Become a Steward Learn More

This data is live from our blockchain-secured Alchemy Platform

Data last verified on Alchemy™: Saturday, 06/03/2023

Ocean-bound plastic

Ocean-bound plastic has not yet found its way into the ocean. This represents plastic that is found on the ground within 50 kilometers of a waterway or coastal area, and is otherwise unlikely to be collected.

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)

Community Members

Individuals within a recycling community who collect plastic and deliver it to a collection point in exchange for collection benefits.

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

Written by Morla Angelia on 20 July 2021

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.