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We all want to live in a better world—but what does it take to make real change? One powerful answer is social impact. When you hear this phrase, it may sound big or complex. But it’s not. It’s about making a difference—through your choices, your voice, and your actions.
So, what is social impact? And more importantly, how can you be part of it?
Let’s break it down.
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Social impact means creating positive change in society. That can mean helping people, improving their environment, or making systems fairer and more inclusive. The goal is to improve life for people over the long term, especially those often left out.1
To define social impact simply: it’s the result of actions that help solve big problems. These actions might be small—like choosing reusable items—or large, like changing how a business works.
What matters is the outcome. Are people’s lives better? Is the planet healthier? Is a community stronger?
If the answer is yes, that’s social impact.
We live in a world facing urgent issues: climate change, ocean and land pollution, inequality, and lack of access to basic needs. The good news? Each of us can help change that.
When governments, businesses, and people like you work together, our actions add up. That’s how movements grow and problems shrink.
Here’s why social impact matters:
Sometimes, the best way to understand something is to see it in action. Here are a few examples of social impact in real life:
These are just a few ways people and companies are choosing to make a difference.
You don’t have to start a company or lead a campaign. Small, everyday choices matter too. Here are simple ways you can create social impact:
1. Support brands that give back
Look for companies that care for collective prosperity, more than just profit.
2. Use your skills for good
Volunteer, mentor, or offer your services to causes you care about. If you’re a designer, help a non-profit with branding. If you’re good with numbers, offer budgeting help to a community group.
3. Speak up
Use your voice. Whether it’s voting, writing to leaders, or sharing posts online—raising awareness helps build momentum for change.
4. Learn and share
Read about social and environmental issues. Then, talk about them with friends and family. Change often starts with a conversation.
How do we know if something is really making a difference? By looking at the outcomes.
For example, Plastic Bank tracks how much plastic has been stopped from polluting the environment—and how many families have been supported in the process.5
These numbers matter. They show what’s working and how we can do more.
Let’s go back to the question: What is social impact?
It’s the difference you make—whether it’s big or small.
Your impact counts. When you act, others follow. And that’s how real change begins.Ready to get started? Explore how you can join Plastic Bank’s mission to stop plastic from polluting the environment and help people thrive. Be part of the solution today.
Poverty and Social ImpactPhoto by Jordan Opel on Unsplash. The global plastic pollution crisis has evolved from a social sustainability issue to a serious environmental problem in recent years. It is estimated that 75 to 199 billion kilograms of plastic waste is found in our ocean1, and it continues to increase at an alarming rate. The plastic problem […]
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