The Swiss Lid Collection Campaign
The story of Buy Food with Plastic is built on many encounters between two people. Encounters were often the beginning of a new idea, a new perspective, or a new point of view. So it could not be otherwise than that another encounter led us onto new paths: Khalil had the special opportunity to exchange in Sweden with various other small environmental and aid organizations. During this week, we met the son of the former Bulgarian president. He told us about an impressive initiative in Bulgaria: There, people collect plastic caps and donate them to a non-profit organization. This organization sells the caps to recycling partners and uses the proceeds to equip hospitals with important equipment such as incubators. This...
Support through yoga - Meet Teresa!
Support for Buy Food with Plastic takes many forms. Some work directly with the team, others donate money, and yet others use their passion for sports. Peter Bolliger cycled, Maron ran, and Teresa teaches yoga. Peter and Maron shared their story. Teresa expressed her wish to do the same in person: While looking for volunteer work, I came across Buy Food with Plastic, a wonderful project with a major impact that fascinated me immediately. I knew right away that I wanted to get involved with this organization. The unique concept inspired me from the very beginning because it addresses several urgent problems in our world at once. With their project, they help tackle plastic pollution by giving plastic value. It allows people...
The Journey of a Plastic Bottle
Hans Christian Andersen once wrote a story about the life of a glass bottle. The famous author called his story “The Bottle Neck” at the time. In this story, the reader follows the life of a glass bottle. It began in a glass factory, spent several years in the cellar of a winery, and was eventually opened at a wedding. The empty bottle was carelessly thrown on the ground, where a junk dealer picked it up. He sold it to a hostel owner, who filled it with medicinal liquid. Eventually, however, the bottle broke. But that was not the end. In a glass factory, it was transformed into something new: a stained-glass window. Its journey ended when it was installed...
From plastic waste to ice scrapers - and much more!
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...
Work Experience Placement at Buy Food with Plastic
Especially during the Christmas season, we take time for one another. This seems like a good opportunity to share a glimpse of our Zurich-based team through the eyes of someone who visited the team for the first time. That person is me, Selina Facciotto, a student at the University of Zurich’s Faculty of Communication Sciences with a keen interest in human rights and the environment. It is understandable that my curiosity was piqued after reading the name of the organisation in an internship advertisement. This turned into genuine interest when I visited the organisation’s website. Complex problems require innovative solutions. However, the idea of this solution taking the form of plastic bottles as “currency” for food seems fascinating to me....
4 Weeks in Ghana - Our Intern Julia Shares Her Experiences
A Journey Full of Encounters and ImpressionsIn this blog, I want to tell you about my eventful time in Ghana. Originally, my goal was to immerse myself in Ghanaian culture and visit Buy Food with Plastic Ghana on site. But this trip was much more than just a visit – it touched my heart and broadened my understanding of the world.Right at the beginning, I had the opportunity to meet the Buy Food with Plastic team, wonderful people who welcomed me warmly and took me everywhere in their daily lives. I tried delicious Ghanaian dishes right in their home, attended Sunday church service, went to the local hairdresser, had custom-made clothes made for me, and visited local schools. However, the...
Donate Bitcoin: The New Way to Do Good and Change the World
A look behind the scenes: the sorting facility of Schneider Umweltservice AG
On Friday, June 7, 2024, the Swiss team from Buy Food with Plastic had the special opportunity to visit the innovative sorting facility of our partner Schneider Umweltservice in Volketswil. This fascinating tour not only gave us deeper insights into plastic recycling but also provided us with numerous ideas on how we can expand recycling infrastructures in our developing countries. We were able to see firsthand how the innovative sorting facility sorts various valuable materials such as wood, paper, cardboard, and metal. In this way, tons of waste can be recycled instead of burned. We were particularly impressed by the daily commitment and valuable work of Schneider Umweltservice in tackling the recycling problem in Switzerland. It was a special opportunity...
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PlastiCredits: An Innovative Approach to Combating Global Plastic Pollution
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?
Expedition Nicaragua November 2023
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...