Plastic Bank links up with spirits producer Absolut

Malibu, a rum producer that is a brand of Sweden-based The Absolut Co., has announced a yearlong collaboration with social enterprise Plastic Bank designed to help stop ocean-bound plastic while improving the lives of collector communities.

According to Malibu, the collaboration could help prevent approximately 100 metric tons of plastic from entering the ocean within the next year in the Philippines.

The collaboration between Plastic Bank and Malibu is being designed to collect plastic from across the Philippines, where end-of-life plastic items are a sizable contributor to ocean plastic. Malibu also sources most of its coconuts in the island nation.

Plastic Bank says it builds “ethical recycling ecosystems” in coastal communities and reprocesses the materials for reintroduction into the global manufacturing supply chain. Collectors in Plastic Bank’s systems receive a premium for the materials they collect, which helps them provide basic family necessities such as groceries, cooking fuel, school tuition, and health insurance, says the Canada-based endeavor.

“Malibu is proud to collaborate with Plastic Bank to stop ocean plastic while improving the lives of communities within the Philippines,” says Lynne Millar, purchasing director at The Absolut Co. “Our collaboration is creating environmental, social and economic impact, with every Malibu purchase contributing to our annual commitment of stopping 100 metric tons of ocean-bound plastic from entering the ocean. That’s the equivalent of over 5 million single-use plastic bottles.”

David Katz, founder and CEO of Plastic Bank, comments, “We are excited about our collaboration with Malibu, a brand that is committed to the regeneration of the world’s oceans. By supporting our ethical recycling ecosystems in the Philippines, Malibu creates lasting environmental, social, and economic impact.”