Ranong Recycle for Environment (RRE) is a Social Enterprise located in Ranong, a province in the south of Thailand.
Together with the Fondation Jan & Oscar and #tide ocean material®, we support the collection of certified Ocean Bound Plastic for recycling into high quality, long lasting products and textiles.
The collection centre is located by the river, in the heart of Ranong city. Local collectors and communities are bringing plastic waste from the coastal areas and islands of the Andaman Sea.
Tide Ocean Material ensures the collection, sorting and traceability of the material from the first mile collector to the 100% recycled pellets.
We support the difficult work of the waste collectors and develop projects on the ground with local communities to fight ocean plastic pollution.
RRE and Tide Ocean Material ecosystem in Thailand:
Tons of Ocean Bound plastic collected for recycling since 2020
Registered plastic collectors from coastal and island communities
Community projects sponsored by partners and grants
Local workers
Suksamran district is located in the south of Ranong city. Bordered by the Andaman Sea and home to Laem Son National Park, an area rich in ecosystems that need to be protected from plastic pollution.
Suksamran district is located in the south of Ranong city. Bordered by the Andaman Sea and home to Laem Son National Park, an area rich in ecosystems that need to be protected from plastic pollution.
The coastal community of Nam Chut is located at the edge of the Kraburi river, which separates Thailand and Burma. It consists of 9 villages. It is a particularly sensitive area ecologically, since the estuary of this river shelters the largest protected mangrove forest in Thailand!
The coastal community of Nam Chut is located at the edge of the Kraburi river, which separates Thailand and Burma. It consists of 9 villages. It is a particularly sensitive area ecologically, since the estuary of this river shelters the largest protected mangrove forest in Thailand!
Paknam Island – or Koh Khon Tee – is located less than 5 minutes by boat from Ranong. Due to its location in front of Ranong harbor, a lot of waste is washed directly onto the island’s beaches by the tide. By obtaining a Global Giving grant from the 3M Foundation in 2022, we were able to build a project in partnership with the local authorities and the island’s temple.
Paknam Island – or Koh Khon Tee – is located less than 5 minutes by boat from Ranong. Due to its location in front of Ranong harbor, a lot of waste is washed directly onto the island’s beaches by the tide. By obtaining a Global Giving grant from the 3M Foundation in 2022, we were able to build a project in partnership with the local authorities and the island’s temple.
For years, the people of Chang island have faced the problem of plastic pollution that washes up on its beautiful beaches during the rainy season. Despite their determination to solve this problem, the islanders needed financial and material support to find a solution.
For years, the people of Chang island have faced the problem of plastic pollution that washes up on its beautiful beaches during the rainy season. Despite their determination to solve this problem, the islanders needed financial and material support to find a solution.
Surin archipelago & Koh Ra – Moken waste management project
The Moken are an ethnic group of nomadic fishermen living on several islands in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Burma and Thailand. Traditionally they move around and live part of the year on their boats, the kabang, subsisting on fishing and shellfish harvesting. But their way of life has been threatened for several years.
The Moken are an ethnic group of nomadic fishermen living on several islands in the Andaman Sea, off the coast of Burma and Thailand. Traditionally they move around and live part of the year on their boats, the kabang, subsisting on fishing and shellfish harvesting. But their way of life has been threatened for several years.
The Plastic Smart Cities project, launched in Surat Thani City and Koh Samui, is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution and strengthening ocean ecosystem resilience. This initiative supports the WWF’s “No Plastic in Nature” mission. Discover more about this impactful project at: plasticsmartcities.org 🌍💧
WWF Thailand – Plastic Smart Cities Program
The Plastic Smart Cities project, launched in Surat Thani City and Koh Samui, is dedicated to reducing plastic pollution and strengthening ocean ecosystem resilience. This initiative supports the WWF’s “No Plastic in Nature” mission. Discover more about this impactful project at: plasticsmartcities.org 🌍💧
Ranong Recycle for Environment has developed an educational program supported by the Jan and Oscar Foundation.
Education with the Jan and Oscar Foundation
Ranong Recycle for Environment has developed an educational program supported by the Jan and Oscar Foundation.
The Jan & Oscar Foundation has been supporting education in Thailand since 2005 with scholarships and school renovations. The Foundation created Ranong Recycle for Environment in 2019 supporting the Social Enterprise. Goals include supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals, including the Moken, in the development of waste management projects, as well as educating children about plastic pollution and environmental issues.
Tide Ocean Material is the partner that manages the recycling of plastic waste, ensuring rigorous fairness and traceability all the way from the first mile collector to the 100% recycled plastic pellet and filament.
On top of that, they financially support the development of community projects and provide awareness workshops regarding plastic pollution in schools in southern Thailand.
More about #tide ocean material®
In partnership with the WWF Thailand, RRE team is developing the program Plastic Smart Cities in Suratthani and Koh Samui. This project supports the collection of both high and low value plastic on islands and along the coastline of the gulf of Thailand. In this order, we collaborate with over 20 communities and 4 recycling centers to increase the collection, sorting and processing of plastic waste.
Discover more about this impactful project @ www.plasticsmartcities.org 🌍💧
As the official representation of Switzerland, the embassy covers all matters concerning diplomatic relations between the two countries. They sponsored one of our community projects to create a waste management system for the people living on Koh Chang.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. IUCN is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The Union supported the launch of RRE in 2020 with a Circular Economy grant from its MARPLASTICCs program.
SIDA is Sweden’s government agency for development cooperation. In cooperation with organisations, government agencies and the private sector, they invest in sustainable development for all people.
SIDA is the sponsor of the MARPLASTICCs program developed by IUCN, for which RRE has received a Circular Economy grant.
The NGO based in the United Kingdom is active in Thailand and fighting against plastic pollution of discarded fishing gear through its “Net Free Seas” program.
RRE and the Jan and Oscar Foundation joined Net Free Seas in 2021 by actively collecting discarded ropes and nets from fishermen and communities living on the islands and coastal areas.
The Spanish clothing brand, through its project Upcycling the Oceans, has been transforming plastic waste collected at sea into clothing and fashion accessories since 2009.
EcoAlf supports our fight against plastic pollution in Thailand by donating a percentage of its sales to the Jan and Oscar Foundation.
From the beginning of our project, the Wongpanit Krabi team gave us the benefit of their support and expertise.
We are now collaborating to develop the collection of certified Ocean Bound plastics in the south of Thailand.
The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is in charge of repatriating plastic discarded off the shore. We collaborate on a regular basis for beach clean-ups organised on islands.
The Swiss watch brand provided financial support for the project as part of Tide Ocean Material’s “Road to 1 Billion Bottles” impact program. This enabled the construction of the storage warehouse, the financing of equipment and the workforce needed to process and transport all this plastic.
The 3M Foundation supports programs designed to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged families, to provide access to projects for under-represented young people, and to promote varied artistic opportunities.
The Foundation financed the Circular Economy grant we received in 2022. It enabled us to empower Andaman communities through the collection of ocean plastics for recycling, and in particular through the construction of infrastructure.
