Precious Plastic

What Precious Plastic does

Precious Plastic Den Haag (PPDH) was a local chapter of the global Precious Plastic movement, founded in 2017 in The Hague, Netherlands, and operated as a small private venture with 1–10 employees. The organization ran open-source Precious Plastic machines — a Shredder, Extruder, and Injector — to process post-consumer plastic (notably bottle caps from Afval Loont and beach-collected waste) into new products, serving educational institutions, social workplaces, designers, and community members in the Netherlands and occasionally engaging audiences across Belgium and the UK through exhibitions such as Boijmans van Beuningen's 'Change the System' and Dutch Design Week 2017.

The core offering combined the three interconnected machines as a production line: the Shredder broke plastic waste into flakes, the Extruder melted and shaped those flakes into beams, filaments, or sheets, and the Injector molded molten plastic into finished items. PPDH used this line to produce recycled beams, customizable LED lighting casings, side tables, and surf wax combs, while also delivering hands-on workshops to schools (Basisschool De Grote Beer, HKU, KABK, Hogeschool van Amsterdam) and participating in beach cleanups with partners including Sea First Foundation, Grondstofjutters, and ALOHA SURF. The technology stack is entirely mechanical and open-source, with no proprietary IP, software platform, or AI component.

The business model was a mix of one-time product sales (via the Precious Plastic Bazar marketplace and at events), workshop fees for educational programs, and in-kind or service-based collaborations with social workplaces for sorting and shredding. Pricing was not publicly disclosed, and customer engagement was handled via email. Despite regional recognition (Awesome The Hague 2017, Lenteprijs 2017, MKB Innovation Top 100 nomination 2018, Venture Academy 2018 winner), PPDH disclosed no revenue, funding, or investor backing. According to the founders, the operation ceased after approximately 2.5 years 'due to money and passion,' with the website now redirecting users to www.preciousplastic.com.

Name

Precious Plastic

Legal name

Precious Plastic Den Haag

Website

https://preciousplasticdenhaag.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Precious Plastic Den Haag was a 2017-founded Dutch chapter of the global Precious Plastic movement, operating open-source Shredder, Extruder, and Injector machines to convert plastic waste into beams, LED lighting, furniture, and surf wax combs for schools, social workplaces, designers, and community groups before ceasing operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycled Plastic Products

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Waste Collection (5621)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Mechanical Recycling (Wash, Grind, Pelletize) (EUAIAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rigid Plastics Recycling (HDPE/PP, Injection/Blow Molded) (EUAIAKAF), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA), Plastic Recycling Equipment & Technology Providers (Sorting, Washing, Extrusion) (EUAIAKAM)

Keywords

• Plastic recycling machines
• Recycled plastic products
• Circular economy workshops
• Plastic waste processing
• Community recycling hub

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Sale of recycled plastic products including beams, side tables, and other items created from processed plastic waste through Precious Plastic Bazar marketplace
2. Workshops: Educational workshops for schools, events, and organizations teaching plastic recycling techniques
3. Social Workplace Services: Collaboration with social workplaces for cleaning, sorting, and shredding plastic materials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Precious Plastic Den Haag operates open-source plastic recycling machines (Shredder, Extruder, Injector) to transform collected plastic waste into new finished products such as LED lighting, furniture, surf wax combs, and extruded beams. It also delivers educational workshops on circular design and organizes beach clean-up events in collaboration with community partners. The organization operated as a local chapter of the global Precious Plastic movement founded by Dave Hakkens.

