Turning the Tide: Adrian Campbell and Kinnara Foundation Take Action on Ocean Plastic in Lombok
Empowered People. Thriving Communities. Shared Prosperity.
When Adrian Campbell, Co-Founder of Kinnara Asia and the Kinnara Foundation, first visited the beach at Marina Bay Lombok, the problem was impossible to ignore. Tidal currents carried plastic waste from nearby islands, including Bali, leaving debris strewn across what should have been pristine, turquoise shores.
Plastic pollution is one of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges. With over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced globally each year, an estimated 0.5% or 2 million tonnes, ends up in our oceans (Source: The Ocean Cleanup). For the communities of Lombok, the impact is deeply personal, affecting livelihoods, marine ecosystems, and the future of local tourism.
Seeing both the challenge and opportunity, Adrian Campbell and his team acted immediately. The Kinnara Foundation initiated a local employment program that pays residents a living wage to remove, sort, and recycle tidal waste washing onto the beaches. This approach transforms a global problem into local opportunity, creating jobs, restoring coastlines, and building community pride in protecting the ocean that sustains them.
While the program provides an immediate, hands-on solution, it also marks the beginning of a longer journey. Adrian Campbell is committed to developing scalable, community-led strategies that align with global ocean conservation efforts. These include exploring innovative waste collection, circular economy partnerships, and educational programs that empower coastal villages to become leaders in environmental regeneration.
The first employees of Marina Bay Lombok, hired through this initiative, represent more than a clean beach. They embody the Foundation’s commitment to sustained local employment, micro-economy growth, and shared prosperity for the people of Buwun Mas and beyond.
“Real change begins with action,” says Adrian Campbell. “By creating jobs that protect the planet, we’re proving that sustainability and shared prosperity can, and must, go hand in hand.”