Meet Plastic Bank. It’s their mission to stop ocean plastic by gathering a billion people together to monetize waste, while improving lives. Featured in the award-winning documentary A Plastic Ocean, Plastic Bank is a multi-award
winning environmental solution to the flow of plastic into our oceans.

Ocean Plastic and poverty are global problems that need global solutions. A  study by Tearfund , explored the connections of poverty and plastic pollution, stating that poor people are the ones affected most by plastic pollution and ocean plastic. Mismanaged plastic in shanty towns and waterways causes floods in rainy season and provide breeding places for pests and cause a high level of airborne diseases.

As the global plastic waste crisis is also impacting biodiversity and affecting all of life on this planet, it was big on the agenda of this year’s United Nations General Assembly in Nairobi this March.

In many parts of the world, plastic prices are too low to motivate people to collect it. As a result, plastic ends up in the ocean. By providing infrastructure and paying a Plastic Bank Membership Bonus on collected plastic, Plastic Bank incentivises plastic collection and creates a meaningful and dignified stable source of income for members and their families.

This is made possible by Plastic Neutral Pledges. When the value of plastic is increased, it becomes too valuable to let leak into the ocean. Collectors (members) can earn decent wages and provide opportunities for clean water, food, healthcare and school tuition.

Consumer goods companies are calling for stronger coordination around how global plastic elimination targets can be delivered with many governments pledging to become plastic-free by 2025.

What can we do?

Businesses can get the ball rolling by utilising programs offered by businesses such as Plastic Bank. Their formal programs allow organisations to help stop ocean plastic and reduce poverty by helping their staff go Plastic Neutral for as little as $44 per employee per year with Plastic Bank.

The more premiums that come from corporate purchases of Social Plastic and Social Plastic Collection Credit with Plastic Bank, the faster new regions can become eligible to receive the rewards. A contribution can mean a life changing increase of 3-5 times more income for the collectors, which in-turn encourages more collection and prevents plastic going into the ocean.

Every business can do their part to stop ocean plastic whether it is by recycling, asking employees to carry a reusable water bottle or by advocating for a change to business as usual.  A single supporter raising their voice and asking if there is a better way to do things within their organisation makes change.  

Aim to eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging through redesign, innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery models. Aim to use 100 per cent of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable.

Consumer goods giant, Unilever recently launched a locally-manufactured plant- based laundry detergent in a bottle made from 25 per cent recycled plastic, estimating that a year of average sales for the product would be equivalent to removing 7 million single-use plastic bags from the environment and are now planning to expand their use of recycled plastic to other brands. Although there isn’t a set target for how much recycled content there will need to be in packaging in the future, re-inventing your packaging to include recycled plastic is a smart move.

It’s time to turn plastic into gold, give back, globally and stay ahead of the game.

Check out the latest news from Plastic Bank here: https://plasticbank.com/