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While snowflakes drift down in Switzerland, the cold settles in and the trees glisten frostily in the early morning, the sun shines over the lush green trees of Nicaragua and awakens with its warmth a colorful flock of imposing birds, whose song fills the air. Two completely different worlds on opposite sides of the earth - yet there is a reason for joy for the children of both regions. In Switzerland, it is dinner with the family, with a beautiful tree, under which gifts liee. In the municipality of El Astillero in Nicaragua is a warm meal with friends, neighbors and families with fun and games, for on today takes place the Christmas event by Buy Food with Plastic instead.  An...

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Imagine landing in Nicaragua, a Central American country full of breathtaking natural beauty. You step into the role of Jenner, a seven-year-old boy from the Pacific coastal region. The beauty of your surroundings is unparalleled—but there is a problem: mountains of trash, plastic bottles, and packaging pile up everywhere in your community, with no one to dispose of them. There is no waste management system, harming the environment and the country's beauty. But you have no energy to deal with it, because your biggest concern is simply surviving. Sometimes you are lucky enough to get a warm meal. But often your plate remains empty, and you go to bed hungry. One day, your sister tells you about a "Buy Food...

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In the early days of Buy Food with Plastic, we faced several challenges recycling the plastic we collected. We collected plastic bottles and hoped to have them processed at a recycling plant – but there were no such facilities anywhere nearby. The bottles eventually piled up on our Country Manager's property. One day, Eileen came to us, a German woman who had emigrated to Nicaragua. She had a bold idea: she wanted to build a house out of the collected plastic bottles. At first, we thought the idea was crazy. But the more we looked into it, the clearer it became: it was actually possible. Plastic bottles filled with sand could be used like bricks – strong, safe, and even...

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The journey of a special product that combines sustainability and community begins in a small workshop in Nicaragua. The journey begins with our social and environmentally conscious projects: the events of Buy Food with Plastic, where people from the surrounding villages can pay for a warm meal with collected plastic bottles. Christian, our truck driver, brings them to our workshop, where Johanna and Luis, our recyclers, take a close look at them. The caps and rings are removed from the bottles, and everything is carefully sorted by color.  The caps and rings are made of a different material than the bottles themselves and can be excellently processed by our simple machines. We sell the PET bottles to a larger recycling...

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In 2021, around 391 million tonnes of plastic were produced worldwide. About 12% of global waste consists of plastic. When plastics enter the environment, they never fully break down. Instead, they break down into tiny particles and fibers known as microplastics, which pose a serious threat to fish, birds, other land animals, and humans themselves. Larger pieces of plastic can transport invasive species and accumulate in freshwater and coastal environments, thereby altering ecosystem functions. How can PlastiCredits tackle this problem?

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Nicaragua Expedition (20 to 30 November 2023) Gratitude for an unforgettable time – the unanimous conclusion after a 10-day journey to the birthplace of Buy Food with Plastic: Nicaragua. The poorest country in all of Latin America, which originally had no place on the travel wishlist of the majority of participants.   Nevertheless, 10 curious people from Switzerland and Germany decided to see Buy Food with Plastic Nicaragua with their own eyes from 20 to 30 November 2023. They were accompanied and supported by co-founders and members of the management board Anna Gracia Herbst and Khalil Radi, volunteer Vanessa Lochbaum, Nicaragua Country Manager Frank Sarria, project manager Blanca Lopez and myself, Murielle Galliker, long-time volunteer and part-time employee in Legal...

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On October 17th every year, the "International Day for the Eradication of Poverty" is observed worldwide. This day reminds us that despite the progress our societies have made, poverty is still a global challenge. Our concept "Buy Food with Plastic" (a warm meal in exchange for plastic) is our contribution to the fight against poverty. At the same time, we are promoting environmental protection.

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By acquiring a baler machine, we can make our factory in Nicaragua even more efficient and environmentally friendly. By compressing the plastic, we can transport more plastic per trip and use our storage capacity more efficiently. The baler thus improves both economic and environmental conditions and significantly increases our recycling capacity.

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Nicaragua, a country with breathtaking natural beauty, is facing a growing problem: plastic waste. As in many parts of the world, the extent of plastic pollution is becoming increasingly apparent here as well. The country's beautiful beaches and nature reserves are increasingly threatened by plastic waste left behind by both tourists and locals. The consequences are devastating: marine animals swallow plastic, birds become entangled in nets and plastic bags, and microplastics enter our food chain. Inadequate infrastructure for collecting and disposing of plastic waste means that it is either dumped in nature, buried, or burned.

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More and more people want to combine their shopping with a good cause while supporting projects that are close to their hearts. We are also observing this trend among our members and donors. Our charity shop addresses these needs precisely by enabling direct and targeted support for concrete projects. Furthermore, this creates greater transparency and expands donation options.

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