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SDG Awards 2024

Finalist Profile

Welcome to the SDG Awards, a distinguished recognition program honoring the remarkable contributions of individuals, organizations, and initiatives in championing the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Finalist Profile

Universal Plastic

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Universal Plastic
About Company
  • Company Type: Environmental Services
  • Founded in 2023
  • Located at Barcelona, Spain
  • Employees: 2 – 10

SDG Awards 2024

Category - SDG 14 - Life below water
Voting Portal

Blue Circular Economy: Incentivizes plastic waste collection in coastal areas, preventing it from entering the ocean and promoting sustainable recycling.

➜ Blue Circular Economy: Incentivizes plastic waste collection in coastal areas, preventing it from entering the ocean and promoting sustainable recycling.
➜ Economic Empowerment: Creates income opportunities for communities involved in plastic waste collection, contributing to local economic development.
➜ Raising Awareness: Innovative campaigns like gift cards that fund ocean cleanups, Universal Plastic encourages individuals to participate in marine conservation efforts.
SDG_Icon 14

1. What is the local impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

At Universal Plastic, our startup has had a profound local impact by significantly reducing plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments. By empowering local communities to collect plastic waste, we have removed tons of plastic from beaches and waterways, preventing it from entering the ocean. Our efforts have restored ecosystems, improved marine biodiversity, and fostered a culture of environmental stewardship among local populations. This directly contributes to SDG 14 by protecting and preserving marine life and coastal ecosystems. But more than that, because plastic waste is not just an environmental crisis, it is also a social one. With our app our users who collect plastic waste following our digital protocol, can earn a fair income based on the data they generated of the collection.

2. What is the global impact your organization has achieved regarding your selected SDG? (No Word Limit)

2. Globally, Universal Plastic has become a catalyst for change by enabling companies worldwide to integrate Blue Economy practices into their business models. Through our platform, we guide businesses to actively participate in combating plastic pollution by supporting campaigns that financially benefit our users - the waste collectors - who are crucial to the plastic crisis. This not only strengthens the global ecosystem but also elevates the livelihoods of those on the front lines of the plastic crisis, particularly in vulnerable communities. In addition to our grassroots impact, we use the generated data from the waste collections to collaborate with prestigious scientific centers such as the BCSS (Bazaruto Centre of Scientific Studies ) and UNESCO. Together, we are developing cutting-edge scientific and technological solutions to address the plastic crisis from a macro perspective. These partnerships allow us to combine on-the-ground action with high-level research and innovation, driving comprehensive and sustainable solutions for protecting marine environments. Our work directly supports SDG 14 by reducing ocean pollution, fostering sustainable marine economies, and advancing global scientific knowledge to tackle the plastic crisis effectively.

3. What is the scalability of your innovation and how do you plan to achieve it? (No Word Limit)

3. Our innovation is designed for global scalability, leveraging a decentralized model that empowers communities while promoting transparency in waste management. By integrating technology, we eliminate friction in the verification process, allowing for efficient and real-time monitoring of waste collection. This technological advancement enables us to reach communities all over the world, allowing us to scale our impact as broadly as possible. On the corporate side, our platform allows companies globally to support users everywhere, linking them directly to local waste collectors and enhancing their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) campaigns. Businesses can demonstrate their genuine commitment to sustainability by transparently showing their contributions to local communities engaged in plastic collection. While we create a significant local impact, our technological framework ensures a global connection, enabling us to replicate our model in various regions effectively. By partnering with local governments and NGOs, we will expand our platform to coastal regions and islands disproportionately affected by plastic waste, maximizing our reach and reinforcing our commitment to advancing SDG 14 on a global scale.

4. What is your organization’s unique strategy for using technology to achieve your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

At Universal Plastic, we leverage technology to connect businesses directly to ocean defenders who are picking up plastic using our app, making them integral to the fight against plastic waste in an efficient manner. Our unique strategy enhances the traceability of plastic waste collections, enabling us to gain deeper insights into where, when, and how plastic is present in ecosystems, as well as how communities interact with it. We utilize AI algorithms to structure incoming data and identify the types of plastic collected, providing critical information about waste streams and local behaviors regarding plastic disposal and collection. Additionally, we implement blockchain technology to digitally notarize all generated data, ensuring it is tamper-proof and trustworthy. This transparency not only strengthens our operations but also adds significant value to scientific and political projects aimed at addressing plastic pollution. By creating an immutable record of waste collection activities, we enhance accountability and foster collaboration among stakeholders, thus driving progress towards SDG 14 by providing actionable insights and fostering global partnerships.

