ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

SC Johnson is teaming up with environmental organisation Plastic Bank to open a number of plastic recycling centres across Indonesia. And local people will be offered incentives to encourage their use.

Plastic Bank's goal is to reduce the current global ocean plastic crisis. The two organisations have linked up with the aim of increasing recycling rates in impoverished communities while also addressing the challenges of poverty.

Local waste collectors will be offered digital tokens in exchange for plastic waste and these can then be used to purchase goods and services. The tokens will be distributed via Blockchain in order to reduce the risk of loss or theft.

"Our oceans need protecting," said Fisk Johnson, chairman and ceo of SC Johnson. "Business, government and NGOs need to come together to take on this important issue. It is critical that we take action to help stop the increasing amount of plastic leaking into our oceans."

The first plastic recycling centre opened in Bali in October while others are scheduled to be operational by May 2019. SC Johnson eventually hopes to expand the programme to neighbouring nations.

According to SC Johnson, five Asian countries - China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand - account for more than 55 per cent of the plastic waste that currently ends up in the ocean.

Meanwhile, SC Johnson is making other strides towards sustainability and has pledged to ensure that 100 per cent of its plastic packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.