Plastic Bank

Plastic Bank operates a social‑fintech platform that mobilises local collectors in low‑income countries to gather plastic waste in exchange for tokenised rewards and digital wallets. Collected plastic is converted into traceable recycled feedstock ('Social Plastic') for use in products.

Circularity Relevance

Core

The platform is explicitly designed to enable circular outcomes: incentivised collection, traceable material flows, and recycled feedstock ('Social Plastic'). Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Circular Role

DirectEnabler

Plastic Bank directly organises collectors, operates membership programs, and manages collected material flows - it directly implements circular activities rather than only providing white‑label tools. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Circular Type

Circular Logistics

• Take-back & Collection

Primary categorisation as Circular Logistics - specifically take‑back and collection - since the platform coordinates collection networks and returns material into recycling streams. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

R Strategy

R8 - Recycle

Primary strategy is recycling/resource recovery: collected plastics are delivered to processors and converted into recycled feedstock ('Social Plastic'). This aligns with R8. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Circular Business Model

Recycling / Resource Recovery, Take-back / Buy-back

Business models include organising collection/take‑back of post‑consumer plastic and converting it into recycled feedstock sold to brands (Social Plastic). Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Organisational Type

ForProfit

Plastic Bank describes itself as a for‑profit social fintech in its FAQs/documentation. Source: Plastic Bank Help Center, 2025

Sector

Waste Management & Recycling

Plastic Bank's core activity is collection and reintegration of plastic into recycling streams; the website and sustainability reports describe Social Plastic and recycled feedstock operations. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Geographical Reach

International

• Canada

Plastic Bank states operations in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brazil, Egypt and Cameroon (multiple countries). Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Hardware Component

None

Plastic Bank provides a mobile app, digital wallets and a blockchain SaaS platform for traceability; there is no evidence the provider supplies specialised physical hardware to deliver its service. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Tech Map Relevance

Plastic Bank runs an active digital platform that directly enables collection, traceability and conversion of plastic into recycled feedstock, matching the Circular Tech Map inclusion criteria. Source: Plastic Bank, 2025

Enablers are initially categorised by an AI agent, then verified by a real human.
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Added: 07 Jun 2024

Updated: 22 Oct 2025