Limpi: Transforming Caribbean Beach Plastic into Sustainable Products

Tackling Plastic Pollution in Curaçao

After returning to Curaçao, product designers Mitchell Lammering and Debrah Nijdam were shocked by the extensive plastic waste littering the island’s beaches. Determined to address this environmental problem, they utilized their design expertise to recycle discarded plastics and repurpose them into functional products, initiating an innovative sustainable manufacturing venture named Limpi.

DIY Beginnings and Early Innovations

Starting with handmade recycling machines—a shredder and extruder—and improvised molds, Limpi produced simple items like coasters and keychains from beach plastic. A viral YouTube video about their efforts sparked community interest and local media coverage, laying the foundation for a growing eco-conscious enterprise.

Advancing Design and Production with Autodesk Fusion

Limpi transitioned to digital mold design using Autodesk Fusion, an integrated CAD/CAM platform, to boost precision and efficiency. This streamlined workflow enabled rapid iterations and improvements in mold making, facilitating the creation of complex 3D injection molds. Notably, Limpi designed a hydraulic injection machine in Fusion to replace a labor-intensive manual device, significantly enhancing production consistency and scalability.

Public Engagement Through Transparent Recycling

Relocating to a 500-square-meter facility in Curaçao’s Sambil Mall allowed Limpi to showcase the entire recycling process openly—from shredding and melting to molding—directly engaging visitors. This transparency educates the public on plastic waste’s life cycle and the value of recycling, turning onlookers into advocates.

Collaborations with the Hospitality Industry

Limpi caters to eco-conscious brands like Marriott, producing over 400 ocean-waste wall art pieces featuring marine life motifs. Rapid product development cycles—sometimes completed within days—combine 2D sketches with 3D modeling and printing in Fusion to meet bespoke customer demands swiftly.

Empowering Caribbean Youth via Recycling

Through the Future Goals program—a collaboration with Sandals Foundation and Ajax Football Club—Limpi manufactures soccer goals and accessories from recycled plastics for schools. To date, approximately 6,500 pounds of plastic (equivalent to 1.5 million bottle caps) have been repurposed into over 70 goalposts, fostering sustainability education and community development. The project is expanding to other islands like Jamaica with multi-stakeholder support.

Vision for Caribbean-Wide Sustainable Manufacturing

Limpi aims to replicate its effective recycling and manufacturing model across the Caribbean, targeting Aruba, Bonaire, and St. Martin. Their mission is to become the leading sustainable plastics recycling company in the region by continuously refining machinery, molds, and production techniques while promoting environmental stewardship.

Limpi exemplifies how innovative design combined with community engagement can transform plastic pollution into valuable sustainable products, offering an inspiring roadmap toward circular economies in island communities.

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