No PovertyPlastic collectors receive a fair and stable income for the plastic they collect. Plastic Bank pays additional incentives to further improve quality of life and access to life necessities.
Zero HungerPlastic Bank branches offer fresh food in exchange for collected plastic. Most of this food is locally sourced and carries high nutritional value.
Good Health and Well-BeingDepending on location, plastic collectors can redeem plastic for first aid kits, health insurance, or other needs. Removing plastic from water supplies helps to create cleaner living environments.
Quality EducationIn Haiti, plastic collectors can use plastic to pay for their child’s school tuition. A zero-tolerance policy on child labour is supported by Plastic Bank's commitment to keep children in school.
Clean Water and SanitationCollectors can exchange plastic for clean drinking water. Corporate partners help to provide soap, shampoo and other sanitation products to the member communities. The removal of plastic from waterways reduces the toxicity of local water supplies.
Affordable and Clean EnergyMembers can exchange plastic for portable solar-powered lamps, which also serve as a powerbank that can charge phones and other electronics.
Decent Work and Economic GrowthPlastic Bank has created jobs for collectors in the world's poorest countries, enforcing strict policies to uphold labour and human rights. It seeks local partners to transport, process, and ship Social Plastic to inject maximum value into the local economy.
Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureIn regions with a lack of waste management infrastructure, Plastic Bank connects shippers, plastics processors, freighters and builds a recycling circular economy.
Reduced InequalitiesAny adult in need can participate in the program. They can open a secure digital banking account - often the first bank account in their lifetime - that is safe from corruption or theft. This financial inclusion is key to bridging the gap between the developed world and the underserved.
Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesSustainable, circular economies replace the linear, wasteful models currently in place in developing regions. Redefining the waste strategies of these communities is key to unlock other forms of sustainable development.
Responsible Consumption and ProductionSocial Plastic is incorporated into the supply chains of multinational companies to reduce the demand for virgin plastic and alleviate the environmental effects related to plastic production. Consumers can identify the Social Plastic logo on product packaging to help guide responsible consumption choices.
Climate ActionHealthy oceans are vital to stabilising the climate. Virgin plastic production and waste plastic incineration contribute greatly to greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing virgin material with Social Plastic and reducing the need for incineration through the circular economy model is pertinent to reversing these effects.
Life below WaterPlastic waste in the ocean is estimated to be directly responsible for over 1,000,000 seabird deaths and 100,000 marine animal deaths per year, usually by accidental ingestion or entrapment. Not included in these estimates are biodiversity losses caused by the destruction of habitats and breeding grounds. Microplastics, which have been detected as remotely as the Arctic Central Basin, are hotbeds for toxins in the ocean and quickly enter the aquatic food chain. Plastic Bank seeks to stop ocean plastic altogether to remedy this global issue.
Partnerships for the GoalsPlastic Bank has been recognized at the United Nations Climate Change Conference as a leader in upholding the Sustainable Development Goals and helping other organizations meet their SDG-based goals.
