CHAPTER 3: LOVE IN ACTION
Plastic-Free Oceans
“When we shift our focus from waste to people, we unlock the power of innovation, dignity, and long-term impact. Tackling ocean plastic pollution isn’t just about cleaning up – it’s about building systems that work for everyone”
Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore
Since 2021
The Spark
Some partnerships start with a pitch deck.
This one started with a coffee on Carol’s first day at ECCA.
Tom and Ben, the founders of Seven Clean Seas (SCS), had a simple ask: a small grant to help them hire a third teammate. But what they offered in return was far greater: a vision fueled by love. Love for the oceans. And a stubborn belief that systems could be built differently and fairly.
"They spoke with such passion and urgency that you couldn’t help but believe in them - even when it was just two people and a dream." - Carol
At the time, SCS was transitioning from beach cleanups to something bolder: upstream recovery, waste accountability, and scalable solutions to stop plastic at its source. They weren’t just picking up trash; they were rewriting the rules.
The Courtship
The journey was far from linear. It veered sideways and even went off track sometimes, but that’s how some of the greatest love stories go.
ECCA’s first grant was for capacity-building. Nothing flashy but we’d look back and see this as the catalyst for everything. It gave SCS space to stabilize, hire, and professionalize.
Then came the roadblocks. When plans to launch the HIPPO, a solar-powered river-cleaning vessel, in Vietnam hit regulatory red tape, SCS had a choice: pause or pivot.
Together, we found a third option - Thailand. ECCA funded a feasibility study to test HIPPO’s deployment in Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. Progress was slow, but in 2024, a breakthrough came: HIPPO was officially launched, and an MoU was signed with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
After years of persistence, the HIPPO finally took off - a testament to what love and patience can build.” - Christian, Founder and Chairman, ECCA
We backed the next phase with a third grant to support R&D that would turn recovered plastic waste into something of value. Circularity was a priority from day one. That same waste is now being transformed into coasters, certified bricks, and roof plates that replace toxic asbestos.
The Love That Held It Together
In the face of setbacks, hard decisions, and growing pains, we made sure to maintain a foundation of trust.
“We learned a lot along the way - firing our first team member, saying no to an unfair equity offer, navigating red tape just to launch a vessel. Through it all, ECCA became someone we could talk to, rant with - even when the answers weren’t always clear.” - Tom
By 2022, this trust deepened. ECCA made its first-ever impact-first equity investment in SCS. It wasn’t because the model was perfect, it was a show of our faith in the relentlessly driven people behind the model.
“This was never just a project. It was about not giving up on building systems. From beach cleanups to a financially viable model for waste recovery, to circular economy solutions and local job creation - SCS is changing the game. Not just by removing waste, but by restoring value to both people and nature.” - Carol, ECCA
Today, that connection remains personal and professional.
“I consider Carol a friend and a dependable point of contact. We can speak openly - about opportunities, hard choices, the sector. Honestly, I don’t see how this relationship could be stronger than it already is.” - Tom
“We’ve been on a journey of professionalization with ECCA that really set us up for success.” - Tom, CEO of SCS
The song that describes our relationship:
Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons
2,000+
2000+ metric tons of plastic recovered in 2024 alone
(over 5,000+ metric tons in total)
formal jobs created with fair wages, benefits & safe working conditions
HIPPO unit deployed in the Chao Phraya River
1,800+
roof plates made from hard-to-recycle plastic
2000+
coasters produced from bottle caps
Student single-use plastic reduced by 60% in pilot schools
Critically, every SCS project is now independently verified by Control Union, and certified under OBP Neutrality or Verra’s Plastic Waste Reduction Standard - ensuring traceability, credibility, and true impact.
SCS isn’t just a cleanup organization. It’s a systems builder, innovating solutions that turn waste into bricks, furniture, and hope - proving that new life can be restored from even discarded materials.
The Lesson
Sometimes, love takes a leap of faith. You don’t always have the answers and sometimes, our partners aren’t always able to provide every last bit of information.
But we don’t need all the answers. We need people worth believing in - and the patience to grow with them.
Seven Clean Seas isn’t done. They’re still pushing boundaries, still crafting solutions that didn’t exist before. And we’re proud to keep walking beside them, and believing in what they dream up next.
PC: Seven Clean Seas
The ones who’ve grown with us
Our long-term partners and the journeys we went on together
