Magnit, Procter & Gamble, and Dima Bilan Roll Out Largest Non-State Network of Reverse Vending Machines for Plastic Waste Collection

Moscow, Russia (September 29, 2020): On September 29, 2020, in Moscow, Magnit and Procter & Gamble, with the participation of Dima Bilan, rolled out a network of reverse vending machines (fandomats) for plastic packaging collection. The two companies installed the machines as part of the project called “Give Plastic a Second Life”. The goal of the project is to promote responsible consumption and expand the available infrastructure for collection and recycling of plastic packaging. During 2020-2021, the initiative will see 80 fandomats installed in Moscow and Krasnodar, forming the plastic collection network in Russia. According to preliminary calculations, one reverse vending machine is able to collect at least 200 kg of plastic waste per year, so the new network of 80 fandomats will collect about 16 tons of plastic for further processing.

“Procter & Gamble is committed to lead in positive change. It is important for us to work with partners and consumers to make responsible consumption a norm. Only by acting together can we expand the scale of actions required for the ecological well-being of our planet. Creating a close-proximity plastic packaging recycling infrastructure is an effective way to solve this problem,”—said Sotirios Marinidis, General Manager of P&G in Eastern Europe.

Dima Bilan, the ambassador of the “Give Plastic a Second Life” campaign, has personally demonstrated how simple it is to return plastic packaging for recycling using a reverse vending machine in a Magnit store.

“In an ideal world, everyone cares. I know that the power of music is able to unite a huge number of people, to encourage them to take further action. Therefore, my role in this project is to use my art to draw people's attention to their habits, to help them become more responsible with regard to themselves and the planet we live on,”—said Dima Bilan, singer and actor, on his role in the campaign.

All 80 fandomats installed as part of the «Give plastic a second life» program will be maintained by EcoTechnologies Group. At the opening of the reverse vending machine in the Magnit store in Moscow on September 29, Konstantin Rzayev, General Manager of EcoTechnologies Group, showcased the second life of plastic, demonstrating various products created fr om recycled packaging: from shampoo bottles and filler for soft toys to linoleum and children's playgrounds. As the infrastructure partner of the project, EcoTechnologies Group ensures careful delivery of the collected waste for recycling to its Tver Recycled Polymer Plant. The network of installed devices accepts recyclable plastic packaging from any manufacturer, if it is marked as 1PET (food and chemical plastic, that is, bottles for drinks, milk, cosmetics, and household products) or 2HDPE (bottles for cosmetics and household products), up to 2 liters inclusive. For larger plastic containers (1PET, 2HDPE, 5PP), as well as bottles without a barcode, special bins are installed next to the fandomats. The plastic collected in these bins is additionally sorted and sent for recycling. For each package returned via a reverse vending machine, the customer receives a discount coupon that they can then use to purchase P&G products packaged using recycled plastic. This mechanic aims to encourage customers to buy products made from recycled plastic.

Another stage of the project implementation in Magnit stores has come to an end. From the beginning of July to the end of September 2020, buyers of P&G products participating in the campaign were able to vote for one of the Russian cities wh ere the Company would then build a playground from recycled plastic. Most of the votes cast in this open voting process went to Veliky Novgorod, Krasnodar, and Dzerzhinsk. Installation of playgrounds in these cities is scheduled for November 2020.

“Our joint project with Procter & Gamble has very specific goals—reducing the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment and creating a culture of responsible consumption. Magnit stores are located in more than 3,700 cities and towns across the country, which means that the geography of our actions to increase the positive impact on the environment is very extensive. Using the scale of our network, we want to give the residents of Russia more opportunities for responsible consumption and tell people that everyone can help in solving the plastic problem,”—said Jan Dunning, Magnit’s President and CEO.

Magnit, Procter & Gamble, and Dima Bilan roll out largest non-state network of reverse vending machines for plastic waste collection