On November 19, the Alliance Française de Manille hosted an opening event to celebrate the arrival of the Plastic Odyssey expedition in the Philippines, uniting the French-Filipino community in support of this impactful initiative. After crossing three continents and visiting more than twenty countries, Plastic Odyssey’s laboratory ship is now docked in Manila to continue its mission of tackling plastic pollution in the most affected areas and empowering communities with sustainable solutions.
This exclusive event brought together environmentalists, educators and key stakeholders to raise awareness of the global fight against plastic pollution. Guests were introduced to Plastic Odyssey, a groundbreaking initiative committed to reducing plastic waste through a global network of local recycling projects.
The program was led by Xavier Leroux, Executive Director of Alliance Française de Manille; and Kevin Charuel, general manager of CCI France Philippines. Warm opening remarks were delivered by Rémy Tirouttouvarayane, Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in the Philippines; and Marie-Maylis Charlat, President of the France Philippines United Action Foundation (FPUA), set the tone for an evening dedicated to collaboration and sustainable innovation.
Plastic Odyssey: a global initiative that raises awareness and shares sustainable solutions
During the event, Simon Bernard, president and co-founder of Plastic Odyssey, gave an inspiring presentation on the global initiative’s mission to combat plastic pollution through innovative recycling technologies and educational campaigns. He showed how the expedition turned plastic waste into valuable resources, fostered a global network of local recycling initiatives and inspired communities to adopt sustainable practices.
Santosh Paramel, Asia Pacific Operations Director and Vice President of the Delfingen Foundation, explained their collaboration with Plastic Odyssey. He highlighted their direct support in setting up two micro-factories in the Philippines, designed to provide local communities with practical recycling solutions to effectively tackle plastic waste.
Youth for Dagat: Empowering Filipino youth to fight plastic pollution
The event also saw the launch of the “Youth for Dagat” program, a school-based initiative aimed at empowering Filipino youth to take action against plastic pollution. Led by the France Philippines United Action Foundation (FPUA), the program emphasizes environmental education, providing students with practical tools to understand and tackle the harmful effects of plastic waste. Alexandra Acedillo, FPUA Project Coordinator, underscored the program’s mission to nurture a new generation of environmentalists by fostering grassroots involvement and promoting actionable solutions.
The Youth for Dagat program, funded by the French Embassy in the Philippines, is part of the embassy’s Blue Nations initiative, which aims to strengthen cooperation between France and the Philippines on maritime and climate issues. It also serves as a preparatory step for the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to environmental sustainability and ocean conservation.
Building connections and showing impact
The evening concluded with a networking cocktail, where participants had the opportunity to interact directly with the Plastic Odyssey crew. Attendees were also treated to a special screening of the Plastic Odyssey documentary, which provided an in-depth exploration of the expedition’s transformative work worldwide.
This inaugural event marked an important milestone in advancing cross-cultural partnerships to address one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. By bringing together key stakeholders and innovative solutions, it has paved the way for meaningful collaboration and action towards a sustainable future.
For more updates on the Plastic Odyssey Expedition and the Youth for Dagat program, follow their social media channels below:
Plastic Odyssey
IG: @plasticodyssey
FB: https://www.facebook.com/plasticodyssey/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plasticodyssey/
Philippines United Action Foundation (FPUA)
IG: @francephilippinesunitedaction
FB: https://www.facebook.com/francephilippinesunitedaction/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/france-philippines-united-action/
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