Iron Software has announced a new collaboration with environmental organisation Seven Clean Seas, providing funding for the installation and year-long operation of a floating river barrier in Bang Kachao, Thailand. The initiative forms part of a wider program aiming to recover 200 tonnes of plastic waste during 2026 by preventing debris from flowing into the Gulf of Thailand.
Rather than relying solely on advanced technology, the partnership prioritises community-driven infrastructure and local employment to address plastic pollution.
Tackling Plastic Pollution at Its Source
Research suggests that nearly 70% of marine plastic pollution originates in rivers before reaching the ocean. In Thailand, the Chao Phraya River transports waste from inland regions across hundreds of kilometres before emptying into the Gulf of Thailand. Plastic used daily by communities along the river often enters nearby canals, or klongs, during rainfall and flooding, eventually making its way into the main waterway.
Tom Peacock-Mayson, Chief Executive Officer of Seven Clean Seas, believes that plastic pollution is closely connected to socioeconomic conditions.
"If you compare maps of poverty with maps showing plastic leakage, they overlap significantly," he explained. "Communities facing economic hardship are often at the centre of the plastic pollution problem. Automated technology alone cannot solve this because it doesn't create sustainable employment. Our approach is to invest in people first."
Why Bang Kachao Matters
Located on a peninsula within the Chao Phraya River, Bang Kachao is widely known as Bangkok's "green lung" due to its extensive forests and mangrove ecosystems. Unlike much of the heavily urbanised riverbank, the peninsula remains largely natural and attracts cyclists and visitors seeking a quieter environment.
However, this landscape also makes it particularly vulnerable to plastic accumulation.
A network of canals carries floating waste toward the river. Water-control gates normally retain water inside the canals but release it during periods of high water, allowing accumulated plastic to wash into the Chao Phraya. Mangrove forests further trap floating debris as tides rise and fall, leaving plastic embedded deep within dense root systems where mechanical equipment cannot reach.
Iron Software's funding will cover the production, installation and daily management of a floating barrier positioned inside one of Bang Kachao's canal systems. Designed to withstand heavy flows and monsoon conditions, the barrier will intercept plastic before it reaches the main river.
Seven Clean Seas' field crews will oversee daily collection, sorting, weighing and recording of recovered waste, with operational data published through the organisation's Periscope transparency platform.
Alongside the barrier, a dedicated team of 20 workers manually removes plastic trapped within the mangrove forests, accessing areas that machines cannot clean.
The organisation also deploys the Hippo, a 13-metre solar-powered catamaran operating directly on the Chao Phraya River. Equipped with floating booms and a conveyor belt, the vessel captures plastic drifting downstream without relying on fossil fuels. Combined with canal barriers and manual mangrove cleanups, the system targets plastic pollution at multiple stages before it reaches the ocean.
Employment as an Environmental Solution
Seven Clean Seas currently provides formal employment to 124 waste collectors, offering long-term contracts, legal minimum wages, social security, paid leave and parental benefits.
According to Peacock-Mayson, these employment standards distinguish the organisation within the waste management sector.
He explained that stable employment encourages workers to plan for the future because they have financial security, even if illness or injury prevents them from working temporarily. This stability creates long-term social and economic improvements alongside environmental benefits.
The organisation recruits workers from the same communities where cleanup activities take place, helping local residents become advocates for environmental responsibility while strengthening community participation.
Creating Opportunities Beyond Cleanup
The benefits of formal employment have extended beyond regular incomes.
One collector, Nurati, previously spent eight years trapped in debt while working in Indonesia's informal waste sector. After joining Seven Clean Seas and earning nearly three times her previous income, she eliminated her debts within a year.
She later purchased a freezer to establish a small ice business before expanding further by financing a fishing boat for a family member, transforming a cleanup job into the foundation of a growing family enterprise.
Peacock-Mayson believes stories like these demonstrate the broader impact of fair wages, showing how secure employment can improve lives while supporting environmental restoration.
Buddhist Temple Partnership Strengthens Circular Economy
The Bang Kachao initiative grew from a long-standing partnership with Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple located on the peninsula.
Several years ago, Seven Clean Seas connected with the temple after learning about its innovative recycling program. The monks collect PET plastic bottles from surrounding communities, send them for recycling into polyester fibres, dye the material orange and transform it into traditional Buddhist robes. Their work has attracted international recognition, including coverage by Forbes.
