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Latest news from Plastic Collective, where we talk about Plastic Recycling, Ocean Waste Plastic & tackling the current climate crisis. Also view events and get answers to common questions for those interested in becoming plastic neutral.
Plastic Collective Set to Grow – NBN news
A Coffs Harbour recycling company is set to expand its operation Australia-wide thanks to a $2.5 million federal government grant. The Plastic Collective will work in partnership with Southern Cross University and a local engineering company.
Shruder MkII
THE SHRUDER (™) (pronounced 'Shroo-der') designed by Louise Hardman and manufactured in Coffs Harbour, Australia was adapted from Dave Hakken’s Precious Plastic modular machines in 2016. Two machines - a shredder and extruder are integrated into one portable unit....
Plastic Collective wins prestigious Government CRC-P Grant
We are immensely proud to announce, Plastic Collective and our partners are the recipients of an Australian Government Collaborative Research Centre (CRC-P) grant to research and develop waste plastic solutions for remote, regional and Indigenous communities. This is...
Unwanted Gifts
“It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." ~ Mother Teresa Unwanted Gifts – Waste Not, Want Not Check these numbers out. Last year in the US, an estimated $13 billion was wasted on unwanted gifts over the holidays. In the UK £700 million and in...
Newsletter 4
Issue 4 | November, 2019WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S HAPPENING & WHERE TO NEXT Hi everyone, It has been a few months since we last connected, not because we've had nothing to share, more that we simply haven’t had time to share it! Since the last newsletter, we have...
Asian Conference Tour
Plastic Collective Asian Conference TourLast week Plastic Collective team members touched down in Asia again to participate in the Sea of Solutions conference in Bangkok, an initiative from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Coordinating Body on...
Become a Plastic Neutral Citizen
Become a Plastic Neutral Citizen to Offset Your Plastic Footprint Today and Help Remote and Vulnerable CommunitiesIn just one year, 396 million metric tonnes of plastic was consumed globally. That’s an average of 53 kilograms of plastic per person destroying...
The New Plastics Economy
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein The Circular Economy Model – Is it the Answer to the Plastic Crisis?Understanding plastics is fundamental to creating sustainable solutions for the plastic crisis...
Plastics Economy Global Commitment report
Ellen MacArthur Foundation and UN Environment Programme publish first annual New Plastics Economy Global Commitment progress report“Addressing plastic pollution requires a fundamental system shift, from a linear to a circular economy for plastic, which is at the core...
Bioplastic – A Better Choice?
“There is no such thing as “AWAY”. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.” ~ Annie Leonard The Complicated Truth of Bioplastic - Are They a Better Choice?The words ‘bioplastic’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’ are often used synonymously with very little...
What on Earth is Plastic?
“From packaging materials, through fibers, foams and surface coatings, to continuous extrusions and large-scale moldings, plastics have transformed almost every aspect of life. Without them, much of modern medicine would be impossible and the consumer electronics and...
What’s the problem with single use plastic?
"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall. Overconsumption of single use plastic is causing serious global...
Louise Hardman : Waste Warrior – Coastbeat Article
Coastbeat interviews the inspirational, Louise Hardman – a self-described ‘high school science teacher’ fighting the war on waste….and winning.
Shruder Program in Les Village, Bali
SHRUDER WORKSHOP, LES VILLAGEOver the last few months we have been very busy working with the local community of Les Village in Northern Bali to deliver two training programsand implement their Plastic Resource Recovery program. Sponsored by TJK Maxx and in...
WWF Report
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports "In 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, production (of plastic) reached 396 million metric tons. That is equivalent to 53 kilograms of plastic for each person on the planet."
Newsletter 3
Issue 3 | July, 2019SHRUDER WORKSHOP, LES VILLAGEHi everyone, Over the last few months we have been very busy working with the local community of Les Village in Northern Bali to deliver two training programsand implement their Plastic Resource Recovery program....
