ECOCE

What ECOCE does

ECOCE (legal name ECOCE A.C.) is a Mexican non-profit civil association founded in 2003 by the food and beverage industry as a voluntary extended producer responsibility initiative. Headquartered in Mexico City (Polanco), the organization operates as an articulator rather than a direct operator: it does not run its own collection centers or recycling facilities but connects industry, government, academia, and citizens to coordinate the recovery of packaging waste, primarily PET, PEAD (HDPE), flexible plastic packaging (EPF), PP, and multi-laminate cardboard. ECOCE's core programs include institutional collection (government offices, museums, zoos, sports centers), university collection programs, massive-event recycling (marathons, concerts), the Eco Rescates community clean-up initiative (110+ events across 24 states with 9,600+ volunteers and 350 km of territory cleaned), and the Educa Verde online education platform covering nine macro-topics from preschool to university level. Additional tools include an interactive ecological calculator, downloadable material guides, and a national directory of collection centers.

ECOCE's business model is a membership-based industry consortium funded by voluntary contributions from more than 300 food and beverage brands, supplemented by government framework agreements. All programs delivered to institutions, universities, and communities are free; there is no commercial pricing. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, supported by content marketing through its website, social media channels, a newsletter, press communications, and creative campaigns.

ECOCE reports a 64% PET collection and recycling rate in Mexico (exceeding the United States and Canada and comparable to Europe) and has recycled more than 514,420 tonnes of PET since inception. Under the ECOCE 2.0 strategy, the organization is expanding from PET to flexible plastic packaging, including a multi-year chemical recycling partnership with Aduro Clean Technologies to evaluate Hydrochemolytic Technology (HCT) on Mexico's estimated 1.5 million tonnes of annual flexible plastic waste, and a pilot project with Greenback in Cuautla. The organization has 11–50 employees and is governed as a non-profit civil association under Mexican law.

Name

ECOCE

Legal name

ECOCE A.C.

Website

https://ecoce.mx

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ECOCE is a Mexican non-profit civil association founded in 2003 that articulates the national recycling ecosystem by connecting 300+ food and beverage member brands, federal and state governments, educational institutions, and citizens to coordinate PET and flexible plastic packaging collection, environmental education, and circular economy programs across Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Extended Producer Responsibility & Recycling Coordination Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Certified Compliance & Reporting Services (R2/e-Stewards, Audit, ESG) (BPALAIAL)

Keywords

• Recycling education programs
• Circular economy initiatives
• Packaging waste management
• Extended producer responsibility
• Environmental education platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Polanco

HQ country

Mexico

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industry Membership and Sponsorship: ECOCE is funded by the food and beverage industry through voluntary extended producer responsibility contributions. It was created and sponsored by the Mexican food and beverage industry to promote responsible management of packaging waste. Member companies provide financial support to fund ECOCE's education programs, collection initiatives, and circular economy projects.
2. Government Collaborations: ECOCE receives support and collaborates with government bodies such as SEMARNAT and state governments on waste management and circular economy initiatives. These collaborations involve framework agreements for joint environmental actions, including waste separation, recycling, and environmental education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ECOCE is a Mexican non-profit civil association that articulates the country's recycling system by connecting the food and beverage industry, government, academia, and citizens. It coordinates collection programs for packaging waste (PET, PEAD, EPF, POLI, PP), delivers environmental education through the Educa Verde platform, runs community clean-up events, and provides tools such as an ecological calculator and a national directory of collection centers. The organization operates as a voluntary extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiative funded by 300+ food and beverage brands.

Product overview

ECOCE is a non-profit civil association (asociación civil sin fines de lucro) founded over 20 years ago by the Mexican food and beverage industry. The organization operates as a system articulator rather than a direct operator, connecting industry, government, academia, and citizens to promote circular economy and recycling in Mexico. The core portfolio includes environmental education through the Educa Verde online platform, various collection programs (institutional, university, and massive events), the Eco Rescates community cleanup initiative, an ecological calculator tool, downloadable material guides, and a national directory of collection centers. ECOCE manages materials including PET, PEAD, EPF (flexible plastic packaging), POLI, and PP.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Educa Verde: A free online environmental education platform directed at the academic sector and general public, promoting sustainable development. It covers 9 macro-themes with downloadable tools and activities, and offers certificates upon completion.

