The Social Bank of Cans marked Chile’s Aprender 2024 Festival

The first version of the Aprender Festival was consolidated as a transformative space for collaborative learning, innovation and sustainability. Held between October 11 and 13 at the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center (GAM), it was the perfect opportunity to teach the more than 300 attendees about the Social Bank of Cans and the contribution it makes to the education of our country’s children about aluminum can recycling and its positive impact on the community.

The Social Bank of Cans is a triple impact campaign created by Kyklos and Metalum, which in 2022 was joined by Ball (world leader in sustainable aluminum packaging) as the main promoter, always aiming to be a platform for environmental education and circular economy to help foundations and vulnerable schools by valuing these containers, adding up to date more than 35 tons recovered and recycled.

During the festival, participants, from students to families, had the opportunity to get directly involved in this campaign. Through interactive and dynamic activities, Kyklos showed how the Social Can Bank not only helps to reduce the waste of recyclable materials, but also generates a social impact, since the funds raised through recycling are destined to community causes and support the educational establishments enrolled.

For Julia Figueiredo, sustainability and public relations specialist for Ball South America, “having had the experience of participating in the first version of this festival is tremendously gratifying for us, since it was a very good showcase that allowed us to teach the community how learning about recycling and sustainability can be a fun experience, as well as a transformative one. We want the new generations to understand that recycling is not only an environmental issue, but can also be an opportunity for social benefit.

The Aprender 2024 Festival brought together experts in education, technology and the environment to reflect on new ways of learning outside the traditional classroom. Banco Social de Latas, as part of this experience, reaffirmed its commitment to continue educating communities and students throughout Chile about the importance of caring for our planet.

Social Bank of Cans
Although almost 70% of all aluminum beverage cans worldwide are recycled, it is estimated that in Chile it reaches only 33%. This gap inspired the creation of the Social Bank of Cans in 2020, through a partnership between Kyklos, an environmental culture B company, and Metalum, a leader in aluminum recycling in Chile. In 2022, Ball, a world leader in sustainable aluminum packaging, joins as a driver to amplify the environmental and social impact of the Social Can Bank in educational institutions and foster a recycling culture in new generations.