Servicefix sponsors UNICEF plastic bricks project sustainability and innovation
ServiceFix supports UNICEF’s Plastic Bricks program. A sustainable initiative that recycles plastic into building blocks for classrooms in Ivory Coast.
Building a sustainable value chain
Ivory Coast is struggling with a huge waste problem. Every day, more than 288,000 kilos of plastic end up in landfills in poorer communities. Only 5% is sold by young people and women in the informal circuit, which unfortunately yields far too little. At the same time, 1.6 million children and young people in the West African country do not go to school because there are not enough school buildings.
With Plastic Bricks, UNICEF ensures that plastic is recycled into building blocks for classrooms, in close cooperation with the local population and government. The ultimate goal is for the program to be a lasting success, even without UNICEF!
UNICEF’s programme trains young people and women in collecting, safely storing and processing plastic waste. In addition, they receive training in entrepreneurship. The UNICEF factory buys the plastic waste from these young people and women at a fair price. The plastic is recycled into building blocks that are used to build schools. Local children can go to school here and get a decent education. Education that is perhaps the most important key to a better future for all of us.
ServiceFix: Driving sustainable impact
At the heart of this program is a streamlined system that contributes to smooth and effective operations:
Training & Empowerment: Young people and women receive training in collecting, safely storing and processing plastic waste. In this way, they develop skills and increase their chances of economic independence.
Fair Business Practices: A UNICEF-supported factory purchases plastic waste at fair prices, contributing to financial stability for local workers and their communities.
Easy Build: The recycled plastic is processed into environmentally friendly building blocks. These are used to build schools, giving children access to quality education while protecting the environment.
UNICEF Plastic Bricks and ServiceFix: a perfect match
Supporting the UNICEF Plastic Bricks program fits perfectly with our organization and our ambition to achieve positive impact together with employees, customers, suppliers and society.
We strive for value creation with all our stakeholders, based on sustainability and a long-term vision. We do not do this once or on an ad hoc basis, but by building long-term collaborations based on mutual trust.
The UNICEF Plastic Bricks programme embodies these principles by creating a value chain focused on self-reliance. The project stimulates personal development and gives people in different links of an economic chain the right to exist. This allows the organization behind the charity to take a step back in the long term, without the initiative disappearing.
Everything starts with the collection of plastic: a simple step towards a solution to a major problem. This process provides opportunities for entrepreneurship and ensures a fair income. The collected plastic is given a new purpose by being processed into building materials. These materials are then used to build schools, so that children can access education and knowledge. This gives them better opportunities for a future in which they can build a better life.
We contribute to this with an annual financial contribution of 1% of our turnover, which allows us to realize several classrooms made of plastic building blocks every year.
This is how we build a sustainable and educational future together!
Child development is essential
The donation is an obvious choice for us,” explains owner Nick Hoogweg. “As a socially responsible company with a sustainable DNA, we really want to make an IMPACT. We do this with a focus on: Innovation, Employees, Partners, Ambassadorship, Climate Impact and Transparency. We attach great importance to the development of children. When children are given the opportunity to develop, they can contribute to a better world. With our contribution, UNICEF can build several new classrooms from plastic building blocks. The Plastic Bricks fit perfectly with our vision to recycle and reuse materials as much as possible!