![\"Technology](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plastic-bank-Blockchain-PB-1.jpg\")
The business model is simple: a company, usually a plastic producer or one that uses plastic in its products, hires Plastic Bank to reduce its \u201cplastic footprint.\u201d Plastic Bank, in turn, assesses collection points and waste pickers, generally in the area surrounding the company that hired them, as well as the recycling processing industries. They also handle all compliance according to Canadian standards to ensure there is no child labor or conditions similar to slavery throughout the supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Participating](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/plastic-bank-Coleta-Plastic-Bank-1-1-1-1024x682.jpeg\")
Next, she registers the waste pickers\u2014through associations, cooperatives, or independently\u2014the collection points, and coordinates the logistics to the processing locations. For each kilogram collected, the waste picker receives BRL 0.35 [USD 0.06] from Plastic Bank Brazil\u2014in addition to the amount they already receive from the collection point, which varies depending on the location and time of year. When the material reaches the final point, in the processing industries, it is transformed into \u201csocial plastic,\u201d which can be reused in new products and packaging, reinforcing a circular supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe name \u2018bank\u2019 Comes from the idea of turning plastic into money,\u201d says Ricardo Ara\u00fajo, the company’s operations director in Brazil. \u201cAnd the performance bonus creates social impact because the more they collect, the more they earn, and it also impacts nature because more plastic is removed from waste.\u201d According to Ara\u00fajo, the technology used allows tracking how many people are involved in the process, how much each person contributed, and what happened to the collected plastic, all in a transparent and accessible way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The name \u2018bank\u2019 comes from the idea of turning plastic into money<\/p>Ricardo Ara\u00fajo<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n From November 2020 to December 2024, the Canadian company has already paid BRL 2.5 million [USD 425,833] to Brazilian recyclers. By joining the program, recyclers increase their income by an average of 30%. The company currently operates in Rio de Janeiro, S\u00e3o Paulo, and Esp\u00edrito Santo. \u201cThis year is key for our company as we have projects that\u2019ll expand our operations to the South and North of the country,\u201d says the director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the company\u2019s clients in Brazil are Lord, Davines, Alcon, WeDo, and Reckitt. Globally, SC Johnson and Henkel are some of the main supporters of the program. It was at SC Johnson\u2019s request that Plastic Bank came to Brazil, as they wanted to make an impact on their Brazilian production arm. The operation sponsored by Lord, a Brazilian company producing flexible plastic films, alone removed 60 tonnes of plastic in 2024. For 2025, they have doubled their commitment: 120 tonnes will be collected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All recyclable plastic is used in the program, with each type requiring a different processing industry. It\u2019s up to Plastic Bank Brazil to find the right facilities for each kind of plastic. The payments to waste pickers also vary depending on the material. Currently, PET and PET bottles have the highest value, while plastic film has the lowest. \u201cBut like everything else, prices are seasonal,\u201d says Ara\u00fajo. \u201cWhen a certain type is in short supply, its recycling value increases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The blockchain used by Plastic Bank is private and comes from a partnership with IBM, featuring hybrid storage on cloud servers (IBM Cloud) and physical servers (IBM in London). The technology allows, through data registration in the app, to monitor the supply chain end-to-end in real-time. With this operation, companies participating in plastic offset programs or using Social Plastic have access to secure and transparent information about the origin and destination of the material. In addition to Brazil and Egypt, Plastic Bank also operates in Indonesia, the Philippines, Cameroon, and Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The company arrived in the Arab country in November 2020. In less than five years, they have already collected 20 million kilos of plastic from waste, with only 11 registered collection points\u2014in Brazil, there were 30 until the beginning of 2025. According to Ricardo Ara\u00fajo, Egypt has an advantage over Brazil in terms of geographic location. \u201cFrom where they are, they can send the collected plastic to be processed in European countries without spending too much money,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Report by D\u00e9bora Rubim, in collaboration with ANBA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Read more: Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\nTechnology<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Plastic Bank Egypt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
PLASTIC BANK NUMBERS<\/strong>
8 billion tons of plastic bottles removed from oceans
57,000 collectors supported in the countries where it operates
448 locations where it operates
7 million kilos collected in Brazil
20 million kilos collected in Egypt
Source: Plastic Bank Brazil
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
<\/em>Islamic finance and climate: A new agenda<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n