SIG promotes recycling in Brazil
Carton packaging provider, SIG, has launched an initiative with social enterprise SO+MA House Brazil to promote recycling in the country. The project enables people in the city of Curitiba to exchange waste packaging for reward points they can use to pay for food and other essentials.
Since the pilot scheme began in December 2018, over six tonnes of material has been collected so far and scores of local people are bringing in used packaging for recycling.
Isabela De Marchi, SIG’s sustainability co-ordinator in South America, said: “We know it will only be possible to increase packaging recycling rates with the support of consumers. The partnership with SO+MA House is helping us show people the value of recycling on a personal level, as well as bringing wider environmental and socio-economic benefits.”
SO+MA House is the only loyalty programme in Brazil that is available to low income people free of charge. Reward points are earned based on the weight of waste collected. They can be exchanged for food or other essentials, or used to pay for training courses.
This innovative model to promote recycling not only brings environmental benefits, but also socio-economic benefits by offering people in low-income communities an opportunity to improve their quality of life by saving money on essentials or learning skills to open the door to new job opportunities.
Rafael Greca, the Mayor of Curitiba, said: “The idea of rewarding people is very clever. It is an innovative green exchange. We are launching a solution that is adding value for people, offering vocational courses that will help families, young people and the unemployed advance and improve their quality of life. I want to promote the power of recycling among Curitibanos and save our planet.”
