It’s true, global plastic is set to more than double by the year 2040. According to a report done by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), in the next two decades, over 1.3 billion tons of plastic will make its way into our ocean and pollute our land. If this information doesn’t alarm you, you clearly aren’t paying attention. Without a shift in attitude in regards to our relationship with single-use plastics, we are projected to have dumped 29 million tons of plastic into our oceans in 20 years, according to the same study.
Changing our attitude is the first step. Why are we so obsessed with single-use plastics? In the mid 19th century, people invented plastic as a solution for less durable materials, such as glass or paper, used for packaging products. It was not truly understood at the time what the downsides to this solution were. It takes upwards of 1000 years for plastic to decompose, and yet we are making 380 million tons of new plastic each year!
Plastic Bank, a not-for-profit organization, heard these stats and like many of us, was mortified! So, to combat plastic pollution in our oceans, they’ve created a program that “[turns] plastic into gold by revolutionizing the world’s recycling systems to create a regenerative, inclusive, and circular plastic economy.” They’ve teamed up with various companies since their founding in 2013, including SCJohnson and Hankle.
Ricki’s, a popular women’s fashion company in Canada, has decided to partner with the Plastic Bank in order to reverse the effects of production. They will be going to the root of the problem: China. China is one of the largest hotspots in the world for the production of new plastics, and is in the middle of a plastic pollution crisis. In recent news, China has stopped accepting all single-use-plastics from the USA, which will largely help to help with the pollution of plastics in Chinas ocean. To further help in the fight against plastic pollutions, Ricki’s is pledging to put a portion of their proceeds towards much needed recycling infrastructure in China.
One benefit of partnering with the Plastic Bank is that not only is the organization combating ocean plastics, but is also giving jobs to the less fortunate in China. As part of their recycling program, the Plastic Bank will be employing the homeless population of China to help with the collection and recycling of ocean plastics. In exchange for the collection of polluted plastics, these individuals will receive a digital currency which they can use to purchase essentials.
To get involved in Ricki’s partnership with the Plastic Bank, Ricki’s customers are encouraged to look for products in store and online with the sustainable style logo, as a portion of the proceeds from these products will go towards the initiative. You can also donate in store as part of their monthly donation drives!
Questions?
Please feel free to email Lindsay Wright, Senior Marketing Manager
Email: lwright@rickis.com
Visit Ricki’s website, or visit Plastic Bank’s website.