Recycling in Bangladesh with Nobel Price Yunus Mohammed (Patreon)

We sometimes do collaborations with organizations and partners to pilot new ideas and push local plastic recycling around the world. 

Back in December 2019, we had the honour to work with Grameen in  to establish the first Precious Plastic workspace in Bangladesh and pave the way for many others. 

Grameen is the brainchild of Yunus Mohammed, Nobel Peace Price for his life long work to eradicate poverty. He's helped millions of people get out of poverty and inspired millions of entrepreneurs around the world (we included) with his ideas of a Social Business beyond outdated concepts of profit and personal gains. Do yourself a google and grab one of his books. 

The aim of this collaboration is to eradicate poverty while recycling plastic. Merging what they do best with what we do best. Helping Bangladeshi and their beautiful land of rivers.

A small Precious Plastic team visited Bangladesh for 3 weeks. In our time there we first did some serious research in the deepest corners of Dhaka to fully understand the waste situation to evaluate the best possible plan. 

Then we set out to build the workspace, make products and train the local team to run machines and set up a viable business model to sustain the project in the years to come.

Once ready we left them to get the hang of working with plastic and a plan to return for a second visit at the end of March 2020 to provide further assistance, new moulds and a revised business model to make the project not only financially sustainable but replicable across Bangladesh. But again, as much everything else, COVID-19 decided this wasn't gonna be the case.

We're a little too excited to keep the new plan a secret. Especially for our patrons. Whenever we'll be allowed back in Bangladesh we'll bring over a few moulds to create 100% recycled buttons to be used in their garment factory creating an even more sustainable and circular collection. 

That's it. We've ruined the surprise 🤦‍♂️
Well, now you know, keep tuned for future updates!

Ciao from Mattia