HLB employees use custom staff ID cardholders made by upcycling plastic bottle caps, demonstrating how collective action can turn waste into tangible value.
A LOCAL bank has partnered the Sea Monkey Project whose goal is a cleaner ocean by turning trash into treasure through a decentralised circular economy ecosystem.
It is Hong Leong Bank’s (HLB) eighth social enterprise under its HLB Jumpstart platform.
The platform is the bank’s flagship initiative that empowers Malaysian social enterprises to scale their impact through mentorship, business support and market access.
The Sea Monkey Project joins a growing network of purpose-driven enterprises under HLB Jumpstart, all united for a more sustainable and inclusive Malaysia.
The collaboration followed a pilot project where HLB employees collected over 23,000 plastic bottle caps which were then upcycled by The Sea Monkey Project into custom staff ID cardholders.
The initiative merges a business need with environmental stewardship, transforming the plastic waste into a product that supports livelihoods and delivers impact.
HLB chief marketing and communications officer Zalman Zainal said it reflected how the HLB Jumpstart programme sought to bridge purpose with progress.
“The Sea Monkey Project is doing impressive work and we are incredibly excited to support them in amplifying their reach and impact.”
Headquartered in Malaysia, the pioneering social enterprise had engineered a comprehensive upcycling ecosystem from the ground up.
It had successfully built the essential infrastructure and pipelines necessary to drive tangible climate action locally, while also empowering Malaysian communities and organisations with hands-on upcycling and sustainability training.
Building on its initial vision, the project now had upcycling machines operational in over 30 countries worldwide, demonstrating a scalable model for global change.
The Sea Monkey Project co-founder Carlos Steenland, said: “Joining HLB Jumpstart gives the team a platform to amplify our impact and inspire more people to take action.
“One thing we’ve learned is that you should never think you’re too small to make a difference.
“Every bottle cap, every effort, counts and HLB’s belief in what we do reinforces that.
“By working together, we can show how local communities, with the right support, can build a cleaner environment and stronger futures for themselves.”
The synergy between HLB and The Sea Monkey Project had resulted in the collection of 1,241kg of plastic waste since 2024, with over RM6,000 injected back into the community as incentives.
This upcycling success is a key driver in HLB’s broader commitment in which HLB had diverted 24,300kg of waste from disposal during the 2024/25 financial year, cementing its role in environmental stewardship.
