Partners work to stop ocean plastic
SC Johnson has partnered with Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that works to stop ocean plastic, to open a new Rocinha Recicla collection center in Rio de Janiero.
SC Johnson said it also launched a program of recycling 100% of ocean-bound plastic bottles in its Windex facility in North America and Mr. Muscle in U.K. and Ireland.
“Our partnership with Plastic Bank is one of the many steps SC Johnson is taking to reduce waste, increase the use of recycled plastic in our products and support underserved communities,” said Alan VanderMolen, senior vice president, and chief communications officer at SC Johnson.
In Brazil the partnership collected and kept 138 million plastic bottles out of the ocean. Globally, SC Johnson and partners have stopped more than one billion plastic bottles from polluting ocean ecosystems worldwide, the firm said.
“Plastic waste is a threat to our planet for this and future generations – and at SC Johnson – we believe we all have a responsibility to solve this critical environmental issue,” said VanderMolen.
Plastic Bank empowers Ocean Stewards to save the ocean and has been operating in Brazil since 2019 and has collected more than 137 million plastic bottles, involving more than 4,000 collection community members.
For years, plastic waste has been polluting streams and beaches in the South Zone of Rio, especially in São Conrado, said the company.
The opening of the collection center in Rocinha represents a milestone in the goal of stopping ocean plastic and supporting collection communities in Brazil. With the help of community members, the center aims to prevent 30 tons of plastic from reaching the ocean every month.
For Plastic Bank Brazil's Country Manager, Helena Pavese, the opportunity to start working in Rocinha is remarkable, considering the symbolism associated with plastic pollution in the region.
“Images of the ‘plastic wave’ arriving at Praia de São Conrado after storms in Rio de Janeiro are common and, year after year, reinforce the issue of incorrect disposal of waste in Rocinha. This makes our work in this location essential. Thanks to the partnership with SC Johnson, recycling in the community will generate a positive environmental impact and increase collectors' income,” said Pavese.
Plastic Bank empowers Ocean Stewards to stop ocean plastic. Learn more at www.plasticbank.com
Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, SC Johnson believes that “a more sustainable, healthier and transparent world that inspires people and creates opportunities isn’t just possible – it’s our responsibility.”