Alcon expands partnership with Plastic Bank
Alcon is also expanding its partnership with Plastic Bank in 2023. After preventing the equivalent of over 30 million plastic bottles from reaching the ocean in 2022, Alcon is expanding the partnership program with its Vision Care products to more than 90 countries.
Alcon has so far enabled the removal of almost one million kilograms of plastic waste from the environment. In early May, Alcon announced the expansion of its partnership with Plastic Bank - an organization that builds recycling ecosystems in underdeveloped communities to combat plastic pollution while providing collectors with a pathway out of poverty.
From 649,000 to 990,000 kilos
For every ton of plastic introduced to the market, Plastic Bank collects an equivalent amount of ocean-bound plastic in vulnerable coastal communities. In 2022, Plastic Bank removed more than 649,000 kilograms of plastic waste from the environment to offset the plastic used by Alcon for selected surgical and vision care products. Alcon aims to expand plastic removal to more than 990,000 kg in 2023. An equivalent to the more than 49 million plastic bottles that will reach the ocean this year.
Improving the lives of people living in poverty
Beyond the environmental impact, Alcon's partnership with Plastic Bank will support more than 330 collection communities worldwide in 2023. Collection members exchange the plastic they collect for life-enhancing benefits such as health insurance, food vouchers and school supplies.
Also minimize packaging and shipping materials
Charles Herget, Head of ESG at Alcon, said: "While single-use plastics are essential to the safety and comfort of medical devices, we strive to minimize their impact on the environment by supporting important initiatives like this program with Plastic Bank. Our hope with this continued partnership is to further promote the offsetting of waste with the products in our Surgical and Vision Care portfolio to have an even greater impact on our sustainability efforts. We will also continue to minimize other product-related plastics such as packaging and shipping materials."
Now also on Systane Eye Drops products
For its Vision Care products, Alcon offset its plastic footprint for DAILIES TOTAL1 and PRECISION1 in 2022, (more than 600,000 kg of plastic and the equivalent of 30 million plastic bottles). Building on these efforts, Alcon has expanded its offset program for 2023 to include Systane Eye Drops, which are sold in more than 30 markets, including Australia, Egypt, France, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The D-A-CH markets (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) have also been included in the contact lens program.
More information about the partnership
Alcon's partnership with Plastic Bank complements the global eye care company's larger efforts to reduce waste, emissions and chemicals of concern associated with Alcon's products and services.For more information about Alcon's collaboration with Plastic Bank, visit https://plasticbank.com/client/alcon.