Products and services

• Institutional Collection Program (Acopio Institucional) Free on-site collection program for institutional clients, providing waste classification bags, monthly pickup schedules, and annual environmental constancy certificates. Designed for government offices, sports centers, museums, zoos, and small businesses.
• University Collection Program (Programas Universitarios) Free monthly collection program for universities, targeting post-consumer packaging waste (PET, PEAD, EPF, PP, POLI, multi-laminate). Includes digital seminars, eco-vouchers, and annual environmental constancy certificates. Designed for academic institutions, faculty, and students.
• Massive Events Collection (Eventos Masivos) On-site recycling collection service for large public events such as marathons, triathlons, and concerts. ECOCE installs containers along event circuits, classifies collected materials, and promotes environmental awareness to attendees.
• Eco Rescates Community Cleanup Events Community-driven cleanup events that unite volunteers, member companies, and local governments to clean natural areas such as rivers, beaches, forests, and urban spaces. Recovered recyclable materials are reintegrated into the recycling value chain.
• Educa Verde Online Education Platform Free online environmental education platform covering 9 macro-topics from preschool to university level, with downloadable tools, activities, webinars, and completion certificates. Targets the academic sector and general public to promote sustainable development.
• Ecological Recycling Calculator (Calculadora Ecológica) Interactive online calculator that quantifies the environmental benefits (energy savings, CO2 emissions avoided, water savings) of recycling specific quantities of packaging materials including PET, PEAD, POLI, PP, multi-laminate cardboard, glass, aluminum, and tin.
• Recyclable Material Guides (PET, PEAD, EPF, POLI, PP) Downloadable educational guides providing identification, separation, and recycling instructions for PET, PEAD, EPF (flexible plastic packaging), POLI (LDPE), and PP (biaxially-oriented polypropylene). Distributed free via the ECOCE website.
• National Directory of Collection Centers (Directorio Nacional de Acopiadores) Searchable online national directory of public and private collection centers across Mexico, filterable by state, municipality, or material type, enabling citizens to locate the nearest recycling point.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64% PET collection and recycling rate, exceeding Canada, the United States, and comparable to Europe
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SEMARNAT (Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026SEMARNAT and ECOCE signed a framework collaboration agreement to strengthen joint actions on waste management, circular economy initiatives, and pollution prevention in Mexico. Under the agreement, both parties promote waste separation, recycling, recovery of recyclable materials, and environmental education. ECOCE installed 10 collection containers at SEMARNAT facilities for PET, HDPE, and flexible plastic packaging. This partnership supports the implementation of Mexico's General Law of Circular Economy.
• Congress of Baja California SurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026The Congress of Baja California Sur and ECOCE formalized a collaboration agreement to promote waste separation, recycling, and circular economy principles across the state. The initiative includes campaigns, collection stations, legislation support, and educational outreach aimed at enhancing environmental responsibility and sustainability.
• Aduro Clean TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Aduro Clean Technologies and ECOCE entered into a multi-year framework collaboration agreement to evaluate Aduro's Hydrochemolytic Technology (HCT) as a chemical recycling solution for flexible and mixed plastic packaging in Mexico. Beginning in January 2026, ECOCE will supply representative post-consumer flexible plastic materials sourced through Mexico's national packaging management plan for HCT testing at laboratory and pilot scales. The partnership aims to address Mexico's estimated 1.5 million tonnes of annual flexible plastic packaging waste and explore potential deployment of HCT-based recycling facilities in Mexico.
• SIMEPRODE (Nuevo León)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOCE-SIMEPRODE alliance to strengthen the circular economy in Nuevo León. Joint environmental education campaigns and consumption responsibility campaigns. Recovery of recyclable waste for a second life. Promotion of citizen co-responsibility and separation from the home. Support for public policies and sustainable development in the region.
• Huerto Roma VerdecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOCE and Huerto Roma Verde collaboration to consolidate a replicable model where social innovation and citizen participation become drivers of a more sustainable and regenerative future for Mexican cities. The alliance aims to strengthen Huerto Roma Verde's waste reception facilities and increase collection capacity.
