Where we operate
At Plastic Bank, we’re revealing value in plastic and using it as a global resource to end poverty. This can only begin at the root of the cause, in communities at the intersection of plastic pollution and poverty.
What has plastic pollution got to do with poverty?
What has plastic pollution got to do with poverty?
What has plastic pollution got to do with poverty?
When making purchases, most low-income communities across the globe rely on economical options often packed in single-use plastic, such as water bottles, sachets, and more. This leads to the overconsumption of cheap disposable goods, which contributes to the global plastic pollution affecting us all.
Developing countries often lack plastic recycling programs and infrastructure, and have inadequate waste management systems. This creates a huge amount of single-use plastic left in the environment, eventually finding its way to our oceans.
The only way to break this unfavorable cycle is to provide low-income communities with access to waste management infrastructure and education to make more informed decisions about plastic consumption, while simultaneously empowering them with additional income and social benefits to pave a path out of poverty.
Which countries generate the most plastic waste?
Which countries generate the most plastic waste?
Which countries generate the most plastic waste?
US ranks first in the top 10 countries that generate the most plastic waste – producing 34 billion kilograms annually. India comes at second place with 26.3 billion kilograms of plastic waste, followed by China (21.6 billion kilograms), Brazil (10.6 billion kilograms), Indonesia (9.1 billion kilograms), Russia (8.4 billion kilograms), Germany (6.6 billion kilograms), the UK (6.4 billion kilograms), Mexico (5.9 billion kilograms) and Japan (4.8 billion kilograms).
Although the population of developed countries generate high amounts of plastic waste, they have better waste management infrastructure and plastic recycling facilities in their communities. Thus, developing countries tend to produce a higher amount of mismanaged plastic waste that leaks into the ocean.
Source: Lourens J. J. Meijer, et al, 2021, “More than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean” Science Advances, https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aaz5803
Which countries are most responsible for ocean plastic pollution?
Which countries are most responsible for ocean plastic pollution?
Which countries are most responsible for ocean plastic pollution?
Countries with smaller land areas, lengthier coastlines, increased rainfall, and inadequate waste management infrastructures are more prone to having plastic waste end up in the ocean. More than 1,000 rivers account for 80% of global annual emissions, which range between 0.8 billion and 2.7 billion kilograms per year, with small urban rivers among the most polluting.
The Philippines is the leading country on the list of top 10 ocean plastic contributors – generating an estimated 356.371 million kilograms of plastic waste in our ocean. This is followed by India (126.513 million kilograms), Malaysia (73.098 million kilograms), China (70.707 million kg), Indonesia (56.333 million kilograms), Myanmar (40.000 million kilograms), Brazil (37.799 million kilograms), Vietnam (28.221 million kg), Bangladesh (24.640 million kilograms), and Thailand (22.806 million kilograms). The primary contributors to ocean plastic pollution are concentrated in developing Asian nations, with the exception of Brazil.
Source: “Plastic Pollution by Country 2023”, World Population Review, https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/plastic-pollution-by-country
How does Plastic Bank decide which country to operate in?
How does Plastic Bank decide which country to operate in?
How does Plastic Bank decide which country to operate in?
Prior to expanding to a new country or community, we evaluate a range of factors:
- The volume of plastic leaking into the ocean
- Poverty level
- Population density
- Level of collection infrastructure already in place
- Access to local processors, their capabilities, and capacity
- Logistical infrastructure
- Presence of coastal communities looking for additional income
Based on the outcome from these findings, we consider countries and communities for our short, mid and long-term expansion roadmap.
How do you incentivise communities to gather plastic?
How do you incentivise communities to gather plastic?
How do you incentivise communities to gather plastic?
When we enter a community, we engage with collection members, households, small business owners, cooperatives, community centres, and schools to drive awareness, engagement and behavioural changes.
Through broad engagement, we discover the most desired unmet social needs of the communities. This helps us to localize our collection model and tailor our social programs to have maximum impact.
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in the Philippines?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in the Philippines?
2016
Philippines launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery vouchers: Addressing poverty and hunger, this program offers monthly grocery e-vouchers via SMS for a year. It helps families buy necessities and essential groceries like rice, cooking oil, noodles, and canned goods at stores like Walmart, Robinsons, SM, and Shopwise, in partnership with Sodexo.
Life and accident insurance: Partnering with the Red Cross, we offer accident and life insurance to collection members. This covers costs like emergency medical bills, daily hospital allowance, and compensation for accidental death or serious injuries. Collection members are also given trainings to use the insurance effectively.
2016
Philippines launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery vouchers: Addressing poverty and hunger, this program offers monthly grocery e-vouchers via SMS for a year. It helps families buy necessities and essential groceries like rice, cooking oil, noodles, and canned goods at stores like Walmart, Robinsons, SM, and Shopwise, in partnership with Sodexo.
Life and accident insurance: Partnering with the Red Cross, we offer accident and life insurance to collection members. This covers costs like emergency medical bills, daily hospital allowance, and compensation for accidental death or serious injuries. Collection members are also given trainings to use the insurance effectively.
