Plastic Bank - Manila, Philippines

How the project works

The Philippines sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle - the most biodiverse marine environment on earth, supporting over 600 species of coral and 2,000 species of fish. This extraordinary marine wealth is under severe threat from plastic pollution that chokes reefs, entangles sea turtles, and poisons fish populations. Plastic Bank has operated in the Philippines since 2016, building a network of nearly 700 collection communities that intercept ocean-bound plastic from coastal neighborhoods.

In partnership with Sodexo, the program prioritizes vulnerable communities, with a particular focus on empowering women and single parents who make up the majority of collectors. Through digital payments and access to social benefits including Red Cross insurance and grocery vouchers, collectors gain both immediate income security and long-term financial stability - breaking cycles of poverty that often drive desperate environmental exploitation.

The plastic recovered by collectors is verified, tracked, and processed into Social Plastic® for use by global brands committed to reducing virgin plastic use. Each kilogram collected represents a kilogram that will never wash into the Coral Triangle, preserving the marine ecosystems that millions of Filipinos depend on for food, income, and cultural identity.