When Seven Clean Seas sought a location for its Hippo cleanup vessel, the temple's head monk invited the organisation to deploy it near the temple, where plastic waste had become a growing concern.
That collaboration eventually expanded into the wider Bang Kachao cleanup program. Today, Seven Clean Seas has agreements with all six local sub-districts as well as Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
Peacock-Mayson emphasised that meaningful environmental progress depends on close cooperation with local communities rather than external intervention alone.
Continuing Environmental Commitments
The partnership represents the latest environmental investment by Iron Software, which has contributed more than US$50,000 to environmental initiatives through 2025. Previous support includes TeamSeas, 1% for the Planet and the company's EcoGrant programme.
Because Iron Software maintains a regional office in Thailand, the Bang Kachao initiative reflects a direct local commitment rather than an overseas donation.
Chief Executive Officer Cameron Rimington said environmental responsibility has become part of the company's long-term strategy, noting that its sustainability investments continue to expand alongside business growth.
He also drew parallels between the company's software development philosophy and Seven Clean Seas' approach, arguing that while technology provides valuable tools, people remain the driving force behind meaningful change.
Chief Technology Officer Jacob Mellor echoed that view, saying the partnership appealed because it focused on empowering people instead of pursuing technology for its own sake. While advanced tools can improve efficiency, he said lasting solutions ultimately depend on the individuals using them.
Looking Forward
Seven Clean Seas recently expanded operations in Bang Kachao with a larger facility and a dedicated 20-person mangrove cleanup team. The organisation is now seeking additional corporate partners to help fund ongoing recovery efforts, with the objective of securing support equivalent to each tonne within its 200-tonne plastic recovery goal.
Peacock-Mayson said the organisation hopes its operating model can be replicated globally, believing that widespread adoption of community-based cleanup programs could significantly reduce plastic pollution worldwide.
Iron Software's grant was provided in March 2026. Throughout the 12-month partnership, progress reports will be published, and representatives from Iron Software will have the opportunity to visit the project site.
Key Highlights
Approximately 70% of ocean plastic originates in rivers. Seven Clean Seas formally employs 124 waste collectors with comprehensive employment benefits. Bang Kachao's mangrove forests naturally trap plastic but require manual cleanup. The organisation aims to recover 200 tonnes of plastic during 2026. Iron Software has contributed more than US$50,000 to environmental causes through its sustainability initiatives. Rather than relying solely on advanced technology, the partnership prioritises community-driven infrastructure and local employment to address plastic pollution.
Tackling Plastic Pollution at Its Source
Research suggests that nearly 70% of marine plastic pollution originates in rivers before reaching the ocean. In Thailand, the Chao Phraya River transports waste from inland regions across hundreds of kilometres before emptying into the Gulf of Thailand. Plastic used daily by communities along the river often enters nearby canals, or klongs, during rainfall and flooding, eventually making its way into the main waterway.
Tom Peacock-Mayson, Chief Executive Officer of Seven Clean Seas, believes that plastic pollution is closely connected to socioeconomic conditions.
"If you compare maps of poverty with maps showing plastic leakage, they overlap significantly," he explained. "Communities facing economic hardship are often at the centre of the plastic pollution problem. Automated technology alone cannot solve this because it doesn't create sustainable employment. Our approach is to invest in people first."
Why Bang Kachao Matters
Located on a peninsula within the Chao Phraya River, Bang Kachao is widely known as Bangkok's "green lung" due to its extensive forests and mangrove ecosystems. Unlike much of the heavily urbanised riverbank, the peninsula remains largely natural and attracts cyclists and visitors seeking a quieter environment.
However, this landscape also makes it particularly vulnerable to plastic accumulation.
A network of canals carries floating waste toward the river. Water-control gates normally retain water inside the canals but release it during periods of high water, allowing accumulated plastic to wash into the Chao Phraya. Mangrove forests further trap floating debris as tides rise and fall, leaving plastic embedded deep within dense root systems where mechanical equipment cannot reach.
Iron Software's funding will cover the production, installation and daily management of a floating barrier positioned inside one of Bang Kachao's canal systems. Designed to withstand heavy flows and monsoon conditions, the barrier will intercept plastic before it reaches the main river.