5. What challenges did you encounter while working for your selected SDG, and how did you address them? (150 Words Limit)

One of the significant challenges we faced was inconsistent internet connectivity in local communities, which hindered the effectiveness of our app for waste collectors. Recognizing this issue, we actively sought feedback and engaged in discussions with various communities to understand their specific connectivity challenges. Through this iterative process, we developed a solution that allows our application to function effectively even in areas with poor internet reception. We implemented features that enable offline data collection, allowing users to log their activities without immediate internet access. Once connectivity is restored, the data can be uploaded seamlessly. This enhancement not only improved usability for our users but also ensured that communities with limited internet access could still participate in our waste collection initiatives. By addressing this challenge, we reinforced our commitment to inclusivity and maximized our impact in combating plastic pollution in all regions.

6. How did you engage local communities and stakeholders in your work, and what was their feedback? (150 Words Limit)

We engaged local communities by making them key stakeholders in our initiatives. Through participatory workshops, educational campaigns, and collaboration with local NGOs, we tailored our approach to meet the specific needs and concerns of each community. The users of our app are our main insight to improve features in the app and therefore we work closely with them. Feedback has been positive, with communities reporting not only environmental improvements but also increased economic opportunities. Technical issues we have been able to combat together with different feedback sessesion enabling a better experience for them. This grassroots engagement has fostered a strong sense of ownership and responsibility, ensuring the sustainability and success of our efforts to protect marine environments.

7. Which organizational skills and resources did you use to deliver goods/services without harming the environment or society? (150 Words Limit)

To deliver our services effectively and sustainably, we harnessed a combination of organizational skills, technological resources, and community engagement. We utilized our expertise in sustainable supply chain management and proficiency in digital technology to create environmentally friendly solutions. By implementing lean management practices and continuous improvement processes, we minimized waste and maximized resource efficiency. We chose a blockchain solution that operates within the scope of the law and uses less energy the more it is utilized, setting it apart from other blockchains. This choice aligns with our commitment to minimizing our ecological footprint while maintaining full transparency and traceability of all materials collected. Additionally, we focused on ethical sourcing and fair labor practices, ensuring that all users of the App are treated with respect and fairness. These organizational skills and resources enabled us to create positive impacts without compromising environmental integrity or social equity.

8. In your view what roles do businesses, governments, and civil society should play in achieving the SDGs, and how can they collaborate effectively? (150 Words Limit)

8. Businesses, governments, and civil society each play crucial roles in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Businesses can drive innovation and sustainability by adopting practices that prioritize environmental and social responsibility. Governments are essential for creating supportive policies and regulations that encourage sustainable practices and hold companies accountable. Civil society plays a vital role in advocating for change, raising awareness, and mobilizing communities to participate in sustainability efforts. We believe that technology can effectively connect these sectors. By leveraging our platform, businesses can transparently demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, while governments can monitor progress and engage with communities more effectively. Additionally, our blockchain technology facilitates trust and accountability, enabling all stakeholders to verify claims and collaborate on shared goals. Through these connections, we can foster a unified approach to addressing global challenges, driving meaningful progress towards the SDGs, particularly in combating plastic pollution and protecting marine ecosystems.

9. What advice do you have for individuals or organizations aiming to create positive change and support the SDGs? (150 Words Limit)

9. Identify the SDGs that resonate most with your passion and focus your efforts there. Start by understanding the specific challenges and opportunities within your community or industry, and design solutions that are scalable and sustainable. Engage local stakeholders early on to ensure your initiatives are relevant and supported. Leverage technology to increase efficiency, transparency, and impact. Don’t be afraid to innovate and challenge the status quo, but remain patient and persistent, as systemic change takes time. Lastly, collaborate with other organizations, governments, and communities, because collective action is key to driving significant, lasting change.

10. How would winning this SDG Award help you enhance your impact and expand your project? (150 Words Limit)

Winning this SDG Award would amplify our visibility and credibility, attracting more partners and investors to support our mission. It would provide the recognition needed to expand our operations into new coastal regions and further our impact on a global scale. The award would enable us to accelerate R&D in AI and blockchain technologies, refining our App to make it even more effective in fighting the plastic pollution. Additionally, this recognition would empower us to advocate more strongly for systemic changes in the plastic crisis and policies worldwide, enhancing our ability to protect this Blue planet!!

11. What are your future objectives regarding your selected SDG? (150 Words Limit)

11. Our future objectives regarding SDG 14 focus on expanding our user base and enhancing our technological capabilities to combat plastic pollution in oceans and coastlines. By increasing the number of ocean defenders utilizing our app, we aim to gather more comprehensive data on plastic waste collections. This enriched dataset will enable us to create scientific predictive models that analyze plastic waste streams in marine environments, helping us identify trends and hotspots for pollution. Additionally, we are following research on the connection between oceanic plastic waste and carbon sinking systems, showing that plastic pollution inflicts more damage than just entanglement and poisoning in the ocean. With these insights, we can develop targeted interventions to address plastic waste at its source, working collaboratively with communities, businesses, and policymakers. Ultimately, our goal is to drive actionable solutions that protect marine ecosystems and significantly reduce plastic pollution on a global scale.
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