CleanHub
What is CleanHub?
CleanHub is a Berlin-based company that uses technology to prevent plastic from entering the sea by implementing waste recovery where there is none.
Their solution enables proactive brands to fund and advance plastic recovery in coastal communities in Asia and Africa with the highest risk of plastic entering the ocean.
Fundraising efforts are fully transparent and openly impactful.
Its TÜV SÜD ISO-certified AI technology is used to track and trace the collection.
Unlike alternative approaches that focus on recovering plastic once it's already in nature, CleanHub prevents it from getting there in the first place .
Why did Sako&Co choose CleanHub?
At Sako&Co, we are committed to offering high-quality natural treats for the well-being of dogs and cats, while minimizing our environmental impact.
This is why we have chosen to collaborate with CleanHub , a company specialized in the collection of plastics.
By working with them, we actively contribute to the reduction of plastic waste , thus protecting our planet for future generations and showing our commitment to sustainable and responsible business.
From now on, CleanHub will collect 2.20 lbs (1kg) per order 🌊
The entire process is tracked by CleanHub's own Track & Trace technology, ensuring a certified impact.
FAQ's
❓What is ocean plastic?
As the name suggests, it’s plastic waste that’s headed to the ocean. Plastic that’s close enough to shore that it’s in danger of becoming marine plastic. But for something you’d assume to be pretty straightforward, “ocean-bound” is a contested term in academic circles.
Most organizations consider ocean-bound plastic to be plastic that can be found within 50km (30 miles) of shore, but even this can be highly contested. 50km is a long distance. If a waste management facility is within that range, can it be called an ocean facility if it has the potential to be adequately treated before it reaches the water? This is something that has been debated, and the exact parameters of what constitutes “ocean” plastic are constantly being revised.
Some researchers have also made other suggestions to the definition . The additions include whether the plastic is in an area without good waste management infrastructure, whether the area is overwhelmed by tourism or population growth, and whether plastic contamination poses a significant risk to wildlife.
❓Why do we collect plastic from land and not from the oceans
To keep plastic out of the environment, we need to get to a point where the material is collected as close to the consumer as possible. The majority of our plastic efforts are door-to-door. We also fund creative technology projects that capture plastic from rivers.
❓What is Cleanhub Track & Trace technology?
From the moment plastic is collected to the moment it is disposed of, it is tracked by our own Cleanhub technology platform.
Recovering plastic from the environment involves three distinct operations. Firstly the collection of plastic, secondly the sorting of plastic into its unique types and thirdly the safe and final treatment.
Our collection centres use our technology to track the entire process, meaning we can check every piece of plastic collected and what happens to it after it's been taken care of.
Watch this video to see how it works!
❓Who are our collection partners?
We are building a global network of local collection centers in high-impact locations to facilitate the collection and safe processing of non-recyclable plastic.
All our partners use the CleanHub tracking platform to ensure a complete audit trail.
We also ensure that workers at these sites receive fair pay and working conditions through accredited social impact auditors.
Our code of conduct is inspired by:
FLA (Fair Labor Association, USA),
ETI (Ethical Trading Initiative) UK and
SA8000 (Social Accountability Intl USA-Europe).
❓Where do we collect plastic?
We operate primarily in Southeast Asia, which is the gateway for over 80% of all plastic entering our oceans. With your investment, we can reduce and ultimately stop the mismanagement of plastic waste in these regions to save our oceans and the planet.
❓What do we recover (recyclable or non-recyclable)
Your investment values non-recyclable plastic so that it can be recovered and processed.
80% of plastic waste that ends up in the oceans is flexible or multi-layer packaging, such as chip packets, sauce packets, etc. This material is either impossible to recycle or there is no market demand for the products. (unlike water bottles which are generally collected because they can be recycled, and therefore have “value”), plastic that cannot be recycled is openly burned in small garden fires or in landfills, or is blown into the wild by monsoons or strong winds. While we collect all plastics, we focus on non-recyclable plastic to maximize our impact.
We aim to implement zero waste systems in the communities where we operate. This means that wet waste is collected separately from dry waste. This is important because mixing organic waste with dry waste such as paper, cardboard and plastic can reduce the recyclability of dry waste. In dry waste, each item must have a value, otherwise, from a system theory perspective, no one would collect it. It is a bit like having gold nuggets buried in a pile of dust. Gold diggers will only pick up the gold and leave the dust behind. We make sure that the dust is collected in this way
❓What is a safe treatment?
Recyclables are already sold to be recycled locally. Non-recyclables are sent to be processed jointly. This is where CleanHub’s investment is going. Previously this was not financially viable, but with CleanHub and our partner brands investing, it now has value and is therefore collected and processed.
Co-processing refers to the simultaneous recycling of mineral materials and energy recovery in the cement manufacturing process and achieves superior environmental performance compared to landfill and incineration. For the joint treatment of the cover, we collaborate with Geocycle.
We know it's not a perfect solution yet, but it keeps plastic out of the ocean and reduces CO2 from an existing process <GET A Reference number>. We're looking for even better ways to co-process all the time.
To learn more, read our blog: What happens to the collected waste
