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Rocinha empowered to stop 30 tons of plastic each month from entering the Ocean

Plastic Bank, in partnership with SC Johnson, inaugurated a new collection center in the Rocinha community. 

Rio de Janeiro, June 8, 2022- Plastic Bank, a social enterprise that works to stop ocean plastic, in partnership with SC Johnson, the maker of household brands such as OFF! ®, Glade®, Raid, Pato®, Lysoform® and Mr Músculo®, announced the opening of a new Rocinha Recicla Collection Center, located in the Rocinha Sports Complex, in the South Zone of Rio. 
 
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.
 
A large part of the operation is located in Rio de Janeiro, with points spread across the state. Collectors are registered in the PlasticBank® application and receive a bonus for each kilo collected, in addition to the market value, increasing their average monthly income by at least 40%.

The exchanges are registered through a blockchain-secured platform, which allows collection to be traceable, guarantees revenue and verifies reports. The collected material is reprocessed into raw material called Plástico Social® (Social Plastic) for reuse in products and packaging.

Worldwide, guardians of the ocean – members, partners, point owners, employees and consumers – have prevented more than 50 million kilograms of plastic from entering the ocean – more than more than 2.5 billion plastic bottles. Plastic Bank's global partnership with SC Johnson represents more than 1 billion bottles recalled.
 
For years, plastic waste has been polluting streams and beaches in the South Zone of Rio, especially in São Conrado. 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.
 
It is estimated that 60 new community members from Rocinha and surrounding areas will begin collecting plastic after registration on the PlasticBank® app. 
 
“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 Alan VanderMolen, Senior Vice President, and Chief Communications Officer at SC Johnson. “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. This new collection center in Rocinha will reduce plastic pollution and provide greater economic opportunities for the local community.” 

SC Johnson X Plastic Bank: Partnership Impact 

In Brazil

● More than 4,000 collection community members
● 6 collection centers in Rio de Janeiro
● 33 collection points in Rio de Janeiro
● Over 2,758,195 kilograms of plastic were collected in Brazil, equivalent to more than 137,909,750 plastic bottles.

Globally

● Created 360 collection centers across Indonesia, the Philippines and Brazil since 2018.
● Stopped more than 20 million kilograms of plastic, the equivalent of 1 billion plastic bottles, from polluting ocean ecosystems worldwide.
● Launched 100% recycled ocean-bound plastic bottles in two of SC Johnson’s home cleaning brands: Windex® in North America and Mr Muscle® in the U.K. and Ireland.
● Provided more than 22,000 people with additional income.

Plastic Bank, in partnership with SC Johnson, inaugurated a new collection center in the Rocinha community. 

About Plastic Bank

Plastic Bank empowers Ocean Stewards to stop ocean plastic. Our ethical collection communities exchange plastic for life-improving benefits. Exchanges are recorded through a blockchain-secured platform that enables traceable collection, secures income, and verifies reporting. The collected material is processed into Social Plastic feedstock for reuse in products and packaging.

PlasticBank®, Social Plastic® and Alchemy™ are trademarks of The Plastic Bank Recycling Corporation.

Learn more at www.plasticbank.com

 

About SC Johnson

Founded in 1886 and headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin USA, 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.

A heritage of innovation and bold, transparent decisions is why our high-quality products and iconic brands – including OFF!® Raid®, Glade®, Windex®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Ziploc®, Mrs. Meyers Clean Day®, method®, Autan®, Baygon®, Mr Muscle®, Duck®, Lysoform® and more – are in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide.

As a global, purpose-led company, we are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations. That means relentlessly bringing our expertise in science, innovation and partnerships to bear on some of the world's most pressing environmental and health issues like reducing plastic waste and eradicating malaria. Around the world, we use our resources to unlock greater economic and educational opportunities for people and communities where access may be limited, but curiosity and potential are limitless.

See how SC Johnson is a Family Company At Work For a Better World by visiting scjohnson.com or joining us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

 

Additional information

Rocinha produces 160 tons of solid waste per day

According to the 2020 Panorama of Solid Waste in Brazil, by the Brazilian Association of Public Cleaning and Special Waste Companies (Abrelpe), each inhabitant produces, on average, 1,038 kg of garbage daily. Also according to Abrelpe, about 16.8% of the total produced in the country corresponds to plastic waste.

Thus, it is estimated that, in Rocinha, which has around 160 thousand inhabitants, more than 166 tons of waste are produced every day. Part of the volume is collected by the Municipal Urban Cleaning Company (Comlurb). However, the rest of what is not collected enters streams that flow directly into the ocean.