How Our Medals Reduce Plastic Waste

"How does buying medals help fight plastic waste?" 

If you've just found out about our partnership with Plastic Bank, you're probably asking yourself questions like this one. 

And we're happy to tell you! 

In this post, we’ll break down how our partnership with Plastic Bank works and what kind of a difference customers like you have already made.

Who is Plastic Bank?

Plastic Bank, if you haven't heard of it, is an organisation that aims to reduce ocean pollution and poverty by paying people in vulnerable communities to collect plastic waste. 

This waste is usually removed from places where, if left alone, it would otherwise end up in the ocean, like beaches. 

Plastic doesn't break down in the ocean - instead, it splits into smaller pieces called microplastics which have found their way into almost all fish species and, by extension, people. 

Once the waste is collected by Plastic Bank, it's turned into feedstock, which is used to make new plastic products. 

This reduces the need to make new plastic - a process that in and of itself is not environmentally friendly. 

In return, the people who collect the plastic get income and other benefits, like insurance or school supplies. 

This gives them the tools they need to break the cycle of poverty.

How does the partnership work?

For every medal you order, we pay Plastic Bank to stop about 40g of plastic waste from reaching our oceans - roughly the same weight as two 500ml plastic bottles. 

This doesn't cost you anything extra and you can opt out if you want to. 

Plastic Bank then gives us a certificate to prove the work has taken place, which we happily share with you. 

This way, you and your participants can see the real impact of your medal order.

Impact of the partnership to date

We partnered with Plastic Bank at the beginning of 2022, and in the short time since, our customers have already made an incredible impact. 

The number of plastic bottles we’re removing keeps growing so fast that we the figures here in the blog might be a little old, but as of November 2024, they've helped:

• Remove 1,818,325 plastic bottles
• Empower 277 people in 59 communities

Below is an interactive map that lets you see exactly where the plastic we've collected was removed from. 

Most of it is from Indonesia, Thailand, and Egypt.

At the moment most of the plastic waste we remove is being collected in Egypt. 

It's changing lives for people like Hanan, who lives in Cairo, Egypt. 

Hanan is a mom of three kids who exchanges plastic for income, which she puts towards her daughter's wedding. 

She was drawn to Plastic Bank because it offered a safe work environment.

Her story is just one example of the positive impact our customers have had to date.

How does this benefit your event?

Let’s face it, today’s event-goers are looking for more than just a great experience. 

They want to know that the brands they support are doing good in the world. 

In fact, research shows that people are four times more likely to trust and buy from brands with a clear, strong purpose - like helping the environment. 

So, imagine the difference it makes when your event can say, “For every medal we hand out, we remove two plastic bottles from the ocean and help reduce poverty.” 

Suddenly, there's a purpose that people can get behind. 

This sets you apart in a crowded market, helping to drive ticket sales and even sponsorship opportunities with those that value eco-friendly events.

In other words, more income!

Examples of marketing materials

We know that telling your event’s sustainability story is just as important as living it. 

That’s why we provide our partners with ready-to-go marketing materials that make it easy to highlight your event’s commitment to the environment. 

And if you’d like to see what these look like, check out these examples we've made for customers just like you:

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Choose medals that matter

So, there you have it! 

You now know how Badges And Medals' partnership with Plastic Bank works, and how your medals can genuinely help fight plastic waste and poverty. 

You've seen the impressive impact that customers like you are already making and how this leads to a meaningful change. 

So, why not join in? 

Place your medal order with Badges And Medals today and become a part of this exciting movement.