Working towards UN Sustainability Goals and Tackling Climate Change

Help us Stop Plastic Pollution

Every minute, a garbage truck’s worth of plastic enters our oceans—an estimated 2.4 to 12 million metric tons annually. Healthy Earth is tackling this through education and deployment of advanced litter capture devices across major ASEAN rivers.

Sources: Science Advances, Nature Communications

Tackling Pollution

Studies show Asia contributes 86% of the total global plastic pollution through its rivers, the UN Plastics Treaty and educating people to “turn off the tap” of plastic pollution is the long-term solution. This will take many years, and we must stop plastic pollution now.
Healthy Earth combines research, plastic capture and education to tackle the problem. Our advanced litter capture device funnel plastic waste, from the riverbed to the surface to the bank for removal and recycling, without disrupting fish or boat traffic.

Meet the team

Steve and Liam led the initiative. They are supported by a team of trustees and local project members.

Image of Dr Steve Allen, A middle aged man driving a boat in a snow storm. He has snot on his jacket and in his beard. Behind him is the canal and snow covered trees
Steve Allen

Steve has an awarding winning scientist, with a strong research and engineering background. From managing teams on large sea platforms to research on the smallest plastic pollution. Steve has a PhD in atmospheric microplastics from Strathclyde University.

Liam Kelleher

Liam has over 10 years experience in analytical technologies, project coordination, and development of plastic detection methods. Liam has a PhD in Physics from Swansea University and actively carries out research at the University of Birmingham.

Our Work

Our initiative is dedicated to mapping the scale of plastic pollution in rivers across Vietnam and conducting comprehensive microplastic studies worldwide. We aim to understand the sources and distribution of plastic waste, focusing on the critical impact of microplastics on ecosystems and human health.

A cornerstone of our mission is education, emphasizing the importance of effective waste management and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution.

Through collaboration with local communities, researchers, and global partners, we seek to drive meaningful change and promote sustainable practices to protect our planet.