FC Barcelona partners with Plastiks to combat plastic pollution through NFTs

FC Barcelona and Plastiks have partnered to release an exclusive NFT collection called “Unleash Your Passion,” featuring 3,000 animal-themed digital art pieces as an initiative to combat plastic waste and promote sustainability interests.

With this initiative, FC Barcelona and Plastiks aim to recover 1,000,000 kilograms of plastic and prevent using 800,000 liters of oil. They also plan to contribute to the removal of 35,000,000 kilograms of plastic from the environment for each NFT sold.

CEO and Co-Founder of Plastiks André Vanyi-Robin said NFTs offer a valuable avenue to showcase waste recovery programs and their positive influence online.

“NFTs are a great way to represent waste recovery programs and their positive impact online while providing a source of verifiable information about what has been recovered and where it has gone,” Vanyi-Robin said.

“The Plastiks platform boosts transparency in the tracking of plastic recovery and is, therefore, a powerful partner for any leading organization with a large community that wants to help recover plastics from the environment for their community and help to make a difference.”

The animal-themed digital cards from the “Unleash Your Passion” collection are offered at $30 each at the Plastiks marketplace. Along with being the sole owner of the unique digital artwork, each NFT owner will also enjoy special perks and rewards linked to FC Barcelona, such as limited edition content and the chance to win one of 10 signed shirts from the FC Barcelona men’s first team.

We're excited to announce that #Plastiks is teaming up with @FCBarcelona with the ‘Unleash Your Passion’ collection of digital cards.? ??
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Every collectible recovers plastic from the environment.?Combining your passion for sports with sustainability!??#Barca #FCBarcelona #nfts pic.twitter.com/7bsMFIkis8

— Plastiks ?? (@Plastiks_io) May 31, 2023

FC Barcelona’s plan to tackle plastic waste

FC Barcelona sustainability director Jordi Portabella said sustainability is crucial to the club’s 2021-26 Strategic Plan.

“An alliance with Plastiks helps us meet our United Nations and European Commission goals for the years 2030 and 2050, especially in the field of waste,” Portabella said.

“In addition, the launch of this project also means a message to generate awareness among people around the world who want to contribute to creating a more sustainable society and help to recover the environment.”

The club’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan prioritizes sustainability among its three pillars — economic, sports, social, and environmental. By promoting sustainable development across all areas of operation, the club strives to attain certifications in sustainability.

Plastic waste is a global concern due to its abundance and resistance to degradation. Manufacturers’ preference for plastic and inadequate waste management leads to large volumes of plastic entering the environment.

Land, waterways, and oceans are all affected by plastic pollution, with coastal communities alone estimated to contribute 1.1 to 8.8 million tonnes of plastic waste to the sea each year.

The alarming projection that there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050 highlights the scale of the problem. Marine animals and ecosystems suffer from the physical entanglement and ingestion of plastic and exposure to harmful chemicals.

The amount generated from a single football match further exemplifies the importance of addressing plastic waste, as just one football match can create over 8,000 kilograms of such waste.

Recognizing this environmental concern, FC Barcelona and Plastiks have taken a step forward with their first NFT collection. The collection aims to reduce plastic pollution by an amount equal to the waste generated in four matches.