• SIGER (Yucatán)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECOCE-SIGER alliance to promote circular economy in Yucatán through installation of collection points for PET, PEAD, and flexible plastics; communication and environmental education campaigns; training, technical advice, and annual environmental constancy. Guarantees traceability and compliance with the SDGs.
• TEC de MonterreycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal collaboration agreement between TEC de Monterrey and ECOCE for environmental education, waste separation programs, and circular economy initiatives within the university.
• FES Acatlán (UNAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement between FES Acatlán (Faculty of Higher Studies of UNAM) and ECOCE for waste separation and recycling programs on campus.
• UAM LermacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement between UAM Lerma (Autonomous Metropolitan University, Lerma campus) and ECOCE for circular economy programs and environmental education.
• UVM PueblacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement between UVM Puebla and ECOCE for environmental programs and waste management initiatives on campus.
• Oaxaca State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance between the Oaxaca state government and ECOCE, aligned with Oaxaca's goal to become a waste-free state, including waste separation, recycling, and environmental education programs.
• Limpiemos YucatáncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration between Limpiemos Yucatán and ECOCE for environmental cleanup campaigns and waste management programs in Yucatán.
• Puebla State GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement between the Puebla state government and ECOCE for waste management and circular economy initiatives.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• RecyClass: Cross-industry initiative managed by Plastics Recyclers Europe that sets recyclability assessment methodologies for plastic packaging. Highly comparable as ECOCE expands into flexible plastic assessment and traceability under its ECOCE 2.0 strategy.
• Ecoembes: Spanish packaging EPR organization coordinating household recycling across Spain for member brand owners. Most direct international comparable to ECOCE — same voluntary-to-mandatory EPR evolution, same multi-stakeholder articulation model, same packaging materials focus.
• Citeo: French packaging and paper EPR organization created by consumer goods companies to coordinate household recycling. Highly comparable business model — industry-funded, brand-owner-driven, education plus collection infrastructure — with the same mandate to expand into flexible and difficult-to-recycle streams.
• Stewardship Ontario: Canadian industry-funded EPR organization managing the Blue Box program and other diversion streams. Comparable funding model (industry stewardship fees), multi-stakeholder governance, and operational scope across packaging materials.
• Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR): North American trade association representing the plastics recycling industry, setting design guidelines and testing protocols. Comparable to ECOCE's standards-setting and education role, though more US-focused and industry-supplier oriented.
• Petcore Europe: European PET value-chain association representing resin producers, converters, brand owners, and recyclers. Directly comparable given ECOCE's PET-centric origin and 514,420+ tonne cumulative recycling record.
• CONAI (Consorzio Nazionale Imballaggi): Italian packaging consortium that coordinates recycling across multiple material streams through member consortia. Closely mirrors ECOCE's industry-funded, multi-stakeholder articulation model and its segmentation of plastics, paper, and other packaging categories.
• Grüner Punkt (Der Grüne Punkt / Duales System Deutschland): Germany's pioneering packaging EPR scheme operating the Green Dot trademark, financed by licensed brand owners. Closely comparable funding, compliance certification, and materials scope (including flexible plastics).

Others

• Reloop Platform: International NGO advocating for circular economy policies, including beverage container deposit-return and producer responsibility frameworks. Comparable advocacy and policy-influence role to ECOCE's positioning vis-à-vis Mexico's Circular Economy Law.

Emerging players

• Aduro Clean Technologies: Canadian cleantech developing Hydrochemolytic Technology (HCT) for chemical recycling of flexible plastics. Direct partnership counterparty to ECOCE and indicative of the emerging chemical-recycling ecosystem ECOCE is helping to localize in Mexico.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecoceac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ECOCEMX
• Facebookfacebook.com/ECOCEAC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoce-ac/posts/?feedView=all
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoceac
• TikToktiktok.com/@ecoce_mx_?_r=1&_t=ZS-93GCYJAXpMz
• Pinterestpinterest.com.mx/ecoceac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ECOCE