What Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics does

Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics (NTCP) is an independent not-for-profit test and research centre headquartered in Heerenveen, Netherlands, dedicated to improving the sorting and washing of plastic packaging from household waste. Founded in late 2018 with EUR 3 million from the Dutch National Government, Province of Fryslân and Afvalfonds, and expanded in April 2024 with a EUR 12 million grant from the Dutch National Growth Fund programme Circular Plastics NL, NTCP operates the first independent industrial-representative pilot sorting line (up to 2,000 kg/hour) and a modular industrial washing line in Europe. The facility — equipped with Ballistic Separators, NIR optical sorters, a Nihot Windshifter, magnets, and experimental positions for new equipment — runs tests on real waste streams rather than simulated materials, with equipment installed by Bollegraaf Recycling Solutions and Lindner Washtech.

NTCP's product surface spans physical testing services (Controlled Sorting Tests, Washing Tests, Composition/Characterisation Studies, Design for Recycling advisory, Process Optimisation, and Technology Development Facilitation) and an AI-driven offering, the Perfect Sorting Platform — a multimodal sensor-and-AI classification system developed with the Perfect Sorting Consortium (nine global brand owners including Danone, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Colgate-Palmolive, Ferrero, Mars, P&G, Michelin and LVMH Recherche) together with Ghent and Radboud universities and AI specialist PolyPerception. A separate Knowledge Database captures process settings and test results for cross-study analysis, with intent to become publicly accessible.

Commercially, NTCP operates a B2B contract-research and professional-services model selling testing, R&D and consulting engagements across the plastic value chain: brand owners, packaging producers, retailers, waste collectors, sorters and recyclers, plus government and academic collaborators. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and revenue is not reported, consistent with the not-for-profit structure. Leadership comprises Director Martine Brandsma and R&D Manager Marcel van Eijk; the current workforce is approximately 20 experts. The organisation is positioned as a European leader in plastic sorting and washing research, with the post-2024 funding set to double its physical footprint within two years.

Name

Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics

Legal name

Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics

Website

https://ntcp.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NTCP is an independent, not-for-profit Dutch test and research centre operating industrial-representative pilot sorting and washing lines for plastic packaging, serving brand owners, sorters, recyclers, packaging producers, retailers, government and academic partners with contract research, AI-driven sorting (Perfect Sorting) and a Knowledge Database.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Recycling Testing and Research Services

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Advanced/Optical Sorting & Quality Control Services (NIR, AI, Robotics) (BPALADAH)

Keywords

• Plastic recycling testing
• Sorting line research
• Washing line process
• Packaging sortability evaluation
• Circular plastics R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Heerenveen

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. B2B Contract Research: NTCP conducts contract research and testing services for companies and organizations throughout the plastic value chain. They perform sorting tests, process optimization studies, technology development facilitation, and washing tests under realistic conditions with real waste streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NTCP operates Europe's first independent test and development center for plastic sorting and washing from household waste, running a pilot sorting line representative of industrial scale (up to 2000 kg/hour) and a modular industrial washing line for plastics processing. The center delivers contract research, sorting and washing tests, process optimization, design-for-recycling advisory, and AI-based packaging classification (Perfect Sorting Platform) to the entire plastic value chain including brand owners, sorters, recyclers, retailers, and government bodies.

