Plastic Bank is a social fintech with a global bottle deposit program that helps end poverty and stops plastic pollution.

Plastic collectors exchange plastic for money, social benefits, and more. Plastic Bank uses a blockchain-based app to digitally trace plastic collection, distribute income to collectors, and verify reporting for business partners.

People and businesses can help fund plastic collection to reduce their environmental footprint and support communities through an Impact Membership. Collected bottles are returned as recycled feedstock to the circular economy. 

Plastic Bank is headquartered in Canada, with operations in the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and Cameroon.

How It Works

Plastic Bank works with communities in areas affected by pollution and poverty.

Plastic collectors gather plastic from streets, surrounding neighbourhoods, waterways and beaches.

Plastic is exchanged at collection branches for digital credits via the PlasticBank® app—providing secure income for the collectors. They also gain access to various social benefits such as food vouchers, health insurances, or school supplies.

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

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

Individual and businesses can help fund plastic collection and reduce their environmental footprint through an Impact Membership. Member businesses access tools to share impact, invite their customers to join, and grow. Companies can also 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 plastic pollution by stopping plastic waste before it ends up in landfills or pollutes the environment and oceans.

• 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 through Impact Membership.

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

• Over 8 billion bottles (163 million kg) accumulated since inception in 2013, by nearly 59,000 collection members in 427 communities 

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

• In 2021, Plastic Bank prevented 1 billion bottles (20 million kg) from polluting the environment 

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

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., CooperVision, Ocean Bottle, Reckitt, Davines) supporting plastic collection through Impact Program. 

• Through the Social Plastic® partnership, SC Johnson uses the materials in new products and packaging across North America and Europe. 

• 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 plastic bottles.

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

How Businesses Can Help

• Sponsor plastic collection through Impact Membership to meet sustainability or ESG goals.

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

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