Brandon Chong’s journey to becoming a sustainability entrepreneur wasn’t a straight shot.
It all started with epic childhood battles with his older brother over the TV remote. While cartoons held Brandon’s attention, his brother craved the educational gems of Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, and Animal Planet.
This constant exposure to environmental issues sparked a lifelong awareness in Brandon, and nature documentaries eventually became his passion.
However, the turning point actually came on a family trip to Taiwan. The pristine streets mirrored those of Japan, leaving a positive first impression.
But as the aeroplane prepared for landing, a horrifying sight unfolded beneath them—endless plastic waste swirling in the ocean like a toxic soup.
This unforgettable image became a defining moment for Brandon, solidifying his resolve to fight against plastic pollution.
From property to passion
Brandon’s story begins in the corporate corridors of EcoWorld, where he spent five years working in property sales, events management, and leasing.
His role on the Green Council at EcoWorld was pivotal, aligning company policies with sustainability goals. This position allowed Brandon to meet numerous business owners and learn the intricacies of starting and running a business.
“Meeting bosses from Jaya Grocer, Tealive, and many others was incredibly inspiring. Seeing how they built their businesses from the ground up made me want to start my own,” Brandon recalled.
This inspiration, combined with his growing interest in sustainability, laid the groundwork for Natureloop.
After years spent in property sales and event management, Brandon honed his business acumen while nurturing a secret passion: upcycling plastic into beautiful products.
“I stumbled upon DIY recycling videos on YouTube and started upcycling household plastic waste into beautiful products. It was a hobby that stuck with me,” shared Brandon.
This experience reinforced his commitment to adopting a zero-waste lifestyle and eventually led to the birth of Natureloop.
Closing the loop on waste
Natureloop began with a simple yet ambitious idea: to create beautiful, functional products from recycled plastic.
Brandon started small, upcycling plastic waste into items like coasters, keychains, and phone holders.
The initial response was promising, and he soon expanded his range to include more complex products like medals and trophies.
“Our NATUREWIN medals are a great example of what we do. They’re made from 100% recycled plastic, and we accept orders as low as one unit,” said the founder.
Natureloop’s medals and trophies are not only eco-friendly but also highly customisable, thanks to UV printing technology.
This innovative approach has attracted major corporations like Petronas, Shell, BMW, and Sunway Group. These companies have partnered with Natureloop, impressed by their unique offerings and commitment to sustainability.
“We have a lot of business-to-business clients. Most of our clients actually come to us when they see some of our videos online. So, I think it’s mainly because of our marketing on Instagram and the expertise we have that’s helped to secure these clients.”
“We also take orders as small as one and as large as our current biggest order of 20,000 customised medals with a never-before-seen standing medal and magnet function,” he shared.
A path with ups and downs
There are only a few similar businesses, such as Precious Plastic Malaysia and Zero Waste Earth Store. Therefore, starting a business in a niche market like recycled plastic products comes with its challenges.
“The Malaysian market is still accustomed to traditional materials like metal for medals and trophies. They always need the weight in the medal to feel premium because if it’s made with recycled plastic it feels cheap to them.”
“Convincing them of the quality and value of recycled plastic products is an ongoing challenge,” Brandon noted.
However, he sees this as an opportunity to educate and change perceptions.
To address these challenges, Natureloop focuses on the unique selling points of their products.
“A traditional metal medal has a high carbon footprint due to the electroplating process and the distance it travels from China.”
“Our recycled plastic medals, on the other hand, have a much lower carbon footprint,” Brandon explained.
This eco-friendly aspect, combined with the aesthetic appeal and functionality of Natureloop’s products, sets them apart in the market.
Expanding horizons
Natureloop’s journey began with a six-figure investment to build machines that breathe life into recycled plastic, manage day-to-day operations, and create the moulds for their diverse product line.
Although it is still in its early stages, the company has already made significant strides.
“We’ve been fortunate to secure bulk orders from event companies, which has helped us grow,” he said.
The company is now looking to expand its product range and move into a larger facility to accommodate growing demand.
They are also in the midst of securing an MOU with a large corporation to transform their plastic waste into furniture and other products.
“We want to show how versatile recycled plastic can be. It’s not just about making small items; we can create larger, functional pieces that are both beautiful and sustainable,” Brandon shared.
That’s why a crucial part of Natureloop’s mission is education. Brandon is passionate about teaching others about the importance of recycling and how to do it properly.
“Many people don’t know that different types of plastic need to be sorted and cleaned before recycling. We want to change that,” he said.
Natureloop also offers workshops for their clients where people can learn about recycling and even create their own upcycled products.
To keep crafting recycled plastics
Natureloop’s vision is to close the loop on waste, not just with plastic but with other materials like cloth, glass, and organic composites.
“We want to save our planet from pollution by transforming waste into valuable products,” Brandon stated.
The company aims to be a pioneer in sustainable manufacturing in Malaysia and beyond.
As Natureloop continues to grow, Brandon remains committed to his zero-waste lifestyle and to inspiring others to join him in making a positive impact on the environment.
“It’s not always easy, but the rewards are worth it. Seeing the transformation of waste into something beautiful and useful is incredibly fulfilling,” he shared.
Naturelooop is not just creating sustainable products—they’re changing mindsets and paving the way for a more responsible way of living.
- You can learn more about Natureloop here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Natureloop
