What Trash Hero World does

Trash Hero World is a Swiss-registered nonprofit association (Verein, registration number 1993507) founded in 2013 that coordinates a global volunteer-led movement against plastic pollution. Its operations are anchored by a remote global coordination team of approximately 10 staff and volunteers based across Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar, with a registered headquarters in Inwil, Switzerland. The organization operates through four interlocking program pillars: Community Cleanups (weekly volunteer-led waste collection events), Trash Hero Kids (environmental education curriculum and minisite for children aged 5-12), Trash Hero Communities (advocacy, zero-waste events, and policy engagement), and the Water Refill Network (a partnership network of 584 Southeast Asian hospitality businesses offering free refills to owners of reusable stainless steel bottles).

The underlying platform is a community-organizing and educational content management system rather than a software product: there is no mobile app, no public API, and no proprietary technology stack beyond a WordPress-based website, Mailchimp newsletters, Raisenow donation processing, and Google Analytics. The technical differentiators are operational assets, specifically the 90 autonomous local chapters in 14 countries, the educational content library (including a 9-part Zero Waste online course, knowledge library, and Global Plastics Treaty resources), and the two-sided water refill network connecting bottle holders with participating businesses. As of 2025, the network has cumulatively prevented 44.3 million single-use plastic bottles and 2,318 tonnes of CO2 emissions since inception.

The business model is nonprofit: revenue is generated from individual donations (preset tiers at CHF 10, 25, 70, and 200, plus monthly recurring options), one-time stainless steel bottle sales, and grants from institutional donors and foundations. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, with growth occurring through grassroots word-of-mouth, volunteer recruitment, and the formation of new chapters rather than traditional sales or marketing channels. Trash Hero holds consultative status at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (granted March 2022), is a member of Break Free From Plastic (since 2018), and leads a 10-NGO Swiss Plastic Action Coalition advocating for beverage packaging regulation reform.

Name

Trash Hero World

Legal name

Trash Hero World

Website

https://trashhero.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trash Hero World is a Swiss-registered nonprofit coordinating a global volunteer-led movement against plastic pollution, running 90 chapters across 14 countries that deliver community cleanups, environmental education, and a water-refill network for travelers and locals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) (BPAGABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Eco-Friendly Disposal, Recycling & Donation Hauling (HSAIAOAJ)

Keywords

• Community cleanup programs
• Environmental education
• Plastic pollution reduction
• Volunteer-led movement
• Zero waste initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Inwil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Recurring and one-time donations from individuals worldwide. Donation options include preset amounts (CHF 10, 25, 70, 200) or custom amounts, with monthly recurring donation option available. Tax-deductible for Swiss taxpayers.
2. Water Bottle Sales: Sale of stainless steel reusable water bottles as part of the Water Refill Network program. Customers pay once for a bottle and receive free refills for life across the network.
3. Corporate/Institutional Funding: Grants and funding from foundations and institutional donors. Trash Hero actively pursues international funding opportunities for programs and projects.
4. Bank Transfers: Direct bank transfers accepted (IBAN: CH25 8080 8007 8875 3059 8, SWIFT BIC RAIFCH22XXX) for donors who prefer not to use online payments

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Trash Hero World coordinates a global volunteer-led movement that organizes weekly community cleanups, delivers environmental education programs (notably for children aged 5-12), and operates a Water Refill Network across Southeast Asia to enable reusable bottle refills. The organization supports its programs through online educational resources, advocacy for plastic pollution policy reform, and engagement of volunteer chapters in 14 countries under the banner of zero waste principles.

Product overview

Trash Hero World is a volunteer-led environmental movement operating as a non-profit organization focused on creating a clean world free from plastic pollution. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on community action and education: the core Community Cleanups initiative provides weekly volunteer cleanup activities; the Trash Hero Kids Program delivers environmental education for children aged 5-12; Trash Hero Communities enables volunteer-driven advocacy and policy engagement; and the Water Refill Network provides reusable bottle infrastructure across Southeast Asia. Supporting these programs are educational resources including a 9-part Zero Waste Online Course, the Knowledge Library with research and policy materials, and dedicated kids-focused content through the Trash Hero Kids Zone. The organization does not offer a technology platform or software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Trash Hero Kids: Environmental education program for children aged 5-12, featuring a dedicated minisite with resources, videos, quizzes, and activities about eco-friendly practices and plastic pollution awareness.
• Trash Hero Communities
• Water Refill Network

