A mechanical engineer specializing in material science and the field of plastics, Tom Bébien is Recycling Manager for Plastic Odyssey, the award-wining French NGO setting out to tackle the worldwide crisis of ocean plastic pollution. His fascination with informal, non-industrial recycling models and processes led Tom to join Plastic Odyssey in 2019, where he is now responsible for developing plastic waste recovery systems uniquely adapted to the developing countries, communities, and the people most affected by plastic pollution. Optimistic and determined, he is a firm believer that innovation lies not only in high-tech but also in how to conserve — and intelligently use – precious natural resources. Developing and sharing open-source technologies with entrepreneurs in 30 countries across the global South, Plastic Odyssey’s goal is to create a global network of local recycling initiatives that transform plastic waste into a valuable Resource.
Tom holds degrees in engineering and mechanics from INSA – the National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon, France and the University of Angers. His applied research on the use of near infrared spectroscopy for plastics and on polymer recycling was published by Technische Universität in Hamburg, Germany. Tom lives in Marseille.