Product overview

Nationaal Testcentrum Circulaire Plastics (NTCP) is an independent not-for-profit test and development center focused on making plastic waste 100% recyclable. The company operates as a single unified platform offering both physical testing infrastructure and analytical services. Core infrastructure includes a modular Pilot Sorting Line (up to 2000 kg/hour capacity) and an Industrial Washing Line, which work together to simulate and optimize the complete plastic recycling process from waste stream to recycled material. Supporting these physical facilities are several specialized testing and consulting services including Packaging Sortability Evaluation, Composition Analysis, Washing Tests, and Design for Recycling Advisory. NTCP also operates the AI-powered Perfect Sorting Platform, which uses multi-sensor data fusion and AI classification to improve sorting accuracy beyond conventional methods. The Knowledge Database serves as a centralized repository for all test data and process settings. The company collaborates with industry, academia, and government through research programs and contract research, while also offering educational outreach through the Plastic Quest program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pilot Sorting Line Modular industrial-representative pilot sorting line with capacity up to 2000 kg per hour that simulates complete sorting processes while allowing individual steps to be run and sampled separately, with experimental positions to test new equipment and technologies using real household plastic waste streams.
• Industrial Washing Line Full modular washing line that investigates washing of plastics step-by-step covering shredding, cold and hot water washing, and drying for sample preparation in 1-100 kg batches, designed to support testing and optimisation of cleaning processes for plastic recyclers.
• Perfect Sorting Platform AI-powered platform using multiple sensors to examine plastic objects and combine sensor data (colour, application, shape, material) into a classification and decision model for improved separation of food versus non-food packaging and other packaging currently not properly sorted.
• Knowledge Database Centralized database storing process settings and test results from all NTCP studies, enabling cross-study analyses and data-driven decisions in the plastics recycling chain; planned to be publicly accessible via the NTCP website.
• Packaging Sortability Evaluation Comprehensive testing protocol that evaluates packaging sortability under industry-realistic conditions using the pilot sorting line, including NIR optical sorter analysis for detectability and classification assessment of packaging materials.
• Composition Analysis Service Research service that determines the composition of sorting streams using NTCP's characterisation protocol, combining chemical, physical and mechanical material properties from the Knowledge Database to assess yield, impact, and interfering materials for specific applications.
• Washing Test Service Experimental service focused on releasability of adhesives in cold water washing processes for PP and/or PE packaging with plastic labels, providing insights into label release effectiveness during washing at mechanical recyclers.
• Process Optimisation Services Consulting service using the pilot sorting installation to test and optimise process parameters of individual or integrated sorting equipment, demand-driven by client challenges in the market.
• Technology Development Facilitation R&D service integrating and testing newly developed equipment or technologies with real waste streams in an industrially scalable environment, enabling practical validation of innovations at small scale with results applicable to large scale.
• Design for Recycling Advisory Advisory service linking sorting test results to design-for-recycling recommendations, helping clients increase the recyclability of their packaging based on NTCP test outcomes and data analysis.
• Controlled Sorting Tests Testing service that evaluates efficiency of sorting specific packaging under realistic conditions with real waste streams, determining whether packaging ends up in the correct sorting stream and route to recycling.
• Research Programs Continuous research engagement offerings including B2B contract research, academic collaboration, joint industry projects, and governmental or EU programmes conducted with universities, hosting students, graduates and postdocs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sorting capacity up to 2000 kg per hour on pilot scale
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• PolyPerceptioncoreTechnology or Integration · 10 May 2022PolyPerception specializes in waste stream characterisation using AI and partners with NTCP in the Perfect Sorting consortium to realize a classification and decision model for AI-based sorting.
• DanonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Danone is one of nine brand owners participating in the Perfect Sorting consortium, working with NTCP and universities to develop and test an AI decision model for packaging waste sorting over a 2-year project period.
• PepsiCocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022PepsiCo participates in the Perfect Sorting consortium bringing expertise in ecodesign and packaging waste sorting to develop AI-based solutions for improving packaging circularity.
• NestlécoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Nestlé is part of the Perfect Sorting consortium contributing expertise in packaging and sustainability to develop AI decision models for better waste sorting.
• Colgate-PalmolivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Colgate-Palmolive participates in the Perfect Sorting project bringing brand owner perspective on packaging design and recyclability.
• FerrerocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Ferrero participates as a brand owner in the Perfect Sorting consortium to improve packaging waste sorting through AI technology.
• Mars, IncorporatedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Mars, Incorporated brings expertise in packaging and sustainability to the Perfect Sorting consortium for AI-based sorting solutions.
• Procter & GamblecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Procter & Gamble participates in the Perfect Sorting consortium contributing to the development of AI decision models for packaging waste sorting.
• MichelincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Michelin is a consortium member bringing expertise in materials and ecodesign to the Perfect Sorting AI-based sorting project.
• LVMH RecherchecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022LVMH Recherche participates in the Perfect Sorting consortium representing the luxury goods sector perspective on packaging sustainability.
• Ghent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Ghent University develops the packaging sorting model and collaborates with NTCP to create AI decision models for detecting, identifying and classifying packaging beyond current sorting streams.
• Radboud UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2022Radboud University works with NTCP and Ghent University as part of the Perfect Sorting consortium to develop AI solutions for packaging waste sorting.
• Bollegraaf Recycling SolutionsmajorTechnology or IntegrationBollegraaf Recycling Solutions supplied and installed the NTCP sorting line including IFE screen, conveyor belt, drumfeeder, magnet, and ballistic separator equipment.
• Lindner WashtechmajorTechnology or IntegrationLindner Washtech's modular washing system is installed at NTCP for investigating and developing optimal cleaning processes for plastic waste streams.
• NHL Stenden HogeschoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences collaborates with NTCP for bundling, applying and further developing knowledge on plastic recycling.
• Vereniging Circulair FrieslandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereniging Circulair Friesland acts as a network facilitator working together on the realization of NTCP.
• OmrinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOmrin, an waste processing company, opened a Kunststofsorteerinstallatie (KSI) at Ecopark De Wierde in Heerenveen and collaborates on the development of plastic sorting infrastructure.
• MorssinkhofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMorssinkhof is building a modern factory next to NTCP in Heerenveen to process sorted plastics into raw materials for new products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Greyparrot: UK-based AI waste analytics company using computer vision to characterize material composition in sorting and recycling facilities. Directly comparable to NTCP's AI classification work in Perfect Sorting and to its stream characterization service offering.
• AMP Robotics: US-based leader in AI-guided robotic sorting for recycling facilities, applying computer vision to identify and sort packaging. Overlaps directly with NTCP's AI/multimodal sorting focus and serves a comparable brand-owner and MRF customer base.
• Recycleye: UK startup applying computer vision and AI to waste characterization and robotic sorting in MRFs. Overlaps with NTCP's Perfect Sorting AI platform and targets the same European recyclers and brand owners.

