Professional hair care brand Schwarzkopf has opened a new Haiti-based plastic waste collection through its Million Chances initiative, in a partnership move between parent company Henkel and social enterprise Plastic Bank.

The initiative will see women in Haiti get the opportunity of employment while cleaning up the country, with the employees collecting plastic from the streets in exchange for financial remuneration and other household necessities.

As part of the process, the collected plastic will be sorted, processed and supplied to companies, named as ‘Social Plastic.’

Marie-Ève Schröder, Corporate Senior VP International Marketing for Henkel Beauty Care, said: “Marie-Ève Schröder is convinced that the lives of women can be improved by the project: “Environmental issues, poverty, not enough educational opportunities and jobs – these are only a few of the challenges that women face on a daily basis. What’s more is that often the women have to raise their children all by themselves. I am sure that we can help girls and women here in Haiti and offer them a way to be more self-confident, as well as providing better chances and future prospects with Schwarzkopf’s Million Chances initiative.
“In particular, we are focusing on the daily needs and problems of girls and women.”

David Katz, Founder and CEO of the Plastic Bank, agreed with the statement, saying, “The sale of social plastic provides an income for the world’s poor.”

Following the opening of the centre, 12 women have already used the opportunity, having exchanged plastic for money and cooking fuel.