Singapore, Nov 24, 2020 – Global non-profit organisation, Alliance to End Plastic Waste (Alliance), and early-stage startup accelerator, Plug and Play, announced today an expansion of their End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform partnership into China. The addition of China makes this its fourth program on this platform.
The Alliance and Plug and Play launched the platform’s first accelerator hubs in Silicon Valley, Paris, and Singapore. The first hub started in October 2019 in Silicon Valley and the most recent was in Singapore which it launched in Both organisations came together with the collective ambition to foster startups that can impact the plastic value chain, and transform plastic waste management around the world.
Since then, the program has attracted over 2,000 startups across three hubs with 32 of them placed on accelerator programs. And more than three million dollars in capital invested and deployed into the startups with over 50 commercial pilots between the startups and Alliance member companies.
Nicholas Kolesch, VP of Projects for the Alliance said, “Accelerating start-ups help us to unlock new ideas and new thinking, and we have been truly inspired by what we have seen across the first three hubs on the End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform. It is testimonial to the success we have with Plug and Play and we are delighted that we can now uncover even more when we expand our partnership to China, with Shanghai as the next hub in Asia. China is a key market on the forefront of innovation and we expect the Shanghai hub to open up even more new thinking as well as investors and technical expertise. Member companies based in China are ready to support this new phase of the partnership between the Alliance and Plug and Play Shanghai.”
“China has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2060. Business as usual will not save the planet. Bold innovation in many key areas including waste management will be crucial in delivering that pledge and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. Plug and Play China will be the connective tissue between China’s vibrant sustainability innovation ecosystem and the Alliance member companies, many of which have a large China presence,” commented Peter Xu, CEO and Managing Partner of Plug and Play China.
“We have had an amazing success rate with the first three hubs. Plug and Play is confident that we will be able to bring together a group of inspiring startups in China with plastic waste solutions for the future of the planet,” said Matthew Claxton, Global Director of Plug and Play’s Sustainability Program.
Since the launch of the End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform, there have been a few successes including Oceanworks. The latter is collaborating with Avient Corporation, one of the Alliance’s member companies, through the launch of several new post-consumer recycled and post-industrial recycled product range. In another success story, Circularise, a startup from the Paris hub has already partnered with Covestro, also an Alliance member company, and Domo Chemicals. Circularise’s blockchain technology offers an open-source protocol and decentralized platform to bring transparency to global supply chains and empower businesses to move towards a circular economy.
The Alliance has also committed to support start-up Litterati from the Silicon Valley hub. Litterati is an app that empowers individuals to make a significant, measurable impact on the environment. The app automatically geo-tags images taken and the LitterAI tool recommends tags for the type of litter. With the data collected, Litterati is able to create effective solutions that lead to lasting change. The Alliance is partnering with Litterati to further enhance the app with the addition of education elements, machine-learning technology to characterise litter, and gamification to engage users.
For more information about the End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform in its first three hubs—Silicon Valley, Paris and Singapore, please visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/end-plastic-waste/
About the End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform
The End Plastic Waste Innovation Platform is a collaboration and shared vision by the Alliance, an international non-profit organisation, and Plug and Play, a global innovation platform. This platform taps into the best technology start-ups and links them with the resources, experience, and expertise from the world’s largest corporations so that their innovations can be brought to scale.
About the Alliance to End Plastic Waste
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is an international non-profit partnering with government, environmental and economic development NGOs and communities around the world to address the challenge to end plastic waste in the environment. Through programmes and partnerships, the Alliance focuses on solutions in four strategic areas: infrastructure, innovation, education and engagement, and clean up. As of October 2020, the Alliance has over 50 member companies, strategic allies and supporters representing organisations and global companies across the plastic value chain. For more information, visit: www.endplasticwaste.org
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 400 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Rappi, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information, visit: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/
