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 FIRST MILE

The First Mile, an initiative of WORK and sister company Thread, supports waste collectors in Haiti, Honduras, and Taiwan to recycle plastic and earn a dignified income while diverting waste destined for oceans and landfills.

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Full transparency at the first mile of recycling supply chains

First Mile has expanded and improved low‑value recycled polyethylene terephthalate (“rPET” or “plastic bottles”) reclamation supply chains in these three countries over five years to support jobs for people living in poverty. So far, these chains have diverted approximately over 100 million plastic bottles from landfills and oceans and have provided income opportunities for over 2,000 people. First Mile supply chain processes are waste agnostic, and can be directed to collect and aggregate a variety of waste materials. 

First Mile recycled materials are sourced to First Mile Member brands to be processed into consumer products that deliver a social, environmental, and financial impact.

The First Mile works with multinational consumer products brand partners to map recycle material waste sheds all over the world, facilitate the economic and social connections necessary in each node of the supply chain to meet demands of its collectors and brand partners; recommend programming that both increases the amount and quality of waste that can be diverted and improves livelihoods, and implements programing that ensure the social responsibility of the supply chains.

 
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Lennet, one of our ACOP leaders, gives a thumbs up on a solid day of work buying and selling plastic bottles from local collectors.

Lennet, one of our ACOP leaders, gives a thumbs up on a solid day of work buying and selling plastic bottles from local collectors.

Jolince, a former waste collector in Haiti who, through our program, is now back in school and no longer living on the landfill.

Jolince, a former waste collector in Haiti who, through our program, is now back in school and no longer living on the landfill.

WORK collaborates on the mapping, assessment, and strategy recommendation process, and drives forward program implementation. First Mile Members such as HP, PUMA, and CPI support programming through their philanthropic giving each year. Outcomes include:

  • A roadmap and programming to end child labor at the First Mile. To date, over 50% of children in the largest landfill in Haiti have returned to school and other learning opportunities, removing themselves from working in waste collection. We’re on track to reach 75% this year. 

  • Access to medical care, health information and workshops, and supplies have led to increased knowledge in facilitating medical needs. Prevention programming has led to a significant decrease in emergencies. 

  • Accompaniment for parents towards a path of independence, eliminating the need for children to work to contribute to the home and/or to survive, including life skills development and professional development, small business loans to eliminate predatory lending. 

  • Disaster response includes COVID-19 response programming and has resulted in less than 10 reported cases, all of whom have fully recovered. All programming currently includes COVID-19 protocols.