What Plastic Soup Foundation does

Plastic Soup Foundation (PSF) is a Dutch non-profit foundation established in 2011, headquartered at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. The organization combats plastic and microplastic pollution with a focus on human health impacts, operating across consumer tools, education, scientific research, corporate partnerships, and international policy advocacy. Its core product is the PlasticFreeFuture mobile application (iOS and Android, free), which scans cosmetics and personal care product ingredients against a continuously updated scientific database to identify microplastics and recommend plastic-free alternatives. The app, launched in beta in 2025, plans to expand beyond cosmetics into additional product categories.

The organization runs complementary programs including the Plastic Diet (7-day email challenge), free educational lesson packages distributed to 1,000+ schools across primary, secondary, and MBO levels in the Netherlands and internationally, and the children's website kids.plasticsoupfoundation.org. The annual One Planetary Health Symposium, held at ARTIS Groote Museum in Amsterdam with partners Van Doorne and ARTIS, convenes scientists, policymakers, and business leaders. PSF co-founded the Plastic Health Council with A Plastic Planet to coordinate global scientific input into the UN Global Plastics Treaty, and co-developed the Plastic Banks Tracker with Profundo and BankTrack.

PSF's business model is donation-funded under Dutch ANBI (public benefit institution) status, with no industry funding accepted to preserve independence. Revenue streams include individual donations (one-time and monthly from €2.95), Business Community corporate partnerships (40+ companies including Weleda, Quooker, Dopper, BenBits, Ekoplaza), sponsored campaigns, and third-party fundraising via The Good Shift platform. Corporate partnership terms are not publicly disclosed. Leadership transitioned in 2025, with founder Maria Westerbos moving to the Chief Changemaker role and Robbert Meulenveld appointed as Director.

Name

Plastic Soup Foundation

Legal name

Plastic Soup Foundation

Website

https://www.plasticsoupfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Plastic Soup Foundation is a Dutch non-profit foundation that combats plastic and microplastic pollution through the free PlasticFreeFuture consumer app, school educational programs (1,000+ schools), corporate partnerships (40+ companies), and global policy advocacy for a UN Plastics Treaty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Environmental advocacy
• Plastic pollution awareness
• Microplastic research
• Consumer sustainability education
• Corporate sustainability partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Plastic Soup Foundation relies heavily on individual donations from supporters. One-time and recurring monthly donation options are available via act.plasticsoupfoundation.org. Donation amounts range from €6 to €150 or custom amounts, with monthly supporters contributing as low as €2.95 per month.
2. Business Community Memberships & Partnerships: Companies join the Business Community to access knowledge sharing, networking events, and association with PSF's independent voice. Partners include companies like Happy Earth, Weleda, Quooker, BenBits, Dopper, and 30+ others across personal care, food, and packaging sectors.
3. Fundraising Campaigns & Sponsorship: PSF facilitates third-party fundraising campaigns and sponsor acts. Supporters organize events (cycling, windsurfing, school projects) and donate proceeds. The organization also uses The Good Shift platform for digital fundraising pages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Plastic Soup Foundation is a Dutch non-profit that combats plastic pollution by offering a consumer-facing mobile app (PlasticFreeFuture) that helps users identify harmful plastic-related ingredients in everyday products, together with consumer education programs (such as the Plastic Diet challenge), school-based curricula, a corporate Business Community partnership program, and a scientific research-advocacy initiative (the Plastic Health Council) focused on microplastic exposure and health impacts.

Product overview

Plastic Soup Foundation operates as a mission-driven NGO offering a portfolio of consumer-facing tools, educational programs, and advocacy campaigns focused on eliminating plastic pollution. The core offering is the PlasticFreeFuture mobile app, which scans cosmetics and personal care products for microplastics and recommends alternatives. Supporting products include the Plastic Diet (7-day email challenge), free educational materials for schools, the annual One Planetary Health Symposium, and the Plastic Health Council scientific network. The organization also runs campaigns on plastic fashion, nurdles, and ocean pollution, and has published children's books. All offerings are free to users, funded by donations and partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PlasticFreeFuture: A mobile app that helps users scan cosmetics and personal care products for microplastics and discover plastic-free alternatives.
• Plastic Dieet
• Plastic Health Council
• One Planetary Health Symposium
• Scientists Speak Out
• Plastic Banks Tracker

