Our trip to Chennai as part of the P2G (Plastic 2 Ghar) project was nothing short of an eye-opener. Among the many insightful experiences under P2G, this one stood out—filled with expectation, chaos, learning, and vibrant connections. Why? Because this wasn’t just any trip. This was a journey to meet the crew of Plastic Odyssey, a recycling vessel on a three-year voyage around the world, dedicated to combating plastic pollution.
Yes, you read that right: A ship traveling the globe, docking at ports, and empowering local entrepreneurs with reliable, replicable plastic recycling solutions. Onboard were engineers, designers, and ship crew, who are true champions of sustainability, with an impressive suite of recycling machinery packed into the ship’s belly like a floating lab.
Our journey from Nepal wasn’t without its share of turbulence. Our teams representing Paramendo, Klean It Upcyclers (KIU), and Green Decision (GD) Lab faced a classic Air India adventure: missed connecting flights in Delhi, a scramble to reschedule, and a half-day delay before we finally made it to Chennai. But as they say, good things are worth the wait.
Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Thibault from the Plastic Odyssey team. After months of anticipation and lots of Zoom calls, we were finally face-to-face with the legendary ship, and it was more than what we imagined.
Plastic Odyssey has already docked in 31 countries, gathering a rich tapestry of local recycling practices, entrepreneurial stories, and technical insights. Naturally, we were buzzing with questions:
- How do they adapt workshops to local contexts in such short timeframes?
- How are machines installed and operated on a moving vessel?
- And most importantly, what lessons can we bring back to our incubatees in Nepal?
Thibault gave us a detailed tour of the ship, explaining the selection and layout of machines, the customization process, and the many challenges the team has faced and overcome at sea. From shredders to extruders, each piece of equipment had a story. The space was compact but brilliantly managed, and we were inspired by the team’s engineering ingenuity.
What impressed us the most was Plastic Odyssey’s approach to knowledge sharing. Rather than traditional, lecture-style sessions, their workshops focus on peer learning and hands-on experience. Like us, they believe in learning by doing and unlearning when necessary.
We dove deep into technical discussions:
- Reducing fabrication lead times
- Using dual-head extruders
- Understanding the level of complexities for different types of waste (municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural)
- Addressing safety challenges in imperfect working environments
On the business side, we explored strategies to lower startup costs in recycling, identify high-value products, and tap into Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks to enhance sustainability.
While we soaked in their experience, we also shared our own. We spoke about the rural realities of our P2G incubatees’ issues, like open burning, scattered waste, and the tricky logistics of transporting materials. We presented samples and openly discussed our wins, fails, and the technical barriers we face.
This wasn’t just a technical exchange—it was a meeting of minds and missions. We came back with more than just notes in our diaries. We left with inspiration, new ideas, and a deeper appreciation for the global movement against plastic pollution.
Big thanks to Dr. Curie Park, P2G Project Lead, for making this voyage possible, and to the Plastic Odyssey crew for welcoming us aboard, sharing their expertise, and showing us what’s possible when innovation meets purpose—on land or at sea.
