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<\/a>Katz\u2019s approach to the clean up of plastic at the world\u2019s shorelines is innovative and, if it succeeds, its potential is huge. The idea is that waste-pickers in the most poverty-stricken countries will collect the plastic garbage and deliver it to reprocessing facilities where they\u2019ll receive a credit at the Plastic Bank. They can then use the credit towards education, loans and access to 3-D print shops, where the plastic can be transformed into tools, parts and household items.<\/p>\n
Katz is engaged in a pilot project with Ciuda Saludable in Peru, an organization that works with communities to increase the volume of plastics collected. He\u2019s in partnership talks with similar organizations in Columbia and has had partnership requests from organizations in 40 different countries to date.<\/p>\n
Back at home, he worked with the University of British Columbia to develop an extruder, which creates recycled plastic 3-D printing filament, and he\u2019s working with a local plastic reprocessor to create Social Plastic, a brand of recycled plastic. Katz hopes to convince companies to purchase it as a socially responsible alternative to creating new plastics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s enough plastic in the world right now that we would never have to make more of it,\u201d he explained. \u201cAnd once it\u2019s reprocessed, the plastic doesn\u2019t degrade, which means it can be used for a wide variety of purposes and continue to be upcycled. It could be turned into fibre for clothing, or into prosthetics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lush Cosmetics is one of the companies that has shown an interest in using Social Plastic in their cosmetics tubs and, at the time of publication, Katz was awaiting the final paperwork on Lush\u2019s participation. Convincing companies to come on board with the concept of Social Plastic may be challenging, though. \u201cPotential customers are concerned that once they start using Social Plastic, they\u2019ll always have to use it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Katz said he\u2019s always been drawn to the shore, and with that attraction has come an exposure to its continuous degradation. \u201cIt\u2019s a symbol of the global catastrophe occurring because of people\u2019s misunderstanding of environmental issues,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re hoping that by turning plastic waste into a currency that can be exchanged, we can help lift people out of poverty and transition them into a self-sustaining life of entrepreneurship.\u201d<\/p>\n