Plastic is ubiquitous in our oceans. In fact, as we continue to create plastic waste, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. But it doesn’t have to be this way - we can all help to prevent more plastic from entering our oceans.
Plastic Bank’s collection communities have collected over 127 million kilograms of ocean-bound plastic since the social enterprise was founded in 2013 - the equivalent of more than 6.3 billion bottles exchanged by collection members for bonuses and social benefits, helping provide a path out of poverty. “Plastic pollution is a symptom of human poverty,” explained Taylor Leigh Cannizzaro, Chief Relationship Officer at Plastic Bank. “We’ve created a marketplace where collection members can exchange their collected plastic for secure income and social benefits, like health insurance, meal vouchers, and school supplies."
The organization’s plastic collection efforts is funded by corporate partners and individuals who offset their plastic footprint, creating a win-win for Plastic Bank’s partners and the communities in which it works. The collected plastic is processed and recycled into Social Plastic®™ feedstock, which is sold for use by manufacturers.
In addition to helping businesses reduce their plastic footprint, Plastic Bank also helps them comply with new legislation the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging. Already rolled out in the Philippines and soon to include Thailand and Europe, EPR requires a traceable, auditable supply chain for the plastic that packaging producers place on the market, which Plastic Bank offers as part of its services.
The organization has worked with Salesforce since day one to support its mission. Today, Plastic Bank uses Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud across many facets of its business to improve efficiency, increase visibility, and strengthen partner relationships.
