From Fires And Fall Outs To The Face of 7 Bridges, Nano Morante Is Making Plastic Fantastic

In the face of factory fires and figuring it out on his own, Nano Morante, co-founder of PLASTICPeople, is determined to change the future of recycling forever.

Đọc bài viết bằng Tiếng Việt

Have you ever been to a plastic convention? No, neither had we, but imagine Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory where the packaging machines have run riot, and you won’t be far off. This was VietnamPlas, an annual plastic and rubber convention held in Ho Chi Minh, and the surprising location for our interview with Nano Morante, co-founder of PLASTICPeople.

Amid row after row of exhibitors flogging their plastic wares, crammed close amongst countless, candy-colored plastic bottles, LED screens flashing flashy adverts, the mechanical hum of machines streaming out long lines of labels – it was plain to see. The plastic biz is booming. But here the PLASTICPeople stand stood out like a sore thumb. Whilst the majority of exhibitors are contributing to the plastic problem, Nano is tirelessly working on a solution. 

PLASTICPeople Unwrapped

In a nutshell, PLASTICPeople takes what is known in the industry as ‘dead plastic’ destined for landfill, and repurposes it using unique recycling methods into plastic paneling that can be used as a base material for almost anything. 

Most of the plastic waste they receive is collected from restaurants, schools, offices and local scrap gatherers, but anyone interested in recycling can contribute. Plus, there is no shortage of plastic waste in Vietnam. One only has to stroll down almost any street in the city to see piles of plastic waste. A coffee cup here, a bottle cap there, a plastic bag rolling in the breeze like tumbleweed in an old Western. And it’s all treasure, not trash, for Nano. 

“We take rubbish and transform it” says Nano, “then pass the baton on for designers, producers and creative minds across the world to turn it into something even more wonderful”. 

A Face of 7 Bridges

This is why Nano has been chosen as a Faces of 7 Bridges. A series of special edition beer labels from the craft beer brand that celebrate local heroes striving towards sustainability. You’ll now find him smiling out from a can of the 7 Bridges Beach Blonde Ale, and be sure to recycle the can once you’ve finished…

To IKEA And Beyond

Over the years, PLASTICPeople have been part of some impressive collaborations. From working with Pizza 4Ps, Wink Hotels, John Reeves Design, Rice Studios, here in Ho Chi Minh, to projects as far flung as South Africa, Spain, and Australia. If all goes to plan, you might even be seeing the panel on items on the shelves of a certain global furniture brand…

A particularly interesting project is in collaboration with the University of Nepal, where PLASTICPeople panels are used in the constructions of a social housing project. “The level to which the plastic problem is prevalent even in the most remote places, like Mount Everist, is utterly outstanding.” Nano tells us. “We utilize this local waste for a local cause”. 

So why isn’t everyone doing this?

“Because it’s not good business.” Nano unabashedly admits. “Plastic, and the world of recycling is all about money, and at PLASTICPeople it took me over three years to be able to give myself a proper salary. How many people are willing to do that?”. Not many.. 

Great minds alike, great minds opposed 

That said, PLASTICPeople was founded by two people who had the same dream. Nano met his co-founder, Nestor Catalan, by chance here in Ho Chi Minh, and together they had the “totally crazy idea” to start PLASTICPeople.  

Yet they recently split as Nestor moved to Spain to continue their plastic recycling work over there. “I made peace with it.” Nano says with deliberation, but goes on to reveal the split has been challenging. “When a co-founder decides to leave a company, it affects everyone. The team, the shareholders, the perception of a brand. In our case, in everyone’s eyes he was the calm and the rational one and I was the erratic firecracker. Nobody believed I could take over.”

But there was no other choice. Nano had a responsibility to keep going with the few members of staff that remained, and together, they proudly made it happen. “That year we went from a team of 9 to 25, and from processing 400 kilos to soon over a tonne of plastic everyday. Our credibility was back and so was our community that supports us.”

Then It All Went Up In Flames

That is until the fire. On the evening of 22nd September the PLASTICPeople factory was burnt to the ground in an unexpected blaze. “My very first thoughts were, this is it, we’ve lost everything.” Nano says. “But I took a moment, and realized this is just another day in the office, another problem thrown at me, to which I had no choice but to step up and help lead my team through.” And so began the hard work. 

Out Of The Ashes

It is with this extraordinary positivity that Nano and the team began rebuilding what they lost. “Of course, there are some days I don’t even want to get out of bed with everything that’s going on. But it’s times like these that I remember: I chose this. This is what I believe in and I have to take responsibility for my choice.”

Be The Change You’re Looking For

This may sound like a corny bumper sticker or a Michael Jackson song but it is a sentiment Nano lives by. “Take responsibility for your actions” he repeats. “Collect your plastic for one week and you’ll be starkly aware of the extent of your role in the global plastic problem. We are in a culture where everyone is waiting for a miracle, for someone, or something to materialize a fix-all solution. This isn’t going to happen. It’s time to be your own change. Be responsible.”