A Plastics Free Coastline

In 2021, ClimeCo partnered with TONTOTON, an environmental company, to document their efforts in tackling plastic pollution across Cambodia. This commercial mini-documentary showcases the critical work being done to remove plastic waste from the environment and build sustainable waste management infrastructure in coastal regions and beyond.

Filmed over 21 days and across multiple locations - including Sihanoukville, the village of Dhaem Thkov on Koh Rong Island, the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat and Angkor Tom City in Siem Reap, the floating village of Kampong Khleang, Phnom Penh, and Kampot Province - the documentary captures the scale of the plastic crisis and the impact of community-driven solutions. An additional unit was deployed to Cote d'Ivoire as well, to capture the efforts of ClimeCo's Colombian partner in plastic removals, Conceptos Plasticos.

David Estrada served as both the agency producer and stills photographer for the project, overseeing the logistical and creative aspects of production. As a producer, he coordinated the filming schedule with the production company, assembled the crew, and facilitated collaboration between Cargo, ClimeCo, Cultivator Labs and TONTOTON. His work ensured that the documentary effectively communicated the urgency of plastic pollution, the significance of TONTOTON’s initiatives, and the value their projects can bring to a corporation's environmental goals. As the stills photographer, he captured powerful imagery of both the environmental challenges and the solutions being implemented, providing compelling visual assets for promotional and educational use.

TONTOTON’s initiatives focus not only on environmental restoration but also on social and economic benefits for local communities. Their plastic recovery projects create employment opportunities, improve health and sanitation, and promote gender economic empowerment. Through the environmental credit market, companies can invest in these initiatives, ensuring one tonne of plastic is removed from the environment for each credit purchased. This structured and transparent financing mechanism supports ecosystem restoration, community health, and the transition to a circular economy.

By highlighting these efforts, the documentary underscores the urgent need for scalable solutions to plastic pollution and the role of corporate partnerships in driving sustainable change.