How it Started
The trash beads idea was first conceived when my family was living in Parrot Tree Plantation on the east side of the island of Roatan. My son and I would walk the beach looking for sea glass in the mornings, and while we found a few pieces they were scarce and usually only white, green or brown in color.
In contrast, so much brightly colored plastic trash had washed up and was choking the shore that I commented to my son that it was a shame we weren't looking for sea plastic instead of sea glass because the colors were prettier and it was everywhere. I mulled that idea over for days, thinking there had to be a way to use the plastic somehow.
Two years and a lot of experimenting later, Trash Beads was officially born.
Our Team
Once I had the Trash Beads concept worked out, I enlisted the help of a local island friend to experiment with me and figure out the best way to make the product. After some late nights and admittedly hideous first attempts, we were able to hit on a method that worked.
Throughout the pandemic we've been hard at work building up inventory to sell once the island opened up to tourists again. During that time her teenage boys got involved and have been instrumental in coming up with creative new designs, color blends, and even taking business meetings with resorts and dive shops.
Now that we're finally able to sell, we will be expanding and hiring more local islanders in no time - which was the entire reason we started this business.
Our Mission
Our mission at Trash Beads is to help clean up the local Bay Island beaches of plastic trash, and repurpose it into something useful and profitable.
Our unique and beautiful jewelry and keepsakes are handmade by local islanders - which enables them to support their families with a liveable wage doing something they enjoy and feel good about.
