SkinnyDipped has launched "Brick By Brick," a give-back program supporting a women-led recycling initiative that converts plastic waste into durable bricks used to build schools for children in cacao-based communities.

In Ivory Coast, where much of the world's cacao is grown and harvested, poverty is endemic and women and children are especially vulnerable to hunger, poor sanitation and a critical shortage of schools. However, an innovative recycling program created by UNICEF and Colombia’s Conceptos Plasticos is working to help women generate a steady income and create safe spaces for kids to go to school.

Here's how it works:

• Local women are paid to collect plastic waste off the streets and take it to recycling stations
• A first-of-its-kind factory converts the waste into durable plastic bricks
• The bricks are used to build sturdy schools for children, utilizing 5 tons of recycled plastic for each one

SkinnyDipped plans to donate enough money to this recycling initiative in the next year to build at least two schools and recycle at least 10 tons of plastic waste. The brand will also ask its consumers to contribute by giving them an option to "purchase" a brick for $4 (the cost of manufacturing each brick) on its website. All the proceeds from brick purchases will go directly to the implementing charity.

"We could not be more excited to support the amazing work happening in Ivory Coast — it's a cause that we feel deeply connected to as a mother/daughter team," said SkinnyDipped CEO Breezy Griffith. "We also are mindful of the impact of our industry on the region and are committed to not only raising awareness of the challenges women and children face there but also actively working to drive change."