Every day, hundreds of plastic caps get lost from their bottles and gradually transform the city’s landscape, clustering in the corners of the streets until they flow into the culverts and pollute the waters of rivers and oceans. Facing such environmental pollution was the key to solving another problem: animals in vulnerable situations. 

By combining environmental conservation with the animal cause, several projects have found an interesting alternative to solve two challenges at once. Through programs that encourage the recycling of caps, these projects make the population aware of the effects of pollution, raise resources and ensure care for risk, abandonment and temporary shelter.

It works like this: through campaigns, the projects encourage the donation of plastic caps, which are collected at strategic points. There are collection points in companies, schools, condominiums, supermarkets, malls, etc. 

When the collection reaches the necessary weight, the product is sent to volunteers, who will separate the material by color. Once the screening is made, this material is sold for recycling and with the amount collected, the project buys food and promotes the pet neutering procedures.s.

Small actions, great impacts 

The results have been promising. From cap to cap, the NGO Ecopatas has collected 350 tons of plastic caps and neutered over 13,000 animals since it was founded in São Paulo in 2018. The idea was inspired by another well-consolidated initiative in Florianópolis (SC). 

“I wanted to collect the caps and send them there, but it would be unfeasible because of the freight coast. I started researching if there were similar projects in São Paulo and found none. That’s when I had the idea of ​​starting to join on my own, not knowing right where to store the caps and nor for those who sell them,” says Ecopatas founder, Lucia Fragoso.

In addition to plastic caps, the NGO also collects aluminum tabs. Everything is sold for recycling and reversed in neutering abandoned animals and in vulnerable conditions. “With this, we have reduced the number of abandoned animals on the streets and also the amount of plastic that will end up in landfills, rivers, seas and nature in general, causing the death of marine lifes and birds,” zhe says.

From plastic to food 

The project Tampinhas que Viram Ração (Caps that turn into pet food) follows the same strategy to transform plastic waste into foods for dogs and cats. Only in 2024 were more than 11 tons collected. Professor Maria Adriana Corsi says that the project started in the second half of 2020, “well shy”. 

She is from Pedreira, interior of São Paulo, and during the pandemic began to distribute some expired water gallons personalized to encourage the donation of caps. Today, there are collection points in seven other municipalities in the region of Campinas and in the capital. 

“We collect the plastic caps with partners, sell this material and with the money raised, we buy food and provide veterinary care for animals at risk, abandonment and temporary home,” explains the teacher.

Voluntary work 

In Rio de Janeiro, the Rio Ecopets project has collected more than 500 tons of plastic since it was founded in 2018. Friends Roberta Carvalho, Andreza Castro and Fernanda Perissé were looking for an alternative to take care of stray animals and the collection of the caps was the opportunity to take the project forward, which has already benefited about 5,000 animals. 

“We allocate the money mainly for neutering procedures and related costs.  But if there is an urgency to buy foodd, medications or pay for a veterinary consultation, we allow. The money is totally used in the animal cause,” says Carolina Barboza, a volunteer of the project. 

Today, Rio Ecopets has 400 registered animal protectors and 600 collection points scattered in various neighborhoods of the city. As with other projects, everything is done through awareness and voluntary work campaigns.

Support this cause! 

We here at Lupa do Bem also sensitize with this cause and since the beginning of 2024, we have been collecting cap collection and contributed to projects in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In just over a year, campaigning in the agency’s offices, we collected around 100 kg of plastic caps. 

To get inspired and learn more about the projects mentioned in this report, follow their Instagram pages: @rioecopets,@tampinhasqueviramração and @ecopatas.