Introducing PCX Circular Plastic, A Transparent Solution for Sourcing Recycled Content & Fighting Plastic Pollution

With PCX Circular Plastic, brands can source fully verified recycled content for their products and packaging, reduce their reliance on virgin plastic, and fund the audited cleanup of downstream plastic pollution.

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PCX Markets, a plastic responsibility platform that offers reduction advisory services and helps fund plastic pollution cleanup around the world, today announced the launch of PCX Circular Plastic, a pioneering solution that gives brands the opportunity to fund audited cleanup of plastic pollution - and source a steady supply of recycled resin from verified recycling partners.

Businesses worldwide want to reduce their reliance on virgin plastic and help address the growing plastic pollution crisis that threatens our planet. Finding diversified sources of responsibly sourced recycled content, however, is a real challenge.

Companies that choose PCX Circular Plastic can be assured the post-consumer recycled content they’re buying comes from recycling projects that have been audited according to rigorous, third-party standards that include environmental, social, labour and workplace safeguards. 

“By choosing PCX Circular Plastic, businesses become part of a global ecosystem accelerating the transition to a circular economy,” said Sebastian DiGrande, Chief Executive Officer of PCX Markets. “When businesses invest in this solution, they’re not just meeting their recycled content targets. They’re helping to close the funding gap for waste management solutions in markets that need it the most, and creating jobs in communities hardest hit by the plastic pollution crisis.” 

The world has produced about 9 billion metric tons of plastic since the 1950s. Today, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled, 19% incinerated, and 72% landfilled, dumped, openly burned or ends up in the environment, with detrimental effects on our ecosystems and human populations. 

The UN estimates we need to invest $1.64 trillion to beat plastic pollution by 2040. The biggest need is in the Global South, which lacks waste management infrastructure and bears the brunt of the plastic crisis. 

Emerging markets, however, received only 6% of plastic circularity investments between 2018 and 2023, according to The Circulate Initiative. A recent World Bank report estimates there is a gap of $28-$40 per ton for plastic waste collection and $24-$40 per ton across plastic recycling value chains in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Verified plastic credits can help close the funding gap, connecting brands that want to fund downstream cleanup with project partners that need additional funding. 

With the option to bundle plastic credits with verified recycled resin produced by the same project partners, PCX is able to provide businesses with a proven, audited and scalable solution to meet both upstream virgin plastic reduction targets and downstream recovery goals.

“Companies that purchase PCX Circular Plastic can be sure the post-consumer recycled content they’re buying comes from recycling projects that have been audited according to rigorous, third-party standards,” said DiGrande. “What’s more, it’s all transparent - the entire process can be tracked, traced and verified. 

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About Us

PCX Markets is a plastic responsibility platform that provides upstream and downstream solutions to help companies achieve their sustainability goals. PCX Markets also manages a transparent marketplace which activates an ecosystem of partners who collect, transport and responsibly process plastic waste while supporting communities with programs that improve livelihoods and scale social impact. 

PCX Markets, which is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and build a future where no plastic waste ends up in nature, has enabled the clean up of over 137 million kilograms of plastic pollution worldwide. A Certified B Corp, PCX Markets meets B Lab’s rigorous standards for accountability, transparency, and social and environmental performance. 

We work closely with our sister organisation, PCX Solutions, a non profit that advises companies and governments on plastic responsibility, and manages the Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard (PPRS).