Products and services

• Community Cleanups

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,716,807 kg of trash collected from December 2013 to December 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 March 2022Trash Hero World granted formal consultative status at United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in March 2022. This observer status allows input to policy discussions and participation in UNEA sessions and subsidiary bodies.
• Break Free From PlasticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Trash Hero World joined the Break Free From Plastic movement in 2018 and has collaborated on several important projects including being a top contributor of data to annual Brand Audit reports. Jointly submitted proposal to UNEP for Global Plastics Treaty ahead of INC-2 session in Paris.
• Plastic Health CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrash Hero joined the Plastic Health Coalition to contribute to collective efforts addressing health impacts of plastic pollution.
• Swiss Plastic Action CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of 10 Swiss NGOs including Trash Hero World, OceanCare, and Greenpeace Switzerland calling for ambitious overhaul of beverage packaging regulations. Led by Trash Hero World President Roman Peter.
• 1% for the PlanetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrash Hero World listed on the 1% for the Planet directory, enabling environmentally-conscious consumers to donate through the platform.
• Trash Hero UKcoreOthersRegistered country organization in United Kingdom operating under the governance of Trash Hero World. Part of 14-country chapter network.
• Trash Hero IndonesiacoreOthersRegistered country organization in Indonesia operating under the governance of Trash Hero World. Active in Lombok with composting projects and Jakarta community cleanups.
• Trash Hero ThailandcoreOthersRegistered association in Thailand operating under governance of Trash Hero World. 17 chapters across Thailand including Chumphon, Khao Lak, and Koh Phangan with reusable tableware and water refill programs.
• Trash Hero MyanmarcoreOthersRegistered country organization in Myanmar operating under the governance of Trash Hero World. Part of 14-country chapter network.
• Water Refill Partner BusinessescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor584 businesses across Southeast Asia (hotels, restaurants, cafes, tourism operators) participating in the water bottle refill network, offering free refills to Trash Hero bottle holders.
• Break Free From PlasticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupermarket packaging audit project in Thailand, Malaysia, Switzerland, and UK. Trash Hero volunteers supplied 35 audits for the Break Free From Plastic report on supermarket chains' role in plastic pollution.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• 4ocean: Commercial cleanup brand that funds ocean plastic removal through bracelet and merchandise sales. Comparable plastic-removal mission and consumer-engagement branding, but with a for-profit, paid-crew model.
• Lonely Whale Foundation: Runs the 'Question How You Hydrate' and other reusable-cup/refill campaigns aimed at reducing single-use plastic. Comparable focus on refill infrastructure and consumer behavior change, but US-centric and celebrity-driven.
• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic in Southeast Asia and exchanges it for income. Comparable geographic footprint and plastic-collection focus, but uses a paid-collection model rather than volunteer cleanups.

Others

• Break Free From Plastic: Global movement coalition of which Trash Hero is a member organization. Closely comparable on policy advocacy and brand audit data, but functions as a coalition rather than a single operational nonprofit.

Regional players

• Plastic Soup Foundation: Dutch NGO campaigning against plastic pollution with educational programs and an annual plastic soup survey. Comparable advocacy and education profile, focused primarily on the Netherlands and Europe.
• OceanCare: Swiss marine conservation NGO co-signing joint statements with Trash Hero via the Swiss Plastic Action Coalition. Closely comparable Swiss policy advocacy role and UN consultative status, with a broader marine wildlife focus.

Direct peers

• Ocean Conservancy: Runs the International Coastal Cleanup and publishes influential trash data reports annually. Directly comparable mission (volunteer-led marine debris removal and policy advocacy) with broader US policy reach.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global NGO coalition advocating to end plastic pollution through education, storytelling, and policy. Comparable advocacy, education, and UN policy engagement focus, with member-driven rather than chapter-driven structure.
• Refill.org: UK-based water refill app and network connecting users to free refill points in cafes, pubs, and shops. Closely comparable water-refill infrastructure model, but geographically concentrated in the UK.
• Surfrider Foundation: Volunteer-driven nonprofit organizing beach cleanups, water quality monitoring, and plastic pollution advocacy globally. Closely comparable to Trash Hero's grassroots cleanup-and-advocacy model, with a larger US/Europe footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trash Hero World