What Precious Plastic does

Precious Plastic, founded in 2013 and operated by Stichting Precious Plastic Foundation (a Dutch ANBI-registered non-profit under the One Army umbrella), is the largest open-source plastic recycling movement globally. The organization provides a complete ecosystem spanning open-source machine designs (Basic and Pro lines including shredders, extruders, injectors, compression presses, and sheetpresses), four packaged Starterkits (Bricks at €9,300, Beams at €8,320, Events at €7,620, Sheets at €16,520), and a digital platform suite comprising the Academy for training, Library for project sharing, Bazar peer-to-peer marketplace, Community Platform, and global Recycling Map. All content is released under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0.

The organization serves four primary customer segments: recycling entrepreneurs building small-scale plastic-to-product businesses; corporations such as Moet Hennessy seeking sustainability partnerships; humanitarian organizations like UNHCR delivering income-generating activities to refugees; and educators running workshops and awareness events. The core technology is mechanical — semi-industrial machines capable of processing 20–50 kg of plastic per hour into bricks, beams, sheets, or injection-moulded products — paired with web-based community infrastructure. Revenue mechanics are diversified: one-time hardware sales of Starterkits and individual Pro machines, recurring Patreon support from 600+ monthly patrons, Bazar marketplace commissions (€300,000+ processed in 2020), direct donations (including cryptocurrency), and bespoke corporate project fees.

In 2023, 184 reporting organizations across the network generated $3.7M of aggregate revenue, recycled 1,400 tons of plastic, and built or sold 1,175 machines. The broader ecosystem comprises 2,014 registered workspaces in 56 countries, employing 530 people and engaging 3,405 volunteers, with the foundation's own headcount at 33. Strategic priorities include the V5 platform overhaul, continued geographic expansion, and deepening enterprise partnerships.

Name

Precious Plastic

Legal name

Stichting Precious Plastic Foundation

Website

https://preciousplastic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Precious Plastic is a Dutch non-profit foundation operating the world's largest open-source plastic recycling movement, providing machines, training, and community platforms that enable 2,000+ workspaces across 56 countries to build businesses from plastic waste.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Recycling Equipment

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Post-Consumer Plastic Collection & Sorting (MRF/PRF, Bale Supply) (EUAIAKAA), Recycled Resin Trading & Distribution (PCR/PIR Commodity Markets) (EUAIAKAK), Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems) (IMALAMAL)

Keywords

• Plastic recycling machines
• Open-source recycling
• Recycling starter kits
• Plastic waste processing
• Recycling community platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Ericeria

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Starterkits: Pre-built comprehensive packages for specific recycling applications (Bricks 9,300 EUR, Beams 8,320 EUR, Events 7,620 EUR, Sheets 16,520 EUR). Includes machines, moulds, accessories, and digital setup training.
2. Machine Sales - Pro Line: Sale of semi-industrial Pro machines including Shredder Pro, Extrusion Pro, and Sheetpress. Machines available via Bazar marketplace or direct purchase.
3. Marketplace Commissions - Bazar: The Precious Plastic Bazar enables local economies around recycling plastic. In 2020 it processed over 300,000 EUR in transactions, with the platform taking a commission on sales between recyclers.
4. Donations and Patreon Support: Single donations and monthly Patreon support from 600+ patrons. Donations go toward research and development, covering costs for the non-profit foundation. Crypto donations accepted (Bitcoin, Ethereum, USD Coin, DAI, Tether).
5. Corporate Partnership Projects: Project collaborations with organizations including events, presentations, pilots, and R&D. Includes partnerships with companies like Moet Hennessy in Nigeria, UNHCR in Algeria, and Princess Lara Faisal in Jordan.
6. PRO Membership: PRO Membership for workspaces supporting the movement, providing additional benefits and visibility within the Precious Plastic ecosystem.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Precious Plastic designs and sells open-source plastic recycling machines (Basic and Pro lines) and pre-configured Starterkits (Bricks, Beams, Events, Sheets) that bundle machines, moulds, and training. The company also operates digital platforms including the Academy (learning), Bazar (peer-to-peer marketplace), Community Platform, and global Recycling Map, all under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0. The core commercial activity is selling complete recycling workspace packages and Pro machines, while the platforms enable community members to trade machines and products.

