To reduce the impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems, Irene founded Life Out Of Plastic (L.O.O.P). A social enterprise, L.O.O.P pursues a three-pronged approach—advocating for greater citizen action to reduce plastic waste, offering its services to companies, and commercializing products (e.g., reusable shopping bags, sportswear) made from recycled plastic. While the majority of organizations working on plastic pollution depend on donations, L.O.O.P. adopted a market-based approach. Its products and services not only generate revenue but showcase solutions to plastic pollution. To date, L.O.O.P. has removed over 95 tons of waste from coastlines, upcycled over 1.3 million plastic bottles, and engaged 30,000 people through advocacy campaigns and clean up efforts. Irene is a fellow of Premio Protagonistas del Cambio, YouthActionNet’s institute partner in Peru.

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