It is estimated that one garbage truck of plastic enters our ocean every single minute. An issue that is complex and massive requires all of us to play a role in solving the problem, and there is a lot to learn from the solutionists on the front lines.

Recently, I joined 4ocean’s crew in Bali, Indonesia, for a beach cleanup. As an ocean conservationist working on marine debris solutions across the Pacific, I wanted to learn from the local team how their process worked and what lessons we can learn from them. Here is what I learned:

1.    Create local jobs: As a mission-driven business, 4ocean can employ local residents to keep their backyard coastlines clean from plastic and trash by providing jobs to clean the ocean, rivers, and coastlines full-time. Some of the team members I spent the morning with had been cleaning beaches with 4ocean for years! This economic model enables local job creation and consistent clean-ups, which is important for places like Bali that suffer from chronic exposure to plastic pollution.

3.    Involve everyone: Plastic has become part of our daily lives, and we need to work with businesses, community members, and the public to participate in solutions. 4ocean regularly works with companies to reduce their plastic footprint and lessen their impact on the natural world. By bringing businesses into the solution, they can invest in clean-ups and adapt their practices to protect the ocean.