Have you ever wondered how powerful your actions are? How your small contribution can truly make a difference?
Those are the questions that the founders of Ecolana, Alejandra Valdez and Lisseth Cordero, had been asking themselves before finally seizing an opportunity to act in 2016. At that time, Valdez was working at an environmental education company and Cordero was a regular attendee at many of the events they hosted.
Given that Mexico produces an average of 12 million tonnes of solid waste every year, while only recycling 14 per cent of it, Valdez was aware of the need to encourage more people to recycle.
She and Cordero began to explore the idea for an app that could reward people for doing something good for the planet. Ecolana was born. The app directs people to their nearest recycling centre – but includes a unique twist.
Building a collective dream
From day one, the goal of Ecolana has been to make it easier to recycle. The first time you log in you’ll create a profile, and in minutes you’ll be able to find your nearest recycling point. Then, every time you recycle and record it in the app, you’ll earn points.
The more points you collect, the more you’ll have to exchange for eco-friendly products, discounts at selected stores, movie tickets and more great rewards.
Since Ecolana first launched, it has had several updates that have focused on improving the experience for users. Valdez and Cordero have worked tirelessly behind the scenes every step of the way, taking on the role of researchers, analysts and accountants, as well as figuring out the best ways to encourage more people to recycle.
Small actions turn into something bigger
Despite the enormity of the challenges that climate change poses, Valdez believes that “individual actions always add up – one less bottle in the streets is one more bottle we can recycle.”
Valdez and Cordero are also building partnerships that have the power to boost the impact they’re making with Ecolana. Thanks to the app’s growth in popularity, they’ve also helped recycling centres grow by connecting them with companies that collect glass bottles, paper and other recyclable materials.
From the rubbish they’ve collected, Cordero says, “Some of these centres have gotten machines that have allowed them to collect up to 15 tonnes of plastic, helping their economy grow and also keeping that rubbish out of landfills.”
It’s an idea that’s come a long way since Valdez and Cordero first began thinking about it. Valdez recalls one interaction in particular in the early days before the app when Ecolana was a single webpage with a phone number: “A woman called Lulú would call us to ask where she could take her recycling, and she also gave her family and friends a box and asked them to separate rubbish so she could pick those boxes later and take them to the recycling centre.”
Today, with the Ecolana app to hand there’s no need for phone calls. If you want to recycle more, make a difference to the environment and be rewarded for doing so, your portal to greener habits awaits.