Unimed’s 'Eu Ajudo na Lata' campaign collects 14,000 kg aluminium can seal

The 11th iteration of Unimed's 'Eu Ajudo na Lata' (I Help in the Can) campaign was launched in Londrina, Brazil. The campaign, now in its eleventh year, collects aluminium seals that are later sold and whose values are used to buy wheelchairs. 14,000 kg of aluminium can seals has been collected throughout the campaign. This allowed for the purchase of 205 chairs, distributed to 74 institutions and helped more than 50,000 people. 

"The work is big, but when this is shared with our community, the action becomes very viable. That's why we count on everyone's collaboration", said Isabela Moreno, Sustainability assistant at Unimed Londrina.

Schools, businesses, clients, and regular individuals deliver aluminium seals to Unimed Londrina service stations after collecting them from various sources. The item is sold, and the proceeds are used to buy wheelchairs that will be donated to charity organisations in Londrina and the surrounding area. Each chair is comparable to around 170 sealed two-litre PET bottles. 

Fabianne Piojetti, the sustainability manager at Unimed Londrina, stated that community and staff involvement makes a difference in the project. In addition to lessening the environmental effect of garbage, the separation of the aluminium seal seeks to turn this material into wheelchairs, benefiting persons with decreased mobility, especially those who live in socially vulnerable circumstances, she adds.