About Us
We believe that doing good is just as important as doing business.
At A1 Plastics Resources, our goal is to run a business with the focus on people and the planet ahead of profit.
In 2017, China banned the import of plastic waste, with several South East Asian countries following suit shortly after. The bans left many countries scrambling for alternatives to process plastic waste; however many did not have the capacity to recycle domestically, including Cambodia.
For the people
For many years Cambodia has had a unique, informal process for the collection and recycling of many waste materials, such as plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminium. The process starts with the Edjai, also known as street recyclers. Many of them start their days before dawn, wandering the streets in search of recyclable goods.
Normally the process hierarchy begins from the Edjai to small collection centres/middlemen to larger collection centres/middlemen where the plastic bottles are usually sorted and compressed and then sold to recycling companies or for export in bulk.
As of 2022, studies show that currently Cambodia only has the capacity to recycle 10% of its plastic waste. Due to the neighbouring countries import plastic waste bans, the supply far outweighs the demand which puts many of the Edjai and middlemen's livelihoods at stake and a vast majority of plastic left uncollected and dumped into landfills.
A1 Plastics was established in 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with production slated to begin in Q3 2026. At A1, we purchase the collected plastic bottles from the Edjai and middlemen to be recycled. Our process includes sorting, washing and decontamination, flaking and pelletising.
For the planet
Water
Manufacturing requires a lot of water. To ensure that our impact on the environment is minimal, we recycle up to 80% of the water used in our washing line. In addition, we have installed a microplastics filtration system to ensure that all waste water is treated before it is discharged.
Energy
Energy usage is the most utility intensive aspect of PET recycling. 51% of Cambodia's energy production is from renewable sources, with solar energy accounting for roughly seven percent. In keeping with our commitment to the planet, we have installed solar panels to help power our factory.