Product overview

Precious Plastic is an open-source plastic recycling ecosystem combining digital platforms with physical products. The portfolio includes: (1) Machines product line with Basic (entry-level/educational), Pro (semi-industrial/business), and Community tiers—featuring shredders, extruders, injectors, compression presses, and sheetpresses; (2) Four Starterkits (Bricks at €9,300, Beams at €8,320, Events at €7,620, and Sheets at €16,520) that bundle machines with moulds, accessories, and training; (3) Digital platforms including the Academy (learning resources), Bazar marketplace, Community Platform, and global Recycling Map. The ecosystem is governed under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike International 4.0 license and enables anyone to start plastic recycling operations. All content is shared open-source, and the organization is structured as a non-profit foundation (Stichting Precious Plastic Foundation) in the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Precious Plastic Bazar: Marketplace for buying and selling within the Precious Plastic ecosystem
• Precious Plastic Community Platform
• Precious Plastic Open Source Fund (PPOSF)
• Precious Plastic Academy
• PRO Membership

Products and services

• Bricks Starterkit Complete package for extruding recycled plastic bricks for construction projects. Includes Extrusion Pro Machine, Brick Moulds, Adjustable Mould Support Surface, storage shelf, and digital setup training. Each brick is 1.5 kg of recycled plastic, best results with HDPE #2 or PP #5. Priced at €9,300.
• Beams Starterkit Complete package for extruding recycled plastic beams for furniture, lights, or jewellery. Includes Extrusion Pro Machine, 3 Beam Moulds, Adjustable Mould Support Surface, mobile tool station, beam storage rack, and 5-hour digital training. Produces 5-7 beams per hour at 22 kg/hr throughput. Priced at €8,320.
• Events Starterkit Complete package for running public recycling events and educational workshops. Includes Shredder Machine (10-27 kg/hr), Injection Machine, Carabiner Moulds (6 cavity), post processing station, and accessories. Approximately 8-10 minutes per injection round. Requires 30 sqm minimum space. Priced at €7,620.
• Sheets Starterkit Full production package for creating 1x1 meter recycled plastic sheets for furniture or building projects. Includes Hot Press, Cold Press, Rolling Table, 2 Sheet Moulds, storage, workbench, and 5-hour digital setup training. Requires 3-phase power (380V) and 50 sqm space. Priced at €16,520.
• Shredder Pro Semi-industrial double-shaft shredder processing up to 50 kg of plastic per hour. Technical specs: 340 kg weight, 1205x550x1512 mm dimensions, 2.2-4 KW power, 400V voltage, 16A current, 6 mm blade width. Priced from €2,200 plus motor.
• Extrusion Pro Single-screw extrusion machine recycling up to 20 kg of plastic per hour for beams or bricks production. Technical specs: 110 kg weight, 1500x600x1550 mm dimensions, 5 KW power. Material cost €2,000.
• Sheetpress Hydraulic press system for creating 1x1 meter recycled plastic sheets. Technical specs: 450 kg weight, 1620x1620x1780 mm dimensions, 15 KW power, 32A current, 10kPa pressure. Priced at €2,500.
• Basic Machines Line Entry-level machines designed for education and workshops, available under open-source license with 50+ build tutorials. Includes Basic Shredder (€1,100, 150 kg), Basic Extrusion (€1,200, 90 kg), Basic Injection (€350, 30 kg), and Basic Compression (€200, 40 kg).
• Bazar Marketplace Online marketplace enabling recyclers to buy and sell machines, products, and materials within the Precious Plastic ecosystem. Processed over €300,000 in transactions in 2020, enabling local recycling economies. The platform takes a commission on sales between recyclers.
• PRO Membership Premium membership product for workspaces supporting the Precious Plastic movement, providing additional benefits and visibility within the ecosystem.
• Corporate Partnership Projects Project collaborations with organizations including events, presentations, pilots, and R&D. Includes partnerships with companies like Moet Hennessy in Nigeria, UNHCR in Algeria, and Princess Lara Faisal in Jordan.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,400 tons of plastic recycled in 2023 by 184 reporting organizations
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Moet HennessyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership in Nigeria where Moet Hennessy collaborates with Precious Plastic on plastic recycling initiatives. This represents a flagship corporate partnership bringing luxury goods industry resources to support local recycling efforts.
• UNHCRflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Algeria providing recycling workshops to refugees. The project transforms face masks and plastic waste into usable products, creating employment and training opportunities for displaced populations.
• Princess Lara FaisalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Jordan focused on plastic recycling projects. Royal support for the Precious Plastic movement, helping spread awareness and resources for local recycling initiatives.
• One ArmyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrecious Plastic is a project by One Army (onearmy.earth), a foundation protecting and championing the planet. One Army encompasses multiple projects including Precious Plastic, Project Kamp, and Common Clothes. Shared mission to reduce plastic waste and environmental impact.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure provider for storing Precious Plastic platform data. Data is securely stored using AWS and/or Google Cloud.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure provider used in conjunction with AWS for secure data storage of Precious Plastic platform information.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EREMA: EREMA manufactures industrial plastic recycling machinery, including extrusion and shredder systems, for commercial-scale recyclers. It is a broad incumbent comparable to Precious Plastic's Pro line machines but operating at industrial scale rather than community/entrepreneur scale.
• Vecoplan: Vecoplan produces industrial shredders and recycling equipment for plastics and other materials. Comparable as a broad incumbent in plastic recycling machinery, though focused on large-scale industrial shredding rather than the small-scale, open-source approach of Precious Plastic.
• TOMRA: TOMRA is a global leader in sensor-based sorting and recycling technology for plastics and other waste streams. It is comparable as a broad incumbent in the plastic recycling equipment space, though focused on large-scale industrial sorting rather than community-based small-scale recycling.
• Sorema: Sorema designs and manufactures plastic recycling and washing systems for industrial customers. It is a broad incumbent in plastic recycling equipment, comparable to the Pro machine line but serving large-volume industrial recyclers rather than community-scale operators.

