Million Collaboration in this year’s Community Plastics cleanup

In the third round of "The Community Plastics cleanup," a total of 18 SpareBank 1 foundations have joined the team. This results in over 33 million NOK in the community work fund.

Published: 26.February, 2025
Last updated: 05.December, 2025

In 2024, we launched "The Community Plastics cleanup" – where we dedicated 15 million NOK from plastic bag fees to a new way for children and youth to fundraise for leisure activities through environmental cleanups instead of sales fundraisers. Each participating child received 500 NOK for three hours of cleanup work, equivalent to the net proceeds from selling bamboo socks or other sales items for 1,000 NOK.

In 2024, there were two rounds of the cleanup, totaling 15 million NOK. This resulted in 514 cleanup activities across the country.

– The Community Plastics cleanup 2024 became a hugely popular initiative that helped 25,000 children finance their leisure activities independently, without financially burdening families. We are incredibly pleased that the SpareBank 1 foundations are joining us this year, allowing even more children to get outside and clean instead of selling, says Cecilie Lind, CEO of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund.

CEO of the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund, Cecilie Lind, hopes this round of The Community Plastics cleanup will be as successful as the previous ones.

The Community Plastics Cleanup in Brief

Children and young people aged 6 to 19 receive 500 NOK for three hours of cleanup work
Reduces the burden on families for sales fundraising with an equivalent amount of 1000 NOK
Decreases the need for production, transportation, and sale of unnecessary items
Teaches children and young people that litter in nature does not disappear on its own and contributes to a change in attitude

Do you want to join this year's Community Plastics Cleanup? Read more and apply here from March 5th!

Will Save Families with Children over 65 Million

When the SpareBank1 foundations learned about the Community Plastics cleanup and the possibility of a collaboration, they quickly saw how this aligned with their purposes.

– This is an important community work because everyone can participate, and it matters what each individual does. I am very proud that almost all of the SpareBank1 foundations can now ensure that the Community Plastics cleanup can include even more children in 2025, says Bjørn Morstad from SpareBank 1 Foundation Jevnaker Lunner and Nittedal.

The contribution from the 18 SpareBank 1 foundations has an upper limit of over 18 million NOK. The collaboration will thus save families and their network sales equivalent to 65 million NOK.

Lisleby FK was among the clubs that participated in last year's Community Plastics cleanup.

A Community Work Everyone Can Participate In

The Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund works to achieve the highest possible environmental effect from plastic bag money, and The Community Plastics Cleanup allows children and youth to combine community work with concrete environmental efforts. While sales-based community activities can amplify social disparities, The Community Plastics Cleanup enables everyone on the team to contribute to plastic clean-up, thereby financing recreational activities without financial burden on families.

– The Community Plastics Cleanup had enormous significance for us at Lisleby FK in Fredrikstad, a district with significant social disparities. Doing something together as a club, where everyone could contribute, was a fantastic experience, says Therese Ulfsrød, sports manager at Lisleby FK.

The Sparebank1 Foundations will finance community cleanups in their region this year, while the Norwegian Retailers' Environment Fund's resources cover the rest of Norway.