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Indonesia?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Indonesia?
2018
Indonesia launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery vouchers: To address high poverty and undernourishment rates, we provide monthly grocery vouchers for a year for our members. Members can buy essential items like rice and cooking oil through a partnership with Alfamart.
Health insurance: Collaborating with BPJS Kesehatan, Plastic Bank offers a comprehensive health insurance plan, covering everything from primary care to hospital visits. Collection members are also given trainings to use the insurance effectively.
Life and accident insurance: In partnership with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, we provide members with work, accident, and life insurance. This ensures coverage for workplace incidents and family protection in cases of death or disability.
2018
Indonesia launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery vouchers: To address high poverty and undernourishment rates, we provide monthly grocery vouchers for a year for our members. Members can buy essential items like rice and cooking oil through a partnership with Alfamart.
Health insurance: Collaborating with BPJS Kesehatan, Plastic Bank offers a comprehensive health insurance plan, covering everything from primary care to hospital visits. Collection members are also given trainings to use the insurance effectively.
Life and accident insurance: In partnership with BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, we provide members with work, accident, and life insurance. This ensures coverage for workplace incidents and family protection in cases of death or disability.
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Brazil?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Brazil?
2019
Brazil launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery Baskets in Brazil: This program delivers monthly grocery baskets containing staples such as rice, flour, cornmeal, and fresh local produce to families in need, ensuring consistent access to essential food items.
2019
Brazil launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Grocery Baskets in Brazil: This program delivers monthly grocery baskets containing staples such as rice, flour, cornmeal, and fresh local produce to families in need, ensuring consistent access to essential food items.
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Egypt?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Egypt?
2020
Egypt launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Healthcare Benefits: Through a partnership with Smart Company, we offer a Sehaty discount card to collection members and their families. They receive up to 40% discount on a wide range of health services, including medicine and clinic visits.
2020
Egypt launch
SOCIAL BENEFITS
Healthcare Benefits: Through a partnership with Smart Company, we offer a Sehaty discount card to collection members and their families. They receive up to 40% discount on a wide range of health services, including medicine and clinic visits.
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Thailand?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Thailand?
2023
Thailand launch
2023
Thailand launch
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Cameroon?
What is Plastic Bank’s impact in Cameroon?
2023
Cameroon launch
2023
Cameroon launch
53,076 members
6,948,373,750 bottles
138,967,475 kg
53,076 members
6,948,373,750 bottles
138,967,475 kg
53,076 members
6,948,373,750 bottles
138,967,475 kg
53,076 members
6,948,373,750 bottles
138,967,475 kg
53,076 members
6,948,373,750 bottles
138,967,475 kg
22,366 members
1,490,296,050 bottles
29,805,921 kg
23,080 members
3,561,873,500 bottles
71,237,470 kg
4,327 members
332,679,250 bottles
6,653,585 kg
2,355 members
921,888,650 bottles
18,437,773 kg
289 members
381,114,350 bottles
7,622,287 kg
134 members
40,453,650 bottles
809,073 kg
What UN SDG goals does Plastic Bank support?
Plastic Bank advances the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Our collection communities earn additional income from exchanging plastic as money, and receive social benefits, including health, work and life insurance, digital connectivity, grocery vouchers, school supplies, fintech services, and more.
Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
We have provided opportunities to 53,076 collection members in vulnerable coastal areas around the world. We adhere to a strict Code of Conduct, promoting a safe and inclusive work environment that upholds labour and human rights.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
We help stop plastic pollution through the collection and recycling of discarded plastic. The collected plastic is processed into Social Plastic® feedstock which is integrated into new products and packaging, reducing the demand for virgin plastic.
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development
Stopping plastic from within 50km of an ocean-bound waterway or coastline reduces its likelihood from flowing into the ocean. This in turn helps to protect marine life, microorganisms, and endangered species from plastic pollution.
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
By partnering with like-minded organizations to end poverty, stop plastic pollution, and substitute the use of virgin plastic, we empower them to work towards the Sustainable Development Goals that align with the purpose and mission of their businesses.
Our community
members
We are able to buy our family necessities like food and other essentials through the bonus we receive. It has also helped us cover the maintenance of our small boat, buy fishing nets, and afford a small renovation on our home. We’ve even been able to save some of our earnings. In case we are in a difficult situation again, we have savings to grab from.
Danny
a member in Baseco, Philippines
The benefits we receive through plastic exchange are used to provide for our daily needs. The most important thing we receive is BPJS Health Insurance for my husband’s treatment.
Asis & Atmawati
members in Bali, Indonesia
The bonus I receive with the exchange really helps me to support my family and afford the things we need. One of those things is the medicine for my son that I buy every month.
Carla Maria
a member in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Even though I didn’t get a chance to continue my own education, I’ve made sure my kids get a proper education. My dream is to see my kids graduate and be able to help my oldest daughter get married. Plastic Bank is helping me with my dream.
Bashay Shawky
a member in Cairo, Egypt