Product overview

Precious Plastic Den Haag is a local Precious Plastic hub that operates a suite of open-source plastic recycling machines (Shredder, Extruder, and Injector) to transform plastic waste into new products. The core offering consists of operating these three interconnected machines: the Shredder processes plastic waste into flakes, the Extruder converts flakes into beams and other extruded shapes, and the Injector molds plastic into specific products. PPDH creates finished products including recycled LED lighting, furniture (side tables), surf wax combs, and custom beams in various colors. They offer workshops and educational services, participate in community events, and sell products through the Precious Plastic Bazar marketplace platform. The operation also includes beach clean-up services that collect plastic waste for processing into new products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LED Lighting Recycled and recyclable LED lighting fixtures with casings made from waste plastics collected from the environment and consumer packaging. Each lighting has distinctive color and authentic texture; customizable in sizes and colors. Targeted at consumers and design buyers interested in sustainable lighting products.
• Surf Wax Combs Surf wax combs made from recycled plastic bottle caps collected from beaches, specifically produced for the MadNes Festival and The Shore Scheveningen partnership. Targeted at surfers and beach community consumers.
• Side Table Furniture piece created from recycled plastic beams produced using the extruder. Inspired by the Precious Plastic Community, with beams created at Designkwartier Den Haag. Targeted at consumers and design buyers seeking sustainable furniture.
• Beams Extruded plastic profiles created using the Precious Plastic extruder machine. Colored beams made from recycled bottle caps and plastic waste, used as raw material or finished products for furniture and design applications. Targeted at designers, makers, and furniture producers.
• Workshops Educational workshops teaching participants about plastic recycling, machine operation, and circular design principles. Offered for schools, events, and community groups including HKU Onderwijsdag and Basisschool De Grote Beer. Targeted at schools, universities, and community groups.
• Beach Clean-up Services Community beach clean-up events in collaboration with partners like Sea First Foundation, Grondstofjutters, and TrashUre Hunt. Collected plastic is sorted, shredded, and turned into new products. Targeted at community volunteers and environmental partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Processed 3000 kg of bottle caps into recycled products
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Precious Plastic OfficialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2017Main Precious Plastic organization founded by Dave Hakkens providing open-source machine designs, community support, and global network for local chapters
• Afval LoontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaterial supplier providing large quantities of plastic waste including 3000 kg of bottle caps for recycling
• Kringloopwinkel Schroeder (Stichting Dr. Schroeder van der Kolk Bedrijven)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial workplace collaboration for cleaning, sorting, and shredding used plastics. Alderman Karsten Klein launched the partnership by feeding bottle caps to the shredder
• TU DelftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical university collaboration for the Boijmans van Beuningen exhibition setup and ongoing technical support
• ROC MondriaanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational education institution partnership for educational programs and student involvement
• De BesturingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization providing workspace facility at Saturnusstraat 91 in The Hague for operations
• Sea First FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBeach cleanup organization hosting events at Scheveningen where PPDH participated and supported
• By the Ocean we UniteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOcean awareness organization collaborating on marine plastic pollution initiatives
• Sea Going GreenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSustainable tourism and environmental consultancy partnership for green initiatives
• GrondstofjuttersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCircular strand initiative organizing beach cleanups at Scheveningen with community participation
• ALOHA SURFminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSurf shop at Scheveningen hosting beach cleanup registration and activities
• Jessica den Hartog | Design StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner collaboration for material and colour research using Precious Plastic beams at Object Rotterdam
• Circular ClockworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatch designer using recycled plastic, visited Boijmans exhibition and shared Indiegogo project
• Plastic uit zeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganization focused on plastic collected from the sea for recycling projects

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Waste4Change: Indonesia-based waste management and recycling service provider offering material recovery, EPR programs, and community education. Comparable in combining MRF operations with education/awareness but focused on Southeast Asia rather than Europe.

Direct peers

• The Plastic Whale Foundation: Amsterdam-based social enterprise that organizes plastic fishing events on canals and turns collected plastic into furniture/products. Highly comparable: same Netherlands geography, same community-event feedstock model, same recycled-plastic product output.
• ByFusion: Converts mixed plastic waste into construction-grade blocks without sorting or washing, using a proprietary mechanical process. Comparable mission (diverting plastic from oceans/landfills) but industrial-scale rather than community workshop scale.
• Bureo: Produces consumer products (skateboards, sunglasses) from recycled ocean fishing-net plastic using mechanical processing. Closely comparable as a small-batch recycled-plastic product brand, though Bureo is more commercial and product-focused.
• Precious Plastic (Global): Parent organization of PPDH founded by Dave Hakkens; provides the open-source Shredder/Extruder/Injector/Bazaar ecosystem that PPDH operates within. Most directly comparable as it sets the technology, community, and distribution standards the chapter follows.

Others

• Parley for the Oceans: Global network collaborating with brands (Adidas, etc.) on ocean plastic upcycling and awareness. Comparable on the marine-plastic-upcycling narrative and partnership-led GTM, but operates as an orchestrator/platform rather than a processor.

Broad incumbents

• Dell Technologies (Closed-Loop Plastics): Operates one of the largest closed-loop recycled plastics programs, sourcing from coastal communities and beach cleanups. Comparable feedstock story and ocean-to-product narrative, but executed at enterprise-IT procurement scale.
• Patagonia (Worn Wear / recycled product lines): Major apparel/consumer brand with established recycled-content product lines and circularity programs. Comparable as an end-buyer and storyteller for recycled materials, though at vastly larger scale and through procurement rather than direct processing.
• Plastic Bank: Social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic and converts it into Social Plastic feedstock for brands. Operates at significantly larger scale than PPDH and shares the community/social-impact angle of plastic recycling-as-livelihood.
• TerraCycle: Global recycling platform specializing in hard-to-recycle waste streams including plastics. Comparable in collecting and processing low-grade plastics from the public, but operates as a commercial recycler rather than a community workshop model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/preciousplasticdenhaag
• Instagraminstagram.com/preciousplasticnl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 →

Frequently asked questions about Precious Plastic