At the heart of the #TOGETHERBAND campaign are 17 sustainably and ethically produced friendship bands in the colors of the SDGs, made from up-cycled ocean plastic and Humanium Metal, re-cycled steel created from seized illegal firearms. The production of the bands are generating skills and livelihoods for women working as artisans in Nepal. Each purchase comes with two bands, one to wear and one to share, helping spread the critical message of the SDGs and all net profits are dedicated to projects supporting the Goals.

“Since the campaign started, #TOGETHERBAND has reached awareness of billions of people world-wide and received huge support from employees in Luxembourg and throughout our organization. Thanks to everyone who is proudly wearing their band and sharing the message with family and friends, we have managed to contribute to recycling 1 tonne of gun metal and removing 125 tonnes of plastic from oceans. Furthermore, over the past year, #TOGETHERBAND has donated 55,000 face shields to frontline health workers across the globe.” explains Heinrich Baer, Country Head at UBS in Luxembourg.

Over 800 ambassadors have joined the initiative to help spread the message, including supermodel and activist Naomi Campbell and former footballer and global entrepreneur David Beckham. 13 experts, who are leaders in their field, have come on board to educate people about the UN Global Goals. For example, Dr Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist working to protect our oceans and an expert for Goal 14: Life Below Water, while Dr George Daley is Dean of Harvard Medical school and an expert for Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.

To celebrate the second anniversary of the campaign, #TOGETHERBAND announces its collaboration with green search engine Ecosia on a special edition band; supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 15: Life on Land. Together with Ecosia, #TOGETHERBAND will plant six trees in a biodiverse area for every #TOGETHERBAND x Ecosia classic band purchased and four trees for every mini band purchased.

COVID-19 has impacted communities around the world and made us not only see how quickly things can change but also how we must come together to help solve critical global issues such as healthcare, poverty and hunger. Before the pandemic, all net profits from the #TOGETHERBAND project went towards
SDG related NGOs. Since the start of the pandemic, 50 percent of these funds have been going to COVID-19 Response Funds; split equally between UN COVID-19 Solidarity Fund for WHO and Médecins sans Frontières and 50 percent going to programmes working to deliver the SDGs.