Using Vishuddh Recycle from Plastic Waste in India to Swirl® Garbage Bags

In Bangalore, India, there is no comprehensive state waste disposal system – the result is hundreds of tons of garbage that end up on the streets and illegal landfills of the metropolis of 12 million inhabitants every day.

This is where the waste pickers come into play: Thousands of them collect recyclable waste every day under the most difficult conditions in order to sell it. As a rule, they live in slums, which are often located directly on the landfill. They do not wear adequate protective equipment such as gloves or breathing masks – and are thus exposed to high health risks. The work is dangerous and unregulated, there is no health care or social security for the waste pickers.

The yield of the waste pickers is low: often what they earn under precarious working conditions is not enough to feed their families. With our Fair Recycled Plastic Initiative, we make a significant contribution to improving the working conditions and thus also the living conditions of many waste pickers in India – among other things by developing sustainable sources of income as part of our social business project.

The Fair Recycled Plastic initiative not only protects the environment – its profits go to two non-profit organizations that work to improve the living conditions of waste pickers and their families in Bangalore.

One of these organizations is Smile on Wheels, an initiative of the Indian NGO Smile Foundation. It offers free medical first aid to the local population, such as Waste Pickers and their families.Mobile clinics regularly drive through the poor districts of Bangalore and provide medical support as well as educational work on hygiene and health care. Every year, a "Smile on Wheels" cart enables about 15,000 medical examinations.

The second organisation is Hasiru Dala Trust, which offers educational activities in the slums of Bangalore. Among other things, it provides community libraries and conducts workshops. The aim of the Hasiru Dala Trust is to promote the cognitive, social and emotional growth of the children of waste pickers and to help them achieve a better school leaving certificate through alternative tutoring services. Through this programme, hundreds of children are given a chance to receive a better education.

With this important addition to our commitment, we want to make a positive contribution to the health and education of waste pickers and their families.

In the future, up to 2,000 tons of so-called LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), a soft plastic that is mainly used for bags, will be processed at Vishudd Recycle, but the company is more than a recycling plant. As a so-called social business, the plant, which initially has 20 employees, has set itself the goal of sourcing the collected plastics only from selected social companies that guarantee their waste pickers fair working conditions. In addition, the profits of Vishudd Recycle are all to be reinvested or flow into the local community to improve municipal structures.

Through its commitment, the recycling plant contributes to sustainably improving the infrastructure of waste management as well as the working conditions of waste collectors – thanks to a purchase guarantee and fair remuneration. The support of Nobel Peace Prize winner Prof. Muhammad Yunus and his Yunus Social Business GmbH ensures that social business criteria are met.

This is how plastic waste in India is turned into the Swirl® garbage bag in Germany:

1. The Waste Pickers collect the plastic waste in the streets of Bangalore and sell this waste to companies that work with FRP.

2. The collected plastic waste is taken over by the partner companies for pre-sorting and cleaning. High social and quality standards are adhered to.

3. The LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) obtained is delivered to Vishuddh Recycle.

4. In the recycling plant, the plastic waste is pre-sorted, shredded, washed and dried.

5. During the subsequent regranulation, the plastic is heated, filtered and processed into granules.

6. The granules are then packed in big bags and transported to Germany.

7. In Germany, the recyclate is mixed with other materials by recycling companies and processed into new Swirl® garbage bags.

The establishment of Vishuddh Recycle makes it clear that this is about more than a short-term project – the goal is to create a self-sufficient company that has a long-term and sustainable positive impact on the community. By treating plastic waste, it is prevented from entering nature and polluting the environment. In this way, the project contributes to the reduction of marine and microplastics, which are a serious problem worldwide.

By processing the plastic waste, it becomes valuable recyclate. In this way, we promote the circular economy. Recycling reduces the need for new plastics and thus avoids the consumption of natural resources such as crude oil. The use of the processed recyclate in garbage bag production thus reduces CO2 emissions during production, as less energy is required for the production of new plastics.

Another important aspect of Fair Recycled Plastic is the improvement of conditions for waste pickers in Bangalore. The involvement of reliable partner companies and the creation of jobs in the recycling factory ensure fair wages and regulated employment relationships. In addition to the financial support of various social organizations, this contributes to sustainably improving the living conditions of the waste pickers and their families.

Throughout the entire Fair Recycling process, we ensure that our high quality standards are met. This applies not only to the Vishuddh Recycle recycling plant, but also to its suppliers and the production sites in Europe, which take care of the further processing of the recyclate into our Swirl® garbage bags .

Our wide range offers garbage bags for a wide variety of purposes, all made with 100% recycled plastic.* Whether you use the fixation tape garbage bag or the tear-resistant & tight carrying handle garbage bags for daily household waste or thoroughly clean out with the help of our heavy-duty garbage bags : We offer you consistent quality and garbage bags that are precisely tailored to your needs. See for yourself - discover our range and find the right bags for you.

Our collaboration with Vishuddh Recycle has a positive impact on the environment and the living conditions of waste collectors in Bangalore. Through the recycling process, plastic waste is recycled and processed into high-quality recyclate. This reduces pollution and the need for new plastics. At the same time, the project creates jobs and ensures fair working conditions. The cooperation with Yunus Social Business GmbH and the involvement of recycling companies contribute to the long-term stability and positive development of the project. Our Fair Recycled Plastic Initiative shows how companies and communities can work together to contribute to environmental protection and sustainability.

* excluding dyes and additives