What plastship GmbH does

plastship GmbH is a Germany-based B2B digital platform and marketplace that intermediates trade in industrial plastic recyclates. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Waldems (Handelsregister HRB 30484, Amtsgericht Wiesbaden), the company operates as the procurement and distribution arm of the RIGK group, whose shareholder RIGK GmbH provides access to real industrial material flows through nine collection systems serving industry, commerce, and agriculture. plastship connects recyclate suppliers (recyclers, waste managers) with buyers (plastic processors, manufacturers, brand owners), and reports serving more than 60,000 companies through the wider RIGK network.

The core product is the plastship online platform, which combines a material database of over 3,000 datasets with the Monitored Materials quality certification programme, laboratory analytics delivered through the DAkkS-accredited PlastCert unit, and the KISS AI project for AI-based qualification, control, and optimisation of material flows. Supporting modules include End-to-End Rezyklatversorgung (structured recyclate supply), Recycling as a Service (on-site production waste capture), the Circular Readiness Assessment (CRA) decision tool, the Additiv Selector, and three commercial partner tiers (Premium, Additiv, Showroom). Quality is verified across technical properties (MFR, density, moisture, ash, impact strength), optical properties, polymer composition via XRF heavy-metal analysis, and odour assessment.

The revenue model is hybrid: free platform access for buyers, transaction-based commission paid by suppliers on successfully mediated sales (the primary stream), recurring subscription revenue from Premium/Additiv/Showroom Partner programmes on multi-year contracts, professional services revenue from PlastCert laboratory testing, and managed-services revenue from Recycling as a Service engagements. In 2024, plastship reports distributing 5,000 tonnes of recyclates and saving 10,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with customers claiming a 25% cost reduction. The company achieved DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certification through TÜV NORD CERT GmbH in October 2025.

Name

plastship GmbH

Legal name

plastship GmbH

Website

https://plastship.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

plastship GmbH is a German B2B digital marketplace that intermediates trade in industrial plastic recyclates, connecting recyclers and waste managers with plastic processors and brand owners through a quality-certified, AI-enhanced sourcing platform within the RIGK group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycled Plastics Marketplace

NAICS

Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (42393)

SIC

Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Recovery & Closed-Loop Programs (Take-Back, Deposit-Return, EPR Support) (IMALAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ), Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA)

Keywords

• Recycled plastics marketplace
• B2B recyclate sourcing
• Plastic material analytics
• Circular economy platform
• Polymer recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Waldems

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transaction Commission: Performance-based commission for each sale mediated between users on the platform. Commission is paid by the supplier for each transaction successfully completed without complaint. This is the primary revenue stream for platform operations.
2. Premium Partner Programs: Premium Partner, Additiv Partner, and Showroom Partner accounts offering enhanced platform features, automated sales processes, ERP/CRM integration, and custom marketing pages. Separate commercial agreements govern pricing.
3. Laboratory Services: Material testing and analysis services through PlastCert partnership, providing quality assurance and certification for recyclate materials.
4. Recycling as a Service: Capturing, structuring and utilizing production waste as raw material for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

plastship operates a B2B online marketplace that mediates the buying and selling of recycled plastics (recyclates) between suppliers (recyclers, waste managers) and buyers (plastic processors, manufacturers, brand owners). It combines a digital material database with 3,000+ datasets, the Monitored Materials quality certification program, PlastCert laboratory testing, and the KISS AI system for material flow analysis to deliver structured, application-based recyclate supply.

