For children - against plastic waste: PF Concept and UNICEF cooperate

PF Concept, a leading product media company in Europe, has initiated a multi-year partnership with UNICEF the Netherlands to help fund the ‘Plastic Bricks’ program. As part of their long-term strategy, ‘Rethinking Plastics 2030’, PF Concept is providing funding for this program of UNICEF which converts plastic waste into building blocks for classrooms and schools.

Ivory Coast faces a major waste problem, with over 288,000 kilos of plastic ending up in landfills every day. Only 5% of this plastic is collected and recycled, leaving young people and women in poorer communities without sufficient income. The Plastic Bricks program aims to help tackle this by providing fair remuneration for plastic collection and training in entrepreneurship. Additionally, 1.6 million children and young people are not attending school in Ivory Coast. The program aims to recycle plastic into building blocks for classrooms and schools in collaboration with UNICEF’s local partners.

This partnership aligns with PF Concept’s sustainability strategy, which seeks to reduce the environmental footprint of its supply chain operations by phasing out virgin fossil-based plastics through innovation, elimination, and circularity by 2030. The partnership also supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4, 8, 12, 13, 14, and 17 which are key to PF Concept’s sustainability strategy.

Ralf Oster, CEO of PF Concept explains: “At PF Concept, we recognize that the future of the product media market lies in circularity. Our ‘Rethinking Plastics 2030’ goal allows us to contribute to improving our industry by tackling plastic waste. UNICEF’s Plastic Brick program aligns strongly with our vision, enabling us to build a better environment, support fragile communities, and promote education for future generations.

Our collaboration with UNICEF the Netherlands is a testament to our unwavering commitment to helping build a more sustainable future for our company, industry, and society, in addition to our participation in the United Nations Global Compact and support of the Sustainable Development Goals. This partnership reflects our dedication to making a positive impact on society and the environment, and we are excited about the potential it holds for a more sustainable future.” www.pfconcept.com

For more information on the UNICEF programme, see: https://www.unicef.org/cotedivoire/en/future-every-child-beating-plastic-pollution