Emerging players

• ByFusion: ByFusion turns mixed plastic waste into construction-grade building blocks using a fusion process without chemicals or sorting. It is an emerging player that overlaps with Precious Plastic in producing recycled plastic building products, though using a proprietary industrial process.
• Plastic Bank: Plastic Bank operates a social enterprise that collects ocean-bound plastic and exchanges it for income in vulnerable communities. It is an emerging player with overlapping social-impact mission in plastic recycling, though focused on collection rather than processing equipment.
• Lomi (by Pela): Lomi by Pela is a consumer countertop device that processes household plastic waste into reusable material at home. It is an emerging player intersecting with Precious Plastic's small-scale recycling equipment mission, but aimed at consumer in-home use rather than community/workshop use.

Direct peers

• Filabot: Filabot makes desktop plastic extrusion and pelletizing systems for makers and small businesses to recycle plastic into 3D printing filament. It is a direct peer in the desktop plastic recycling equipment category alongside Precious Plastic's Basic Extrusion and Injection machines.
• Bantam Materials: Bantam Materials develops desktop plastic recycling and extrusion systems targeting makers, small businesses, and labs. It is a direct peer offering similar small-scale plastic-to-product equipment, but with a proprietary commercial model rather than open-source.
• ReDeTec: ReDeTec manufactures the Protocycler, a desktop plastic recycler that shreds and extrudes waste plastic into filament for 3D printing. It is a direct peer in small-scale plastic recycling equipment, though focused on filament output rather than sheets, bricks, and beams.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Precious_PlasticHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/preciousplastic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/precious-plastic
• Instagraminstagram.com/realpreciousplastic

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