Turning the Tide in Mahahual: A Two-Year Mission Comes Full Circle

On a remote stretch of Mexico’s Caribbean coastline, a quiet but powerful transformation has been taking place. Over the past two years, #tide has joined forces with help alliance, Edelweiss, and our local team at Tide Costa Maya to bring new life to plastic waste – and new perspectives to the people fighting it.

Mahahual, a small coastal village south of Cancún, is facing the harsh reality of marine pollution. As a popular cruise destination without formal recycling infrastructure, it’s a place where plastic accumulates fast, both from tourism and ocean currents. That’s where our Project came in. Together with grassroots NGO Menos Plástico es Fantástico (MPEF), we focused on tackling plastic pollution by collecting waste, protecting local turtle habitats, raising environmental awareness, and creating fair jobs through the power of recycling.

The impact? Measurable – and deeply human. Plastic is collected and sorted locally, before being transported to Mexico City where it is transformed into high-quality #tide ocean material. This material is then used to produce durable, sustainable products: from reusable cups, upholstery textiles and carpets to watches, shoes or electronic devices.

In June, a group of employees from Edelweiss and help alliance travelled to Mahahual to experience the project first-hand. What they saw was more than just a cleanup. On a short stretch of beach, the team collected 170kg of plastic in just 45 minutes – a stark reminder of the scale of plastic pollution. But they also saw hope: thriving local partnerships, passionate individuals, and a circular solution in action.

One of the most meaningful moments of the visit took place at Sandy Turtle Beach, a research and conservation center for marine turtles run by MPEF. Here, participants took part in a hands-on workshop about the life cycle of sea turtles, their breeding habits, and how plastic pollution endangers their survival. The local conservation team demonstrated how they discover and monitor nests, count eggs and hatchlings, and track nesting success over time. Participants were even given the chance to carefully dig out and handle turtle eggs from the sand – an unforgettable reminder of what’s at stake if we don’t act.

This collaboration with help alliance and Edelweiss shows what corporate sponsorship can achieve when combined with local expertise and purpose-driven action.

As this chapter of our work in Mahahual comes to an end, the message is clear: the ocean doesn’t need more spectators. It needs more changemakers.

💬 Are you a company or organization ready to make a tangible impact contribution? Join our Road to 1 Billion Bottles initiative and become part of a global movement turning waste into value.

📩 Reach out to us at [insert contact/email] to learn how your brand can be part of the solution.