TONTOTON at UNOC3: A Certified Local Solution to the Global Plastic Waste Crisis

From June 9 to 12, 2025, TONTOTON will take part in the UN Ocean Conference in Nice to present its One+One Program — a certified solution that collects and transforms even non-recyclable plastic waste in Cambodia.

Bringing Cambodia’s Plastic Waste Solutions to the Global Stage

Global leaders, innovators, investors, and environmental advocates will converge in Nice – France, for the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3). This event, hosted by the Governments of France and Costa Rica in collaboration with the United Nations, focuses on science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions to protect and restore our oceans. The conference theme, “Innovation in an Ocean World”, aligns perfectly with TONTOTON’s mission to address plastic pollution through comprehensive waste management systems that leave no plastic behind — not even the low-value, non-recyclable plastics frequently neglected by traditional recycling efforts.

Thanks to the support of 1000 Ocean Startups (1000 OS) and the World Economic Forum, TONTOTON will have the honor of presenting its project at this prestigious forum. On June 12, Barak Ekshtein, CEO and co-founder of TONTOTON, will deliver a concise pitch during the “Innovation in an Ocean World” session. This session will bring together visionary entrepreneurs and investors proposing solutions to the oceans’ most pressing challenges. Barak will present TONTOTON’s innovative One+One program, which uniquely combines plastic cleanup initiatives with upstream prevention strategies to generate a tangible and verifiable environmental impact.

Understanding the One+One Program

The One+One Program is built on two complementary pillars that address plastic pollution holistically. The first pillar involves the collection of all plastic waste types, including those that are low-value or non-recyclable, which are typically excluded from most waste recovery systems. TONTOTON organizes community-driven cleanups and household initiatives that collect these plastics without discrimination. The second pillar focuses on prevention at the source through educational outreach, community engagement, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives, reducing future plastic leakage into the environment.

To ensure transparency and accountability, every kilogram of plastic collected is verified through a certified traceability system. This system provides partners and funders with clear and verifiable data on the quantity and type of waste collected. The collected plastic is then transformed into durable and useful products such as furniture and souvenirs, exemplifying the principles of the circular economy by transforming waste into impact.

Why Cambodia is Central to the Story?

Cambodia is at the intersection of opportunity and challenge in the global fight against plastic pollution. Like many Southeast Asian nations, Cambodia has historically been a destination for plastic waste exports from wealthier countries. In 2019, Cambodia made international headlines when authorities seized 83 containers of illegally imported plastic waste at the port of Sihanoukville. This incident galvanized the government to take a firm stance, implementing a nationwide ban on plastic waste imports and sending a clear message that Cambodia would no longer serve as a dumping ground.

Despite this progress, Cambodia continues to face significant domestic waste management challenges. Much of the country’s plastic waste is burned, dumped in uncontrolled sites, or ultimately escapes into rivers and oceans. Formal infrastructure for sorting, recycling, and waste disposal remains limited, especially in rural and coastal areas. Additionally, there is a general lack of awareness and education regarding plastic pollution and sustainable waste practices at the household level.

This is where TONTOTON’s role becomes crucial: the company implemented Cambodia’s first certified “Zero Plastic to Landfill” program. This initiative transforms unmanaged plastic waste streams into traceable, transparent, and effective recovery initiatives. A compelling example is the work carried out in coastal communities like Tomnup Rolork, where a single cleanup operation eliminated over 2.8 tons of mixed plastic waste, including non-recyclable types often overlooked by conventional systems.

Global Waste Policy Shifts: The Impact of OECD Countries

TONTOTON’s local work reflects larger, global changes in how plastic waste is managed. For decades, many high-income countries, primarily those in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), have exported significant amounts of their plastic waste to developing nations, often in Asia. However, this practice is now heavily restricted.

Since January 1, 2021, amendments to the Basel Convention, an international treaty regulating hazardous waste movements, have tightened controls on plastic waste exports. Exporting countries must now obtain prior informed consent from receiving countries before shipping plastic waste. Several Asian nations, including China and Malaysia, have further solidified their stance by banning imports of plastic waste entirely.

Building on this momentum, the European Union announced in April 2024 a groundbreaking policy that will ban all exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries, effective May 2027. This landmark decision compels EU member states to manage plastic waste within their own borders rather than exporting the environmental burden elsewhere.

These evolving policies highlight a critical question: with richer countries unable to export plastic waste, how will they cope with the growing mountains of unrecyclable plastics? The answer lies in developing and scaling in-country solutions that emphasize waste reduction, enhanced accountability, and circular waste transformation. TONTOTON’s model in Cambodia offers a practical example of how such local, impactful solutions can be successfully implemented in low- and middle-income countries.

The Significance of UNOC3 for TONTOTON and Cambodia

TONTOTON’s invitation to pitch at UNOC3 is more than just a moment of recognition. It is an opportunity to link Cambodia’s local plastic challenges to a broader international dialogue on ocean health and sustainability. The “Innovation in an Ocean World” session will feature concise pitches from innovators and reverse pitches from investors and philanthropic groups, creating a dynamic platform for collaboration and investment.

Barak’s presentation will underscore several crucial points. He will illustrate the shortcomings of traditional recycling models that focus almost exclusively on high-value plastics, ignoring a large share of plastic pollution. He will demonstrate how TONTOTON’s certified traceability system ensures that all collected plastics are accounted for and processed responsibly. Finally, he will highlight how the 1+1 Program not only cleans up plastic but also educates and empowers local communities, creating new jobs and fostering sustainable behaviors.

Looking Forward: Scaling Impact from Cambodia to the World

Participation in UNOC3 demonstrates TONTOTON’s commitment to demonstrating that even countries with limited infrastructure can innovate in plastic waste management. Cambodia’s example demonstrates that inclusion, transparency, and circular economy principles can achieve measurable environmental and social impact.

With the continued support of partners such as 1000 Ocean Startups, TONTOTON aims to expand its model to more coastal communities and beyond. With global plastic waste export policies tightening, the urgency for local, effective, and scalable solutions has never been greater.

TONTOTON’s work is driven by a deep commitment to Cambodia’s environmental future and the belief that lasting change is possible through collective action. The organization doesn’t just eliminate plastic waste: it builds a comprehensive system that prevents plastic pollution at the source and transforms it into a lasting impact for communities and ecosystems.