Product overview

plastship operates as a unified B2B platform for industrial recyclate sourcing and circular supply. The core offering is the plastship platform (online marketplace mediating recycled plastics between suppliers and processors), which is supplemented by the plastship Monitored Materials programme for data-driven quality assessment. Supporting modules include Digitale Plattform & Materialsuche (digital material search with 3,000+ datasets), Rezyklatversorgung (structured supply including End-to-End), Labordienstleistungen & Materialanalysen (laboratory testing via PlastCert), Recycling as a Service (on-site waste management), Strategiemix/Circular Readiness Assessment (strategic portfolio evaluation tool), and the Additiv Selector tool. The Whitepaper provides the decision framework underpinning these tools. Premium Partner, Additiv Partner and Showroom Partner tiers offer enhanced platform features with ERP/CRM integration options. The Entsorger Circle is a community/network sub-brand. The KISS AI project supports material flow optimisation through AI-driven analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• plastship B2B Marketplace Platform B2B online platform that mediates offers for marketing recycled plastics between suppliers (recyclers, waste managers) and buyers (plastic processors, manufacturers). Enables material sourcing, comparison, and transaction management; free for buyers, commission-based for suppliers.
• plastship Monitored Materials Data-driven quality assessment program providing structured, comparable evaluation of recyclate quality across applications, material flows and time. Combines laboratory analyses, material flow information and continuous monitoring to create reliable decision foundations for procurement and application.
• Rezyklatversorgung (Recyclate Supply) Structured procurement and distribution of plastic recyclates, application-based and reliable. Includes End-to-End Rezyklatversorgung with individual recyclate development from requirement through to stable delivery.
• Labordienstleistungen & Materialanalysen (Laboratory Services & Material Analysis) DAkkS-accredited laboratory testing services delivered through partner PlastCert covering technical properties (MFR, density, moisture, ash content, impact strength), optical properties, composition and polymer content via XRF heavy-metal analysis, and odour assessment.
• Recycling as a Service Managed service that captures, structures and utilises production waste as raw material for clients, including on-site factory disposal for clearly defined and traceable material streams.
• Strategiemix / Circular Readiness Assessment (CRA) Structured assessment tool and decision matrix that evaluates where recycled material usage and closed-loop systems create genuine economic value. Based on 10 dimensions across design, economics and supply-chain resilience, categorising projects into strategic quadrants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25% cost reduction for customers (2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RIGK GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Parent company and shareholder. RIGK was founded by industry for industry and is a central actor in plastic take-back systems. Provides plastship with access to real material flows and industrial applications. Together they develop digital solutions for circular economy.
• PlastCertcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAkkS-accredited certification and testing unit within RIGK group. Provides laboratory services for material analysis including technical properties, optical properties, composition, and odour testing for quality assurance of recyclates.
• Hannawald Plastik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the plastship/RIGK group network. Provides disposal and waste processing services, contributing to the closed-loop system for plastic recycling.
• PACKLIANCE GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-exhibitor at PRSE and IFAT 2026 trade shows within the RIGK network. Provides packaging compliance services.
• RAM GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationKISS project partner testing optical properties of materials. Provides opacity and defect analysis over 1m² for accurate material assessment, particularly important for packaging and film industry.
• Veridis TechnologiescoreTechnology or IntegrationKISS project partner for polymer composition analysis. Precisely determines plastic composition through thermal polymer analysis and XRF heavy-metal analysis to ensure consistency and quality.
• SKZ (German Plastics Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for SmaKuRez project developing service system database for recyclate use. Also conducted joint study on recyclate potential across key industries with 33 European recycling companies.
• Plastics Recyclers EuropeminorOthersEuropean-level cooperation for plastic recycling advocacy and promotion of recyclate use.
• PREVENT Waste AllianceminorOthersEuropean cooperation for waste prevention and circular economy advancement.
• RecovinylminorOthersEuropean PVC recycling organization cooperation.
• RecyClassminorOthersEuropean organization for plastic packaging recycling certification and standardization.
• TecPartminorOthersGerman industry association for technical plastics cooperation.
• NHSminorOthersEuropean cooperation for sustainable packaging and circular economy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MBA Polymers: MBA Polymers is one of the world's largest producers of recycled engineering plastics (ABS, PC, PP), serving automotive, electronics, and consumer goods OEMs. Comparable to plastship as a supplier-side participant in the recycled plastics market, though operating as a vertically integrated recycler rather than a marketplace.
• Vanden Recycling: Vanden is a global trader and recycler of plastics and metals with broad geographic reach across Europe, North America, and Asia. Comparable to plastship's recycled plastics trading and intermediation business, but at significantly larger scale and broader commodity scope.
• PreZero: PreZero is the environmental services division of the Schwarz Group, operating integrated waste management and plastics recycling across Europe. Comparable as a major European recycling incumbent with collection, sorting, and recyclate production capabilities overlapping plastship's ecosystem.
• Veolia: Veolia is one of the world's largest environmental services and waste management companies, with significant plastics recycling and circular economy offerings. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving enterprise customers with integrated waste-to-recyclate solutions, though at vastly greater scale.
• Eastman: Eastman has built a molecular recycling business (carbon renewal technology) producing virgin-quality recycled plastics for premium applications. Comparable as a major industrial player addressing PPWR-driven demand for high-quality recyclate, though positioned upstream rather than as a marketplace intermediary.
• Wellman International: Wellman International is one of Europe's largest producers of recycled PET (rPET), serving packaging, fibre, and sheet applications. Comparable as a recycled plastics supplier serving similar downstream customer segments, though operating as a recycler-producer rather than a marketplace platform.
• Stena Recycling: Stena Recycling is a major Nordic industrial recycling group handling ferrous, non-ferrous, and plastic recyclate flows. Comparable as a broad recycling industry incumbent serving enterprise customers across Europe, though with much wider materials scope than plastship.

Emerging players

• Renewlogy: Renewlogy operates chemical recycling facilities converting mixed plastics back to virgin-grade outputs, serving consumer brands seeking recycled content. Comparable as an emerging technology-driven player addressing the supply gap that plastship helps its customers fill through marketplace sourcing.
• Carbios: Carbios is a French biotech company developing enzyme-based PET recycling technology. Comparable as an emerging player in advanced plastic recycling addressing the same end-market need for high-quality, food-grade recyclate that plastship's customers demand.

Direct peers

• Cirplus: Cirplus operates a global B2B digital marketplace for recycled plastics, directly competing with plastship's core marketplace proposition. It matches recyclate supply and demand across borders and serves similar customer segments (plastic processors, recyclers, brand owners).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plastship-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 plastship GmbH