Our beginnings

plastic sux originated from an educational stall at the local markets displaying single use plastic items picked up from local beaches during beach clean ups within the Dhimurru Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in North East Arnhem Land, and showing their alternatives! Everyone kept asking ‘where they could buy these products’? This led to a curation of products promoting alternatives to single use plastic, which then led to a regular market stall, and provided our community with access to affordable alternatives to single use plastic. It started with the humble straw, and just kept growing from there, with more items being added all the time (after we have trialled and tested them ourselves).

Why the name? It came from sucking on straws.

plastic sux proudly continues to be involved in the local Arnhem Coast Clean Ups, run in partnership with Dhimurru Rangers, helping reduce the massive marine debris problem in this amazing part of the world #everylittlebithelps

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750kg of marine debris per kilometre, annually

Within the Dhimurru IPA, there are approximately 70 km of coastline, most remote and inaccessible. Annual marine debris that washes up on our shores is approximately 750 kg per km annually. Dhimurru has the longest data set in Australia of marine debris along a 3 km stretch of beach (18 years). Unfortunately, this data shows a trend of increasing marine debris and has been changing from fishing industry debris to domestic waste (with at least 90% originating from SE Asia).


About Angie

Growing up in Darwin, I was part of a very multi-cultural environment, surrounded by friends from many different backgrounds. I moved to Maningrida when I was 19, and have been blessed to work and live in Arnhem Land ever since, a region where Indigenous culture is still so very strong. I have grown up two amazing and caring souls who make me proud every day, and have called Nhulunbuy home for the last 16 years. I work in Indigenous Affairs, and enjoy sailing with my partner, camping, art & crafts, cooking and books. I am actively involved in the Arnhem Coast Clean Up, a volunteer organisation which undertakes monthly clean ups of a remote beach in North East Arnhem Land.

plastic sux operates on Yolngu country and acknowledges the Custodians, Traditional Owners, culture, gurrutu and songlines of this special land.