In 2024, The Great Plastic Bake Off (GPBO) and implementation partner FUSE Caribbean entered into a long-term collaboration with Fernandes Bottling to tackle a major problem: pollution caused by plastic waste. At present, recycling options in Suriname are limited, and most waste ends up in the landfill, is burned, or is dumped in nature, eventually finding its way into rivers—with all the harmful consequences that entails.
Fernandes is one of the largest employers in Suriname’s food and beverage sector. They have been producing soft drinks locally since 1939, following the latest production and quality standards, helping ensure that Suriname is not fully dependent on imported beverages.
GPBO is working with implementation partner FUSE Caribbean on developing and installing mobile recycling units (FUSE Kitchens). The “kitchen” is built into a shipping container, making it easy to transport and install in locations with limited space and infrastructure. GPBO also supplies various molds and “recipes” for products that can be made with the kitchen, such as boards, pavers, and tiles.
Local production as a strength
The strength of our partner Fernandes—local production—is also the strength of our FUSE solution. With the FUSE Kitchen, Fernandes can turn local plastic waste into building materials in an accessible and affordable way, which they can sell and use on-site. The kitchen is built into a shipping container, making it easy to transport and install in areas with limited space and infrastructure. It is an ideal solution for small island and coastal states such as Suriname and other SIDS (Small Island Developing States).
Why does our concept can work well for SIDS?
Local recycling gives these countries greater control over their waste streams. It reduces dependency on foreign imports of new products and materials and makes countries more resilient to price fluctuations when exporting waste. Moreover, many SIDS depend heavily on tourism and nature. Plastic pollution harms beaches, coral reefs, and biodiversity. Local recycling keeps the environment clean, protects ecosystems, and strengthens a country’s image as a sustainable travel destination.
We therefore see local recycling as a smart strategy: waste becomes a source of new value, innovation, and employment. It protects the environment and strengthens the local economy.
What products are being made?
The product that Fernandes will produce will at minimum be a board that can be used for flooring or furniture making. But more is possible. We aim to design our products not only to process large volumes of plastic, but also to provide solutions to climate-related risks such as flooding, rising sea levels along the coast, and changes in rainfall patterns.
Climate-adaptive products
SIDS are known for their economic and environmental vulnerability. That is why we design products that not only look good but are also resilient against extreme natural events—or even able to respond to them. An example is the WavePaver, currently produced at our FUSE site in Barbados by our local partner. These pavers can be laid in a way that allows water to pass through where desired, or closed for functional purposes such as creating a walkway.
Local collaboration
The strength of our collaboration with Fernandes is not only that we fully leverage the benefits of local production, but also that we form a chain together with even more partners in Suriname. Think of the government, NGOs, and organizations committed to awareness, cleanups, and empowerment of various communities. Together, we will truly make a difference and position Suriname as a leader in climate- and environmentally conscious policy. They can be a voice in global discussions on climate change, sustainability, and ocean management. Small but powerful!
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