Plastic Bank is a social enterprise that transforms plastic waste into a force for good. By empowering vulnerable coastal communities to collect and exchange plastic for money and life-changing benefits, it tackles two global crises at once: ocean plastic pollution and poverty.

Collected plastic becomes Social Plastic®, a traceable, recycled material used by global brands—creating a cleaner planet and stronger communities through a circular economy.

How It Works

Plastic Bank partners with coastal areas affected by pollution and poverty.

Locals gather plastic from beaches, streets, and waterways.

Plastic is traded at collection branches for digital credits—redeemable for food, water, school fees, health services, or cash.

All transactions are stored in blockchain-secured wallets, enabling financial inclusion.

Collected material is processed into high-quality, traceable recycled plastic.

Companies purchase Social Plastic® to reduce virgin plastic use and support impact-driven sourcing.

Blockchain for Transparency

• Each kg of plastic is digitally tagged and logged on a blockchain ledger.

• Smart contracts automate rewards only after verified collection.

• End-to-end traceability ensures no fraud or double-counting.

• Third-party audits verify all data, and partners can view live impact through digital dashboards.

• Reduce ocean plastic pollution by stopping plastic waste before it reaches the ocean.

• Empower impoverished communities by turning plastic waste into a source of income and social benefits.

• Create a circular economy through the production and sale of traceable, recycled “Social Plastic®” for use in consumer products.

• Provide financial inclusion with a blockchain-secured digital wallet, helping collectors save, access benefits, and build stability.

• Incentivize ethical plastic collection by making plastic too valuable to discard.

• Support global brands in meeting their sustainability and plastic reduction goals.

• Promote environmental education and responsible consumption through membership and impact programs.

Plastic Bank's journey is more than data—it’s about real people rebuilding lives, communities becoming resilient, and global systems shifting toward sustainability. 

Major Impact Milestones

• 43.5 million kg plastic collected in 2024 across six countries—equivalent to removing the pollution potential of 2.17 billion bottles 

• Over 8 billion bottles (163 million kg) accumulated since inception, by nearly 59,000 collection members in 427 communities 

• In 2021, Plastic Bank prevented 1 billion bottles (20 million kg) from ocean-bound waste 

• Partnering with SC Johnson, collecting over 40 million kg (~2 billion bottles), equipping 379 collection centers and over 19,000 workers 

Personal & Community Stories

• Elizabeth in the Philippines used her earnings to educate her grandchildren, showcasing how plastic collection creates opportunity 

• Romany in Egypt collected more than 16,000 kg of plastic waste, securing both his family’s living and his brother’s education 

• Haris in Bali rebuilt his life after a house fire; collecting and trading plastic sustains his family and fuels his passion for ocean preservation

Innovation & Partnerships

• Fully traceable, blockchain-secured digital platform, enabling real-time, audit-ready reporting and transparency 

• 500+ brand partnerships (e.g., Henkel, Reckitt, P&G) integrating Social Plastic® into packaging 

• Social EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) program removed 16.2 million kg of plastic waste in 2024—a 146% increase from 2023

How Individuals Can Help

• Join as a member to fund plastic collection and receive impact updates.

• Offset your plastic footprint by sponsoring the removal of ocean-bound plastic.

• Share and advocate for Plastic Bank’s mission in your community and online.

How Businesses Can Help

• Purchase Social Plastic® to integrate ethical recycled plastic into products.

• Sponsor plastic collection to meet sustainability or ESG goals.

• Host “plastic positive” events or include impact in CSR and marketing campaigns.