Coca-Cola Australia: How do we solve the plastic waste crisis? – The Guardian
The world has a plastic problem. About eight million tonnes of it ends up in the ocean every year, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch covers an estimated area the size of Queensland. So much plastic ending up where it does not belong is at the heart of the problem....
Collect. Transform. Create. How Plastic Collective and Coca-Cola are Collaborating in the Circular Economy
The world has a packaging problem and Coca-Cola is committed to help solve it. No one can solve this alone, which is why we’re working with partners like Louise Hardman, innovative founder of the Plastic Collective.
Plastic Collective Presentation for Plasticity Pacific, Fiji
27th March, 2019 The 2019 Plasticity Forum attracts hundreds of innovators, businesses and policy makers who are focused on finding solutions for waste plastic and creating circular economies for Planet, People and Profit. It was with regret that Louise was unable to...
Shruder Program delivered to Mantanani Island, Malaysia
We finally made it to Mantanani Island, 30km northwest of Sabah in Borneo. We are here to deliver our Shruder program for Reef Check Malaysia, sponsored by Coca-Cola. The Mantanani Archipelago consists of 3 islands, the largest called Mantanani Besar (‘Big...
The Shruder Workshop is Coming to Les Village, Bali
The Tempat Pembuangan Sampah Terpadu (TPST) or Waste Management Facility of Les Village is undergoing transformation into a village-scale plastic recycling and upcycling educational center. First comes the construction of a machine room that will house the Shruder, a...
Double Island Point Cleanup & Demonstration
11th-13th May, 2018. Hosted by Surfrider Sunshine Coast Twice a year, Surfrider Sunshine coast host a beach cleanup on the remote Double Island Beach, north of Noosa. This year they invited Plastic Collective to demonstrate the Shruder off-grid under a tent and on...
‘Shruder’ program attracts Royal interest
31st January, 2018. London, UK. (International Sustainability Unit) A machine which shreds and extrudes marine plastic into usable items is attracting high-level international interest — including from Prince Charles. The 'shruder' is the invention of Louise Hardman,...
Pilot Training with Ecobarge Clean Seas
Our first Shruder training days - Empower and Innovate - was held at Ecobarge Clean Seas newly renovated ‘Ocean Trash Recycling Shack’, Airlie Beach Whitsundays. This inspiring and dedicated team, guided by Libby Edge and Fiona Broadbent, and their wonderful...
NSW Governor meets Plastic Collective Crew
His Excellency, Hon David Hurley and his wife, Mrs Hurley were hosted for 2 hours by Coffs Harbour business Plastic Collective on Thursday. Louise Hardman, Founder of Plastic Collective, presented and demonstrated the training programs and machinery which are...
Plasticity Forum Sydney – 31st Oct 2017
Plastic Collective's: Shruder Program & Plastic Neutral Certification
Plastic Collective invited to Vanuatu
PRESS RELEASE BY AZURE PURE WATER - 17th November 2017: Transforming Plastic Waste in Vanuatu In August 2017, local company and Pacific Mini games Platinum Sponsor Azure Pure Water launched its “Give Me 5” bottle buy back and recycling scheme. Recognising that waste...
Helping Pacific communities recycle plastic
A MARINE turtle that died after ingesting more than 15 types of plastic in Wooli River, gave local woman Louise Hardman the motivation and determination to do something about ocean debris. Louise's current mission is to empower communities to clean up plastic...
Featured on ABC News
We are thrilled to have been featured in an article on ABC News!
Pacific Collective cleans up #startupcoffscoast
GRAND PRIZE WINNER – Louise Hardman, The Pacific Collective (Now known as Plastic Collective) A passionate scientist, educator and now entrepreneur who has been working on creating ‘The Shruder’ over the past 18 months. The Shruder is a small scale, mobile plastic...
Coffs TV – The Pacific Collective
Kerry Hines interview Louise Hardman, the founder of The Pacific Collective, a brilliant Coffs Coast Eco Business trying to put an end to the amount of waste plastics in our environment, using new recycling methods.