♻️ 8 Approaches to Plastic Reuse, Recycling and Circularity

With plastic production set to triple by 2060 and recycling rates still dismally low, the need for scalable solutions has never been more urgent.

While policymakers push for tighter regulations, a new wave of startups is rethinking how we recycle, reuse, and upcycle plastic — transforming waste into valuable resources and breaking the cycle of linear consumption.

From enzyme-powered recycling to novel return systems and AI-driven sorting, here at Hack, we speak with five VCs to uncover the most promising solutions—and unveil a curated list of 70+ startups reshaping plastic reuse and recycling.

Plus meet our latest Circular Economy startup Founder confirmed to speak at the HackSummit (hint his latest fundraise made headlines last week)

5 VCs Weigh in on the Next Frontier of Plastic Circularity

Recycling Plastic-Based Textiles

“Plastic recycling is an increasingly hot topic, also driven by tightening legislation worldwide. New chemical recycling technologies have the opportunity to use formerly hard-to-recycle feedstocks for better quality output, at lower costs and energy use than traditional methods. There is a big opportunity especially when it comes to plastic-based textiles (e.g. polyester, nylon and mixed),” notes Clara Camesasca at Volta Circle

Thermoplastics for Recycling

“Lightweighting of the materials sector will continue to accelerate as sectors such as automotive and aerospace will increasingly require this due to the ongoing shift to battery-driven energy sources. This trend is driven by the need to enhance energy efficiency and extend the range of electric vehicles and aircraft. To adhere to the principle of design for recycling, a transition from thermoset to thermoplastic-based composites and materials is necessary to meet the growing recycling demands,” notes Wouter Van de Putte at Capricorn Partners

Virgin Quality Recycled Plastics

“Many scientists and engineers relentlessly develop technologies to recover desired polymers at molecular level from mixed waste streams to be of virgin quality. Many PET chemical recycling startups are scaling up their production to industrial scale and soon we will start wearing clothes made of ‘textile-to-textile recycled polyester’ not polyester from bottles (and break the loop for more recycling). The EU Commission proposed cars to be made with at least 25% of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics. Automobile manufacturers seek to source recycled plastics coming from old cars. Closing the loop gets real and each industry will try to find a way to get their waste back, of virgin quality,” tells Yoobin Jung at Plug and Play Tech Center

Plastic Return Systems

“Reverse vending and logistics infrastructure, technology and data are transforming waste into valuable resources. Return systems address both waste recovery and resource reuse, generating measurable value in a growing market for waste-to-value solutions that is projected to reach $87 billion by 2030,” shares Nic Gorini at Spin Ventures

Mixed Plastic Waste

“Emerging methods for plastic recycling that significantly reduce energy inputs and enable the processing of mixed plastic waste show great potential. These advancements will enhance the techno-economics of plastic recycling, making it more viable for large-scale operations. Innovative chemical recycling technologies are being developed to convert contaminated and complex plastic waste into valuable resources efficiently. This shift will not only improve the economics of plastic recycling but also increase the amount of plastic waste diverted from landfills and oceans, facilitating a circular economy at broader scales,” highlights Iris ten Have at Visionaries Tomorrow

Meet our Circular Economy Speaker: Jacob Nathan, CEO and Founder, Epoch Biodesign

From a high school science project to addressing a global climate and health problem, Jacob Nathan is convinced enzymes can revolutionise our plastic waste problem.

By harnessing the power of AI to design enzyme-driven solutions, Epoch Biodesign’s bio-recycling platform unlocks circularity for the toughest-to-recycle materials and enables infinite recycling for mixed plastics and textiles at low temperatures while producing sustainable outputs for use in apparel, automotive, packaging and more.

The startup’s innovative technology addresses a critical gap in the circular economy, offering a scalable solution to one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. And they’re just getting started.

Joining us on May 15-16th, Jacob Nathan will join us on stage for an intimate Fireside Chat with Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia Capital at the HackSummit. Listen in on the deep discussion to hear how his biorecycling technology is transforming plastic waste into valuable resources and how innovations in circularity can upend industries to tackle pressing environmental challenges.

70+ Plastic Reuse and Recycling Startups

From cutting-edge chemical recycling to AI-driven material sorting, enzyme-based recycling technologies, and advanced waste-to-value marketplaces, these companies are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in plastic circularity.

👉️ Head this way to access the full database.

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