Products and services

• PlasticFreeFuture App

Quantifiable outcome

• Microplastics discovered in human placentas, blood, and brains through PSF-supported research
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ARTIS (Groote Museum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025PSF partners with ARTIS to host the annual One Planetary Health Symposium at the ARTIS Groote Museum in Amsterdam. ARTIS's sustainability manager Savitri Groag leads guided tours on sustainability, and Karlien Pijnenborg (Head of Groote Museum) co-opens the symposium. ARTIS provides the venue and co-branding for this flagship B2B event.
• Van DoornecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Van Doorne (a Dutch law firm) is a strategic partner supporting PSF through the Pieter van Doorne Fonds, which finances sustainability initiatives. Anouk Rutte (COO) co-opened the 2025 symposium, and Nina Korstenbroek (lawyer) spoke on legislation and packaging. Van Doorne provides financial support, co-organizes events, and offers legal expertise.
• Precon Consulting GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Precon Consulting Group enables the One Planetary Health Symposium 2025. Matthijs Mondria (Packaging Consultant) speaks on legislation, PPWR, and packaging. The partnership supports PSF's event logistics while positioning Precon as a thought leader in sustainable packaging.
• Profundo & BankTrackminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2025PSF partnered with Profundo and BankTrack to launch the Plastic Banks Tracker, revealing the plastic pollution impact of the 20 largest banks' investments. PSF contributed research methodology and campaign support. The project exposes financial institutions enabling plastic production.
• A Plastic PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSF and A Plastic Planet (UK) co-founded the Plastic Health Council, a global network of scientists researching microplastics and human health. Both organizations co-hosted side events at the UN Global Plastic Treaty negotiations in Geneva, focusing on health consequences of plastic pollution.
• Plastic Health CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA global coalition of scientists and campaigners co-founded by PSF and A Plastic Planet, dedicated to placing human health at the center of the UN Global Plastics Treaty. Members include Prof. Lukas Kenner, Prof. Thais Mauad, Dr. Jane Muncke, Prof. Shanna Swan, and Dr. Heather Leslie. The council publishes scientific consensus and advocates for health-centered policy.
• Earth Action & A.s.r.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSF collaborated with Earth Action and a.s.r. (a Dutch insurance company) to develop a methodology measuring plastic pollution generated by companies through their investments. 31 companies were analyzed as a first step toward smarter finance and policy.
• Greenpeace InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSF supported Greenpeace International's call for safer baby food packaging after SINTEF Ocean research found microplastics in Nestlé and Danone baby food pouches. PSF endorsed Greenpeace's call for producers to transition to reusable, plastic-free alternatives.
• Business Community (40+ companies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPSF's Business Community includes 40+ partner companies (Happy Earth, Yepoda, Weleda, VANN, ZARQA, Quooker, ReBloom Care, Lessau, Princess Traveller, NAïF, MG, Muze, Happy Soaps, Groen Graag, INIKA Organic, Hemp Flax, hijman, Loveli, Flaske, Crohill, BenBits, Giffy, food for skin, Dopper, Ekoplaza, Van Doorne, Chi, airtender, Kartent, SGS, Westford Mill) that demonstrate plastic-free credentials and support PSF's mission financially and through advocacy.
• The Good ShiftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPSF uses The Good Shift platform to enable supporters to create personalized online fundraising pages for their sponsored actions. Supporters can share photos, event details, and collect donations through the platform.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Oceana: Largest international ocean-focused advocacy organization with global campaign footprint on plastic pollution, overfishing, and marine conservation. Larger and broader in scope than PSF, but overlapping on plastic pollution policy.
• Ocean Conservancy: US-based ocean conservation NGO running the International Coastal Cleanup and advocating on plastic pollution policy. Larger and more established, but comparable in marine plastic pollution focus.
• WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature): Largest global environmental NGO with active programs on plastic pollution, sustainable materials, and ocean health. Operates at much larger scale but addresses overlapping environmental and plastic pollution issues.
• Greenpeace International: Global environmental NGO running high-profile plastic and packaging campaigns. PSF has previously collaborated with Greenpeace on baby food packaging advocacy and shares overlapping environmental mission.

Direct peers

• Plastic Free July Foundation: Australia-based foundation running the global Plastic Free July movement, which mobilizes millions of individuals to reduce single-use plastic. Directly comparable in driving individual behavior change around plastic consumption.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: US-based nonprofit coalition working toward a world free of plastic pollution, with member organizations, consumer campaigns, and policy advocacy. Closely comparable mission, multi-stakeholder model, and advocacy approach.
• Surfrider Foundation: International ocean conservation NGO with strong focus on plastic pollution, beach cleanups, and policy advocacy. Comparable grassroots mobilization and ocean-plastic focus, though with a US/European volunteer-driven structure.
• 5 Gyres: US-based nonprofit focused on plastic pollution research, education, and policy advocacy. Comparable in combining scientific research, consumer education, and policy engagement around microplastic and ocean plastic issues.
• Zero Waste Europe: European network of NGOs advancing zero-waste policy and plastic reduction at EU level. Directly comparable in EU-focused policy advocacy on packaging and plastic regulation, including PPWR engagement.
• A Plastic Planet: UK-based NGO focused on plastic pollution, co-founded the Plastic Health Council with Plastic Soup Foundation. Most directly comparable peer given their joint scientific advocacy and shared Plastic Health Council platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/plasticsoupfoun
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PlasticSoupFound
• Facebookfacebook.com/plasticsoupfoundationnl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/plastic-soup-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/plasticsoupfoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Plastic Soup Foundation