Fiji is beautiful - underneath all the plastic rubbish
Plastic pollution in Fiji has reached a crisis. Much of the plastic lining our beaches, estuaries and roadsides will take over 500 years to bio-degrade.
It's time for action.
Operated by the Centre for Appropriate Technology, staffed by Fijians, enabled by LPM technology and initially funded by the British High Commisson, MOCE BENU was set up to collect and repurpose Fijian plastic waste into useful products for consumbers and the construction industry.
This circular, village level economy will protect our land and ocean for future generations.
MOCE BENU
Our Mission
Pronounced moth-ay benu, it means good riddance rubbish in Fijian. We aim to reduce plastic pollution while empowering local communities through education and sustainable practices.
Together, we strive to create a cleaner, greener environmnet for future generations, ensuring that every piece of plastic is given a second life. Join us in our mission to protect our beautiful islands and promote a circular economy.
'Maroroya na vanua kei na wasawasa, rau na qai maroroi keda'
('protect the land and the sea, they in turn will protect us')
What we do
Moce Benu educates, lobbies, helps organise local clean ups and waste collection, empowers villages, employs Fijians, raises funds for waste removal and upcycles waste plastic. The upcycling uses unique technology from LPM, an Australian technology developer.
Unlike other upcycling, we do not have to sort or clean the plastic. We melt and compress it, then add a decorative, structural material to the surface. The melting destroys any biological material and amalgamates the waste.
99% of our products were once waste. The 1% is a special outer layer which protects the product from sun degradation (ie, no microplastics) and provides a food safe surface.
Fiji's beautiful beaches, lush landscapes and clear oceans are vital for the country's culture, economy and well-being. This is increasingly threatened by consumer plastic waste entering our ocean, affecting marine life and damaging coral reefs.
Microplastics (tiny particles of plastic debris) enter the fish we eat, prevent crops growing and build up in our bodies causing illness. Burning and landfill is not a solution as this causes toxic waste to build up in the atmosphere and seeps into our land and rivers.
This is an emergency
Plastic Bottles
450 years to decompose
Despite taking over 450 years to disappear over 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute of every day around the world. Meaning that 500 billion bottles enter the environment.
Most of this ends up being burnt, causing environmental issues and toxicity to humans which is linked to cancer. In Fiji heavy rain and rising sea levels wash this plastic into the ocean. Waste covers our beautiful beaches.
As an archipelago our beaches become the resting place for rubbish from all over the world. Plastic bottles, food wrap and containers are the most common items.
Tourists visiting Fiji use 7 times the amount of plastic as Fijians. Most of this is not recycled.
Help fight Fiji's Plastic Crisis
MOCE BENU - funded by the British High Commission, houses at CATD and enabled by the LPM Project - is currently the best workable and realistic solution for Fiji
What you can do to help?
1. Don't purchase unnecessary plastic
2. Ask your friends and family not to purchase unnecessary plastic
3. Dispose of your plastic intelligently so it ends up in a landfill or being recycled
4. Organise a clean up with your community. If possible we will attend and demonstrate the upcycling technology
5. Discuss with MOCE BENU setting up a waste plastic collection point and how the waste will be collected
6. Donating - all money received is spent on collecting and processing waste in Fiji
7. Buy our products for yourself, friends and family
Explore Our Collection
Yes, you are buying a good looking, long lasting useful product. But far more importantly, you are helping remove plastic waste from the Fijian environment.
Prices include VAT but not postage.
We are not in a position to take money at this stage, so fill in the following form and we will contact you when we are able to. This is not a binding order, just an expression of interest*
If you are interested in a custom decoration, addition of a logo or advertising please email us
Shop & Donate
Fiji Needs You
Plastic Pollution in Fiji
This website was designed and donated by Alison Smith of www.geckodigi.com
Vinaka
* all statistics are taken from the International Union of Conservation and Nature 2022 report 'Fiji: Plastic Waste Profile'
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