Rethink Plastic alliance

What Rethink Plastic alliance does

Rethink Plastic Alliance is a Brussels-based coalition of leading European environmental NGOs, founded in 2017 and hosted by Zero Waste Europe, that conducts coordinated policy advocacy on plastic pollution in the European Union. Its core work is the design and delivery of policy positions to EU institutions across four workstreams: plastic production phase-out, single-use plastics reduction and toxic-free reuse, microplastics, and waste management / waste trade — plus active engagement in the UN Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. The alliance represents thousands of active groups, supporters, and citizens across all 27 EU Member States and operates as part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, which consists of over 11,000-13,000 organisations and individuals worldwide. Full member organizations include ClientEarth, the Center for International Environmental Law, the European Environmental Bureau, the Environmental Investigation Agency, ECOS, Seas at Risk, Surfrider Foundation Europe, and Greenpeace EU, with associated members including Bellona and Carbon Market Watch.

The alliance's outputs are research publications, policy briefings, position papers, press releases, and a quarterly newsletter, distributed through its website resource library, LinkedIn and BlueSky channels, and policy events. Its operational footprint is intentionally lean — a two-person coordination team (a Policy Coordinator and a Communications Coordinator) supported administratively by host organization Zero Waste Europe — reflecting a coalition model in which substantive technical and legal expertise is supplied by the member NGOs rather than by in-house staff.

Rethink Plastic Alliance operates as a non-profit NGO coalition with no commercial revenue model; it does not sell products, license technology, or operate APIs. It is funded and resourced through its member organizations and is structurally the European arm of the Break Free From Plastic movement. Its competitive position rests on coalition breadth, accumulated EU regulatory expertise, and proximity to Brussels policy cycles rather than on proprietary technology or commercial scale.

Name

Rethink Plastic alliance

Legal name

Rethink Plastic alliance

Website

https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rethink Plastic Alliance is a Brussels-based coalition of leading European environmental NGOs that conducts coordinated policy advocacy on plastic pollution toward EU institutions across packaging, microplastics, waste trade, and the Global Plastics Treaty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pollution Prevention, Chemicals & Waste (incl. Plastics) (BPADALAJ)

Keywords

• Plastic policy advocacy
• Environmental NGO coalition
• EU plastics regulation
• Anti-plastic campaigns
• Pollution policy research

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rethink Plastic Alliance is an alliance of leading European NGOs working on plastic pollution policy. The alliance coordinates NGO advocacy campaigns, produces research and policy briefings, and engages with EU policymakers to influence legislation on plastic production, single-use plastics, microplastics, waste management, and the Global Plastics Treaty. Its work spans all 27 EU Member States and operates as part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement of over 11,000-13,000 organizations worldwide.

Product overview

Rethink Plastic alliance is an NGO policy advocacy organization, not a commercial product company. Their offerings consist of policy campaigns, research publications, and advocacy initiatives focused on eliminating plastic pollution in the EU. The alliance does not offer commercial products or software services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Break Free From PlasticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal movement that Rethink Plastic Alliance is part of, consisting of over 13,000 organisations and individuals worldwide demanding an end to plastic pollution. Since its launch in 2016, the movement has advocated for massive reductions in single-use plastics and lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.
• Zero Waste EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost organization for Rethink Plastic Alliance. European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and elimination of waste. Provides administrative and organizational support including hosting the website.
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. International environmental law organization working on plastic and climate issues. Key contacts include Giulia Carlini and Jane Patton for Global Plastics Treaty work.
• ClientEarthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. Environmental law organization providing legal expertise on chemicals policy and plastics regulations. Key contacts include Hélène Duguy (Lawyer) and Tatiana Lujan (Materials Systems Lead).
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. Largest network of environmental citizens' organizations in Europe. Key contacts include Dolores Romano (Chemicals Policy Manager) and Marco Musso (Deputy Policy Manager for Circular Economy).
• Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. Independent campaigning organization focusing on environmental crime. Key contacts include Lauren Weir (Senior Ocean Campaigner) and Amy Youngman (Legal and Policy Specialist).
• ECOS (Environmental Coalition on Standards)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. International NGO advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards and policies. Key contact includes Emily Best (Programme Manager).
• Seas at RiskcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. European federation of environmental organizations working to protect marine environment. Key contact includes Frédérique Mongodin (Senior Policy Officer, Marine Pollution).
• Surfrider Foundation EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. European coastal conservation organization. Key contact includes Lucie Padovani (Marine Litter Lobbying Officer). Leads work on pellet pollution and EU packaging regulations.
• Greenpeace EUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member organization of Rethink Plastic Alliance. International environmental organization with significant campaign work on plastic pollution.
• BellonaminorOthersAssociated member of Rethink Plastic Alliance. Norwegian environmental organization working on climate and circular economy issues.
• Carbon Market WatchminorOthersAssociated member of Rethink Plastic Alliance. Organization focused on carbon pricing and climate policy analysis.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ClientEarth: Environmental law NGO and full Rethink Plastic member that uses legal action and regulatory expertise on chemicals and plastics policy across Europe.
• ECOS (Environmental Coalition on Standards): International NGO advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards and a Rethink Plastic member active in plastics and chemicals policy.
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): International environmental law organization and full Rethink Plastic member central to Global Plastics Treaty work and plastics/climate linkages.
• Zero Waste Europe: Brussels-based European network of communities and experts working on waste reduction and circular economy; hosts Rethink Plastic and shares overlapping policy advocacy, research, and EU institutional engagement.
• European Environmental Bureau (EEB): Largest network of environmental citizens' organizations in Europe and a full member of Rethink Plastic; shares Brussels-based EU policy advocacy on chemicals, circular economy, and plastics.
• Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA): Independent campaigning organization tackling environmental crime; Rethink Plastic member providing legal and policy expertise on plastics and ocean campaigns.
• Greenpeace EU: Brussels-based policy office of Greenpeace focused on EU legislation; a full Rethink Plastic member running high-profile plastics campaigns.
• Surfrider Foundation Europe: European coastal conservation organization and Rethink Plastic member working on marine litter, pellet pollution, and EU packaging regulation.
• Seas at Risk: European federation of environmental organizations protecting the marine environment; Rethink Plastic member focused on marine pollution policy.

Emerging players

• IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network): Global network of NGOs working on chemicals and pollution policy, including plastics; complementary to Rethink Plastic's mandate with international rather than EU-only scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInbe.linkedin.com/company/rethink-plastic
• Xx.com/rethinkplastic

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 →

Frequently asked questions about Rethink Plastic alliance