Broad incumbents

• Pellenc ST: French designer and manufacturer of sensor-based optical sorting equipment for the recycling industry, including AI-assisted sorting. Overlaps with NTCP's sorting process focus and supplies or competes with the equipment NTCP pilots in Heerenveen.
• TOMRA Collection: Global market leader in sensor-based sorting and recycling equipment, including NIR optical sorters and AI classification. While it sells industrial-scale hardware rather than testing services, it competes for the same customer mindshare and increasingly embeds AI sorting capabilities that NTCP also develops.

Direct peers

• PolyPerception: Specialist in AI-based waste stream characterization, partnered with NTCP inside the Perfect Sorting consortium. Works on the same multimodal sensor fusion and AI classification problem for plastic packaging sorting, making it a direct technical peer.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV): Germany's leading applied research institute for packaging and recycling, running pilot recycling lines, recyclability testing, and process R&D for the same brand-owner and value-chain audience that NTCP serves. Operates a comparable independent, contract-research model in the same European circular plastics space.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with active programmes in plastic recycling, sorting and characterization for the European circular economy. Closely mirrors NTCP's mix of contract research, pilot infrastructure, and government funding.

Others

• SOREMA (Previero): Italian supplier of plastic recycling washing and processing lines, comparable to Lindner Washtech at NTCP. Operates in the same plastics washing and preprocessing value chain that NTCP pilots and tests.
• Steinert (Steinert Elektromagnetbau): German manufacturer of sensor-based sorting and magnetic separation equipment whose technology (NIR, magnets) is installed at NTCP's pilot line. Functions as a key technology supplier and adjacent innovator to NTCP's sorting R&D.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NTCPlastics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nationaal-testcentrum-circulaire-plastics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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