Explain the work you do and what communities benefit?
Plastic Bank identifies vulnerable coastlines at the intersection of plastic pollution and poverty across the world that would benefit from plastic collection infrastructure. We then empower local entrepreneurs to establish collection branches in convenient locations and help gather collection communities together to collect discarded plastic from the environment. Collection community members exchange their collections at the branch for additional income and access to social benefits, helping them to pave a path out of poverty. Collection members and collection branches are registered through the PlasticBank® app that records every transaction, enables traceable collection, secures income, and verifies reporting.
What do you do with the plastic after it's collected?
The plastic collected through our collection communities is delivered to our processing partners for reprocessing into Social Plastic® feedstock and reintegrated into products and packaging by partner organizations and brands.
How much discarded plastic has Plastic Bank stopped from polluting the environment?
The most up-to-date figures can be found at plasticbank.com.
What happens to plastic after it is collected at a Plastic Bank collection branch?
After collection, the plastic is recycled and processed into a new raw recycled material called Social Plastic® feedstock, which manufacturers can purchase and integrate into new products and packaging. Plastic that does not get licensed as Social Plastic® feedstock is sold as commodity plastic to ensure ongoing recycling flows are maintained at all times. This completes the loop—creating a sustainable, circular economy for plastic. To learn more about how we empower a circular economy for plastic, see our About Page.
