Henkel is teaming up with the Plastic Bank, a social enterprise which aims to stop ocean plastic and provide opportunities for people in poverty. New plastic collection centers are now being built in Haiti, where communities will have the chance to earn money or services by removing plastic waste from the local environment – before it enters waterways or oceans. Henkel is the first major global fast-moving consumer goods company to partner with the Plastic Bank, and is researching ways of incorporating the plastic collected into its product packaging in the future.

"We are convinced that our focus on sustainability is more important than ever before,” says Kathrin Menges, Executive Vice President Human Resources at Henkel and Chair of Henkel’s Sustainability Council. “We’re excited to partner with the Plastic Bank to stop plastic waste from entering the ocean in Haiti and improve the lives of people living in poverty. By activating leading brands in this cooperation, we aim to further raise consumer awareness about plastic waste and demonstrate the strength of our commitment to environmental sustainability and social progress."

The plastic that is collected is sorted and processed, and then integrated into recycling value chains as Social Plastic®: Material that has been verified by the Plastic Bank to indicate that the collectors received an above-market price for the plastic waste. "We’re delighted to announce this partnership with Henkel and its leading consumer brands," says David Katz, Founder and CEO of the Plastic Bank. "Collaborating with a global leader in sustainability will empower us to reach even more people with our solution and have an even bigger impact on the environment. Together, we can stop ocean plastic by turning waste into currency [...] Together, we can create life-enhancing opportunities for people living in poverty, empowering individuals and communities by providing access to a reliable income."

HL/ HaitiLibre