This data is live from Alchemy

Our proprietary blockchain-secured platform

Data last verified: Thursday, 04/18/2024

Ocean-bound plastic

Plastic Bank operates under the global standard defined by Jenna Jambeck. Ocean-bound plastic is defined as plastic that has not yet found its way into the ocean but is classified as "mismanaged waste". That is, plastic that is not being (formally) collected, is not likely to be collected, and is found within 50km of an ocean-bound waterway or coastal area.

Community Members

Individuals within a recycling community who collect plastic and exchange it at a Plastic Bank collection branch for secure income and life-improving benefits.

Equivalent Bottles Stopped

The amount of ocean-bound plastic collected and recycled in our recycling communities converted into bottles. Conversion rate is 50 bottles per kg (the average weight of a 500mL bottle is ~20g)

Recycling Communities

Community of plastic collectors living within 50 kilometres of ocean-bound waterways involved in plastic collection and its exchange at Plastic Bank collection points.

Alchemy

Alchemy is the blockchain platform that powers the Plastic Bank app. It enables fully traceable recycling processes, secures income for recycling community members and tailors impact reports for our stewards.

2021 New Plastics Economy Global Commitment progress report

Minutes to read: Less than 2 minutes

Plastic Bank empowers the regenerative society. We build ethical recycling ecosystems in coastal communities and reprocess the materials for reintroduction into the global supply chain. Our goal by 2025 is to collect and recycle 3 billion bottles of ocean-bound plastic.

To achieve our ambitious goal, we need to gather together and collaborate with other companies and organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. We’re proud to be a signatory to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment since 2018. The commitment calls on companies and governments to eliminate the plastic we don’t need to innovate. All plastic we do need is 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable and circulates all the plastic we use.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation leads the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme. It unites more than 500 signatories behind a shared vision to ensure the circularity of plastic.

We accomplished significant results toward our 2025 goal. Throughout 2020, we have prevented 10.2 million kilograms of plastic from entering the ocean — the equivalent of 510 million plastic bottles — and offered additional income and life-improving benefits to over 23,000 collection members across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

At the beginning of 2021, we reached the milestone of collecting 1 billion plastic bottles, and we are on track to collect and recycle the next billion before the end of the year. Moreover, we are set to open new recycling ecosystems in Africa and Southeast Asia.

Join our movement to stop ocean plastic​ at plasticbank.com.