refers to types of plastic that are difficult or impossible to recycle, such as plastic bags, wrappers, sachets, and thin films. Because they have little to no market demand, they are often ignored, burned, or dumped – making them some of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution.
TONTOTON developed a 50/50 collection system:
- 50% Prevention: Plastic is collected through waste segregation units in households with no waste management services, preventing leakage and promoting responsible disposal.
- 50% Cleanup: The other half is collected by independent waste pickers from nature and coastlines.
This system empowers communities to prevent pollution.
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
TONTOTON tackles the plastic pollution crisis by focusing on non-recyclable plastics that traditional systems ignore. Our work prevents plastic leakage, protects marine ecosystems, and empowers vulnerable coastal communities through income opportunities and education.
At TONTOTON, we believe the most powerful solution isn’t expensive machines or complex infrastructure: it’s people. Our Community Barrier model transforms vulnerable communities into the first line of defense against plastic leakage.
By stopping plastic at its source in coastal villages where waste systems are missing, we combine social empowerment with environmental protection. This people-powered approach ensures that those most affected by plastic pollution are also the ones leading the change, creating cleaner communities, stronger livelihoods, and lasting impact.
TONTOTON brings critical additional benefits, including financial support to coastal communities, preventing plastic leakage, increasing recycling rates, and, most importantly, collecting non-recyclable plastic that would otherwise never be removed due to its low or no value. This financial support empowers communities to participate in waste collection, ensuring stronger, cleaner environments, and addressing a critical gap in waste management.
By partnering with TONTOTON, businesses contribute to the global fight against plastic pollution and social empowerment. Through awareness programs like the Plastic Diet and Plastic Free Coastlines, companies help fund impactful initiatives and inspire change.
TONTOTON provides financial support to waste pickers and households, enabling them to collect non-recyclable plastic while improving their livelihoods. Through our Social+ OBP certification, we ensure ethical working conditions, family support programs, and initiatives like house renovations for waste pickers.
We’ve collected over 3,000 tons of mismanaged plastic, preventing it from polluting oceans and ecosystems. Our circular approach processes non-recyclable plastics into useful products like furniture and school materials, raising awareness about reducing plastic pollution.
At our Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, we process hard-to-recycle plastic into durable plastic boards used for:
- Building classrooms for childcare NGOs.
- Creating furniture for schools and communities.
- Renovating waste pickers’ households, improving living conditions.
This ensures non-recyclable plastics are transformed into impactful, valuable products.
We handle all types of plastic:
- Recyclable plastic: Sold to recyclers (not included in the Plastic Credit system).
- Hard-to-recycle plastic: Processed in-house into flakes and pellets, used to create plastic boards for applications like classrooms and furniture.
- Non-recyclable plastic: Sent to waste-to-energy facilities, including contaminated and multi-layer packaging. Nothing goes to landfill or back into the environment.
CERTIFICATIONS AND GUIDELINES
Plastic Credits are a contribution tool that funds the removal and prevention of plastic waste. Each credit supports the collection of 1 ton of mismanaged plastic, ensuring tangible environmental and social benefits.
The Social+ OBP standard, developed by Zero Plastic Oceans (NGO), ensures transparent and verified collection of plastic from ocean-bound areas. TONTOTON’s activities are audited by Control Union, an independent verification body.
TONTOTON operates under the Social+ OBP certification, ensuring ethical social contributions to waste pickers and their families. As a certified collection and processing organization, we meet the highest standards for impact and transparency.
All our activities are recorded, audited, and verified under the Social+ OBP protocol. We also provide impact reports to clients, detailing the specific contributions their support has made to plastic collection and environmental efforts.
GET INVOLVED
Because plastic pollution affects us all. By partnering with TONTOTON, you can help stop plastic pollution at its source through the empowerment of vulnerable households and waste pickers under the Community Barrier model, enabling them to build safer livelihoods while protecting nature.
Everyone can play a role:
- Individuals can support the Community Barrier, purchase Impact Products, or join a Plastic Impact Tour.
- Companies & organizations, from any sector, can partner with us to scale the Community Barrier model, contribute to plastic pollution reduction, empower local communities, and strengthen their CSR initiatives.
By supporting and partnering with TONTOTON, companies can proudly showcase a measurable contribution to reducing plastic pollution in highly affected areas. Through our Community Barrier model, this means taking responsibility for the recovery of non-recyclable plastic alongside recyclable materials, while empowering vulnerable communities.
Your contribution is transparent and certified under the Ocean-Bound Plastic standard by Zero Plastic Oceans, so you can clearly demonstrate your impact. Beyond the numbers, we also ensure that your support is seen, recognized, and celebrated through detailed Impact Reports, visibility on our Supporter webpage, and engaging social media content that tells your story to a global audience.
This is not about “offsetting” or “neutrality.” It’s about responsibility, leadership, and recognition – showing your employees, customers, and stakeholders that your company is part of a scalable, community-led solution for a cleaner environment and better future.