What Plastic Bank does

Plastic Bank, operating as The Plastic Bank Recycling Corporation, is a Vancouver-based private social enterprise founded in May 2013 by David Katz and Shaun Frankson. The company runs a blockchain-secured collection network across the Philippines, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, Thailand, and Cameroon, where 65,752 verified collectors in 500+ coastal community branches exchange ocean-bound plastic for income and social benefits, accumulating 9.9 billion bottles collected since inception. Its technology stack centers on the PlasticBank App (launched 2017) and the proprietary Alchemy operations platform, which together provide AI-driven identity verification, AI fraud detection, tokenized digital wallets, end-to-end traceability via a GDPR-compliant hybrid blockchain, and Digital Plastic Credit issuance at scales described as zero marginal cost.

The company monetizes through a multi-stream revenue model: tiered Professional Membership subscriptions for SMBs and enterprises (Starter at ~1,000 bottles/month, Popular at ~5,000, Pioneer at ~50,000 with custom corporate tiers above 2,000 tonnes), Social Plastic feedstock sales of recycled HDPE, LDPE, PET, and PP to manufacturers, individual Plastic Credits at US$0.60 per unit, EPR compliance services as a Producer Responsibility Organization in the Philippines under the 2022 EPR Act, one-time impact contributions from US$1 to US$10,000, and a freemium Individual Account tier with subscription upsell. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, a Sales Advisor affiliate network for SMBs, self-serve SaaS for enterprises and individuals, partner-based geographic entry (e.g., EcoBlue Limited in Thailand), and a community-led collection model that drives both supply and grassroots brand awareness.

The customer base spans 500+ businesses including enterprise anchors SC Johnson, Coca-Cola Philippines, CooperVision (659M+ bottles since January 2021), Revlon, EZVIZ, Nutrabolt, and Davines Group, plus 26,000+ individual members. The company holds EcoVadis Gold (top 5%, December 2024), Global Recycled Standard certification, and joined the UN Global Compact in 2026. Recent product expansion includes Individual Accounts with an AI Impact Guide (September 2025) and a Q1 2026 roadmap featuring Member Credit Scores, Client-collateralized Token Advances, and a Yield Fund, positioning the company toward embedded financial services in addition to its core plastic credit business.

Name

Plastic Bank

Legal name

The Plastic Bank Recycling Corporation

Website

https://plasticbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Plastic Bank is a Vancouver-based social enterprise operating a blockchain-secured plastic collection network across six countries, monetizing verified plastic credits, recycled feedstock, EPR compliance services, and subscriptions for 500+ businesses and 26,000+ individual members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Recycling and Environmental Services

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics Bottle Manufacturing (326160), Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing (32611)

SIC

Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080), Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Deposit Return System (DRS) / Bottle Bill Counting & Processing Centers (BPALADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Plastic recycling services
• Blockchain traceability platform
• Plastic credit marketplace
• EPR compliance services
• Social impact supply chain

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Membership Subscriptions: Monthly or annual subscription plans for businesses funding verified plastic collection. Plans include Starter (1,000 bottles/month), Popular (5,000 bottles/month), and Pioneer (50,000 bottles/month). Includes commercial license for brand assets, marketing content, and impact certificates.
2. Plastic Credits: Verified assignable value to stop one traceable kilogram of discarded plastic from polluting the environment, redeemable in local currency. Unique transaction ID with blockchain verification.
3. Social Plastic Feedstock: Recycled plastic feedstock (HDPE, LDPE, PET, PP) sold to manufacturers for integration into products and packaging. Creates circular economy loop.
4. EPR Compliance Services (Philippines): Extended Producer Responsibility compliance support as Waste Diverter and Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) for Philippine market. Tracks plastic recovery volumes and provides verified collection data for regulatory submissions.
5. One-time Contributions: Individual and business one-time impact purchases ranging from $0.60 to $10,000 for specific collection programs like 1 Million Bottles Impact Program.
6. Small Business SaaS Subscriptions: Subscription-based access to discounted Plastic Credits, AI-curated branded content, and plug-and-play consumer loyalty programs including profit-sharing retail networks and tribe building tools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Plastic Bank operates the world's largest bottle deposit program, running 500+ collection branches across 5 countries where informal collectors exchange ocean-bound plastic for income and social benefits. The company sells Professional Memberships, Plastic Credits, Social Plastic feedstock, and EPR compliance services to businesses and individuals, using its proprietary blockchain-secured Alchemy platform and PlasticBank App to verify and trace every kilogram of collected plastic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlasticBank App: Proprietary mobile application powered by blockchain-secured platform enabling traceable plastic collection, secured income for collection members, and verified impact reporting.
• Social Plastic
• Alchemy

Products and services

• Professional Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• 65,752 collectors have gathered 9.9 billion bottles since 2013
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and major.

• EZVIZcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026EZVIZ Green Initiative partnership with Plastic Bank facilitating recycling of 1,000,000 bottles and preventing 20,000 kg of plastic from entering waterways. Multi-year partnership supporting collectors in 29 communities with expansion planned for Southeast Asia and ecologically critical regions.
• CooperVisioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021CooperVision's MADE BETTER Promise plastic neutrality program with Plastic Bank has collected and recycled over 659 million plastic bottles from coastal communities in Indonesia, Egypt, and Philippines since January 2021. MyDay contact lenses plastic footprint offset through the partnership.
• RevloncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Revlon partnered with Plastic Bank for blockchain-tracked ocean-bound plastic collection. Removing 4 bottles from environment for each Eksperience hair-care product purchased.
• TreedomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTree-planting platform partner in EZVIZ Green Initiative. Supports reforestation across eleven countries projected to sequester over 738.2 tonnes of CO2 over ten years, with goal of growing global forest to more than 6,000 trees by 2027.
• EcoBlue LimitedstrategicChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal qualified processor partner for Thailand expansion starting January 2022. Strategic alliance to build ethical collection communities using PlasticBank app and collection model.
• Coca-Cola PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSince 2018, Coca-Cola Philippines has been working with Plastic Bank. Partnership enables collection and recycling of plastic bottles through community collection programs. Coca-Cola has also invested in PETValue bottle-to-bottle recycling facility.
• SC JohnsonmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner business in Professional Membership program supporting verified plastic collection. One of 500+ businesses taking action through Plastic Bank.
• Davines GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner business in Professional Membership program. One of 500+ businesses using Plastic Bank for sustainability marketing claims.
• NutraboltmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner business in Professional Membership program. One of 500+ businesses supporting verified plastic collection.
• Ocean BottlemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEach Ocean Bottle sold funds collection of 11.4kg of plastic, diverting millions of kilograms before reaching ocean. Case study partner with high engagement metrics.
• Casetta GroupmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHospitality partner since July 2022. Collected 762,350 plastic bottles from environment. Partnership aligns with mindfulness ethos supporting local communities and global causes.
• Dr. Brown'smajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCase study customer. Plastic Bank-branded content generated higher engagement than any other partnership content for Dr. Brown's.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• rePurpose Global: Plastic action platform selling verified plastic credits and bundled sustainability services to enterprises. Most directly comparable competitor given similar business model (credits + impact marketing + multi-country collection network).
• Plastic Credit Exchange: Marketplace and registry for tradeable plastic credits. Operates in an overlapping category (verified plastic offsets for brands) with a similar producer-and-buyer orientation, though lighter on first-party collection infrastructure.
• TONTOTON: Social enterprise collecting ocean-bound plastic in Cambodia and Vietnam using beach cleanup and community collection models. Direct operational peer in the ocean-bound plastic collection space, though smaller and narrower in geographic reach.
• Oceanworks: Marketplace and supplier of recycled ocean plastics connecting collectors and processors with manufacturers and brands. Comparable as a downstream recycled-plastic feedstock intermediary with sustainability marketing services.
• BanQu: Blockchain supply chain platform focused on traceability and economic identity for informal workers and smallholder suppliers. Highly comparable as a technology peer given Plastic Bank's blockchain-secured collection and tokenized payment model.

Broad incumbents

• Closed Loop Partners: Investment firm and platform advancing the circular economy in North America through funds, infrastructure, and corporate programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent in circular plastics but operates as a financier/infrastructure builder rather than a direct collector.
• Circulate Capital: Specialist investment firm focused on preventing ocean plastic by funding waste management and recycling startups in South and Southeast Asia. Overlapping thesis (ocean plastic + Asia) but a capital provider rather than an operator.

Emerging players

• WasteAid: UK-based charity supporting community waste management and recycling in low-income countries. Comparable mission (informal-sector collection + livelihood uplift) though non-profit and lacks the brand-facing credit/feedstock monetization model.
• BVRio Institute: Brazilian non-profit developing market mechanisms for plastic credit verification and reverse-logistics solutions. Direct adjacent peer in plastic credit registry design, particularly relevant given Plastic Bank's Brazil operations.

Others

• EcoBlue Limited: Thailand-based qualified plastic processor serving as Plastic Bank's local partner for Thailand collection operations since January 2022. Listed as a comparable because it is a relevant ecosystem participant; not a competitive peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plasticbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlasticBank
• Xx.com/PlasticBank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plastic Bank