● March 2026 · Newsletter
You can’t recycle everything, but you can choose better.
On March 18, we marked Global Recycling Day. But let’s be honest: recycling alone doesn’t solve for waste creation. There is no “away.” Every item we toss still exists somewhere. Recycling is the last step. The real first step? Buy less. Stop feeding the Buy-More Culture.
Before you chase the next trend, pause and ask: where else could that money go? What if you could create real prosperity, for both people and the planet? Every choice we make either adds to the problem or becomes part of the solution.
Join #Us in empowering collector communities on the frontlines of plastic pollution. Because real change doesn’t start in the bin, it starts with what we choose to buy, support, and stand for.
Create prosperity for people and the planet
Our collective impact
62,943 collectors*
exchange plastic for prosperity.
Each bottle provides our collectors with secure income and helps build a brighter future for their families.
188,239,584 kg*
of plastic recovered.
The world’s largest volume of hand-gathered plastic, equal to the weight of 470 jumbo jets. **
*All-time data, as of March 24, 2025 **A fully loaded Boeing 747 weighs about 400,000 kg.
Community highlight
Empowering schools, transforming communities
Our School Program is expanding in the Philippines. Recently, our team brought together nearly 50 representatives from the Valenzuela Schools Division. These schools will be equipped as collection points where the school community can drop off recyclable plastic and learn about proper waste management. They will also become part of the wider Plastic Bank ecosystem.
Schools play a vital role in educating the next generation about protecting the environment, together with providing accessible recycling solutions that empower local communities to create and share prosperity.
Support more schools with a recycling program
From waste to worth: Impact in Egypt
Our partner GIZ recently visited our communities in Manshiet Naser as well as our processing partner in Egypt. Together, we witnessed firsthand how this partnership is creating real impact in areas of high pollution and poverty. By strengthening recycling systems, we empower local communities with better, more stable livelihoods.
From collection to processing, this is what meaningful collaboration looks like: protecting the environment while creating opportunities for people to prosper. The project is funded by the develoPPP Programme and supported by the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Blog
5 questions every mindful shopper should ask before buying
In a world where buying something new is just a click away, many purchases happen without intentionality, leading to overflowing closets, short-lived products, and a growing environmental footprint. That’s why having a mindful shopping checklist matters more than ever.
Mindful consumption isn’t about guilt, it’s about awareness. Every product uses resources, energy, and materials. With global waste projected to rise from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, intentional shopping helps us pause, think critically, and choose what truly matters.
Partner Feature
Green Chef has redefined sustainable meal kits
As the first CCOF‑certified organic meal kit company, Green Chef has long believed that food should nourish people and the planet. From organic farming practices that protect soil health and pollinators, to responsibly sourced proteins and thoughtfully designed recipes, sustainability is embedded across every stage of Green Chef’s business.
Green Chef partnered with Plastic Bank to take immediate, measurable action on plastic waste while continuing to innovate toward long‑term packaging solutions. Our kilogram-for-kilogram offset model stood out for its ability to deliver real‑world impact at scale by supporting collector communities with income and social benefits in exchange for plastic gathered from the environment.
#OurPartners
Good news from social media
Kadek Sarwa and his family live on just €150 a month, like many collectors across Indonesia.
We wanted to surprise them with some gifts, but we did it a little differently… We turned grocery shopping into a fun challenge!
Recycling isn’t just about plastic - it’s about people. This Global Recycling Day, we honour collectors like Basuni in Bali, Indonesia. Every day, his work keeps plastic out of the environment, while helping him provide for his family. And he’s one of many who contribute to the circular economy.
Follow our social media channels for your daily good news, inspiring stories, and the latest updates from Plastic Bank communities. Check out our top-performing content from March below.