Seven Clean Seas' field crews will oversee daily collection, sorting, weighing and recording of recovered waste, with operational data published through the organisation's Periscope transparency platform.
Alongside the barrier, a dedicated team of 20 workers manually removes plastic trapped within the mangrove forests, accessing areas that machines cannot clean.
The organisation also deploys the Hippo, a 13-metre solar-powered catamaran operating directly on the Chao Phraya River. Equipped with floating booms and a conveyor belt, the vessel captures plastic drifting downstream without relying on fossil fuels. Combined with canal barriers and manual mangrove cleanups, the system targets plastic pollution at multiple stages before it reaches the ocean.
Employment as an Environmental Solution
Seven Clean Seas currently provides formal employment to 124 waste collectors, offering long-term contracts, legal minimum wages, social security, paid leave and parental benefits.
According to Peacock-Mayson, these employment standards distinguish the organisation within the waste management sector.
He explained that stable employment encourages workers to plan for the future because they have financial security, even if illness or injury prevents them from working temporarily. This stability creates long-term social and economic improvements alongside environmental benefits.
The organisation recruits workers from the same communities where cleanup activities take place, helping local residents become advocates for environmental responsibility while strengthening community participation.
Creating Opportunities Beyond Cleanup
The benefits of formal employment have extended beyond regular incomes.
One collector, Nurati, previously spent eight years trapped in debt while working in Indonesia's informal waste sector. After joining Seven Clean Seas and earning nearly three times her previous income, she eliminated her debts within a year.
She later purchased a freezer to establish a small ice business before expanding further by financing a fishing boat for a family member, transforming a cleanup job into the foundation of a growing family enterprise.
Peacock-Mayson believes stories like these demonstrate the broader impact of fair wages, showing how secure employment can improve lives while supporting environmental restoration.
Buddhist Temple Partnership Strengthens Circular Economy
The Bang Kachao initiative grew from a long-standing partnership with Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple located on the peninsula.
Several years ago, Seven Clean Seas connected with the temple after learning about its innovative recycling program. The monks collect PET plastic bottles from surrounding communities, send them for recycling into polyester fibres, dye the material orange and transform it into traditional Buddhist robes. Their work has attracted international recognition, including coverage by Forbes.
When Seven Clean Seas sought a location for its Hippo cleanup vessel, the temple's head monk invited the organisation to deploy it near the temple, where plastic waste had become a growing concern.
That collaboration eventually expanded into the wider Bang Kachao cleanup program. Today, Seven Clean Seas has agreements with all six local sub-districts as well as Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
Peacock-Mayson emphasised that meaningful environmental progress depends on close cooperation with local communities rather than external intervention alone.
Continuing Environmental Commitments
The partnership represents the latest environmental investment by Iron Software, which has contributed more than US$50,000 to environmental initiatives through 2025. Previous support includes TeamSeas, 1% for the Planet and the company's EcoGrant programme.
Because Iron Software maintains a regional office in Thailand, the Bang Kachao initiative reflects a direct local commitment rather than an overseas donation.
Chief Executive Officer Cameron Rimington said environmental responsibility has become part of the company's long-term strategy, noting that its sustainability investments continue to expand alongside business growth.
He also drew parallels between the company's software development philosophy and Seven Clean Seas' approach, arguing that while technology provides valuable tools, people remain the driving force behind meaningful change.
Chief Technology Officer Jacob Mellor echoed that view, saying the partnership appealed because it focused on empowering people instead of pursuing technology for its own sake. While advanced tools can improve efficiency, he said lasting solutions ultimately depend on the individuals using them.
Looking Forward
Seven Clean Seas recently expanded operations in Bang Kachao with a larger facility and a dedicated 20-person mangrove cleanup team. The organisation is now seeking additional corporate partners to help fund ongoing recovery efforts, with the objective of securing support equivalent to each tonne within its 200-tonne plastic recovery goal.
Peacock-Mayson said the organisation hopes its operating model can be replicated globally, believing that widespread adoption of community-based cleanup programs could significantly reduce plastic pollution worldwide.
Iron Software's grant was provided in March 2026. Throughout the 12-month partnership, progress reports will be published, and representatives from Iron Software will have the opportunity to visit the project site.
Key Highlights