Plastics For Change

Plastics For Change provides a platform that creates transparency and accountability from the base of the supply chain all the way to the manufacturer Read more, resulting in more efficient value-chains, better quality assurance, and higher-quality plastic. Thus, it allows urban waste pickers to receive fair and consistent payments, prevents exploitation, and reduces volatility of their income. By creating markets for plastic waste, it also creates sustainable livelihoods for the people collecting discarded plastic. On the other side, industry stakeholders get a consistent supply of material at competitive prices, with assured quality. In addition, the initiative provides a solution to plastic pollution. The platform works to manage waste while creating sustainable livelihoods for urban poor by providing urban waste pickers with access to fair market prices. It does this through three main ways. Firstly, unlike in the traditional recycling supply chain, middlemen earn a commission based upon the price that the waste pickers receive, so that they have an incentive to help the waste pickers earn the best price. In addition, in general middlemen do not pay waste pickers until buyers finalize the deal. However, this platform enables the availability of working capital finance, ensuring all members of the supply chain are paid at the point of exchange. Finally, the platform facilitates long-term relationships between waste pickers and buyers, thus guaranteeing a fair rate and reducing price volatility of plastic, which can often go up to 40-50% change in price. Plastics For Change has developed several types of plastic in India, including food grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate), 100% recycled HDPE (high-density polyethylene) bottles, Reach (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) and Rohs (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) - two types of regulations placed by EU on products traded within the EU - compliant ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polyester filament, and other types of recycled plastic. The organization also consults companies in replacing virgin plastic with ethically sourced recycled plastic, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change. The aim of this initiative is to transition the industry towards a circular economy. Awards: UN SEED Awards Build On India Stake Finalist Impact 8 -- Top 8 Social Enterprise Recycling Council Of British Columbia Innovation Award UBC Green Innovation Award BCBDA Terry Bigard Sustainability Award