TONTOTON & Mobi-Mat®: a collaboration for accessibility and environmental impact
Over the past year, TONTOTON has proudly collaborated with DESCHAMPS to advance our shared vision: leaving nothing and no one behind.
Mobi-Mat®, renowned for its innovative use of recycled PET, creates stable surfaces that enable individuals with mobility challenges to access sandy and uneven terrains, such as beaches. This initiative fosters inclusivity by ensuring that everyone can experience the natural beauty of coastal locations.
Beyond the innovative use of recycled PET, this partnership has had a profound environmental impact. Over the past year alone, DESCHAMPS has actively supported the collection of 12,000 kg of non-recyclable plastic from coastal environments. This effort goes beyond conventional recycling practices, addressing the broader issue of plastic pollution by targeting all types of plastic waste, whether recyclable or non-recyclable.
The Importance of this cooperation
Traditionally, plastic waste collection has focused on high-value recyclable materials, leaving behind non-commercially viable plastics that continue to pollute the environment. However, through TONTOTON’s community-based collection system, independent waste pickers are financially incentivized to collect all plastic waste, not just commercially valuable materials. This shift from selective collection to inclusive collection is made possible thanks to this partnership.
Once collected, the materials are transported to TONTOTON's Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where they are carefully sorted and processed. Recyclable materials, such as PET, are sent to recycling facilities, while non-recyclable plastics are used as waste to energy or upcycled into durable plastic boards. These boards are then used to construct new classrooms, school furniture, and housing renovations for waste pickers in need, creating a circular economy that benefits both the environment and local communities..
Our impact in numbers
- 12,000 kg (12 tons) of non-recyclable plastic has been collected.
- 68 independent waste collectors and community households have actively participated.
- 76% of the collectors are women, empowering them with financial independence and ownership of their income.
- 6 coastal villages in Sihanoukville and Koh Rong island are now part of the collection network.
- Of the 12,000 kg collected:
- 79% is classified as Potential Ocean-Bound Plastic (OBP), located within 50 km of the shore
- 21% is Shoreline OBP, collected within 200 meters of the highest tide and 100 meters from the lowest
- 65% of the plastic waste has been collected through a household segregation network, preventing plastic leakage at its source and encouraging community participation.
- 35% has been collected directly from the environment by independent waste pickers, strengthening the informal sector's role in combating plastic pollution at the ground level.
A sustainable future
This partnership between TONTOTON and DESCHAMPS exemplifies how businesses can drive meaningful change by addressing social and environmental challenges simultaneously. By supporting waste collectors, upcycling non-recyclable plastics, and providing access solutions for individuals with disabilities, we are making a lasting difference in both communities and ecosystems.
Together, we are building a cleaner, more inclusive world—one plastic bottle at a time.
