The European plastics industry is in the midst of a structural change. Faced with mounting pressure from regulation, energy volatility, and growing climate impacts, companies across the value chain are forced to reassess their dependence on fossil-based business models. While these models remain central to today’s operations, their long-term resilience is increasingly being questioned. As low-carbon technologies mature, they are starting to offer not only environmental benefits but also emerging strategic value.
Start-ups push circularity at K 2025
Circularity, once viewed as a distant goal, is now moving into the operational mainstream, as reflected in procurement, investment, and competitive positioning. Nowhere is this more visible than at K 2025 in Düsseldorf, the world's leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. While much of the attention will centre on industrial-scale technologies and major corporate announcements, a different kind of innovation will be on display at the stage at Plastics Europe, the association of plastics manufacturers (Hall 6 / C40).
“Towards Zero”: new models to de-fossilise plastics
On 13 October, Plastics Europe’s startup contest, “Towards Zero”, brings together a broad spectrum of circular innovations from bold early-stage ideas to solutions already entering the market.
Six startups you should know
Among the twelve ventures selected for the final pitch contest, six have already taken the crucial step beyond proof of concept. Their solutions are not just promising, they are being tested, deployed, and refined in practice.
Decoding the carbon footprint: Carbon Minds
Data may not be tangible, but it’s quickly becoming the most important tool in industrial decarbonisation. Carbon Minds provides granular, lifecycle-based data on plastic products, allowing manufacturers to track and reduce emissions with unprecedented precision. Their platform supports sustainability claims with scientific rigour — a crucial capability as supply chain transparency becomes a legal requirement in many jurisdictions.
Green power for everyone: ECO2GROW
Energy remains the elephant in the room for many SMEs. ECO2GROW enables small and medium-sized businesses to access green electricity at fixed rates, bypassing intermediaries and pricing volatility. Their platform creates direct links between producers and industrial users, democratising access to low-carbon power and levelling the playing field with larger corporations.
Extending the lifecycle of PET: MacroCycle
PET is one of the most commonly recycled plastics, but current recycling methods often result in quality losses and limited reuse cycles. MacroCycle is developing a low-temperature, energy-efficient chemical recycling process designed to recover PET with minimal to no degradation. The approach aims to extend material lifespans and reduce the need for virgin feedstock, offering potential performance and resource efficiency benefits.
From waste to polymer: Paques Biomaterials
What if plastics could be grown, not drilled? Paques Biomaterials produces biodegradable plastics from organic waste, using a fermentation process that turns organic waste from streams such as industrial effluents and agricultural residues into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). These materials are fully compostable and tailored for short-lived applications such as packaging or agricultural films, with the potential to replace fossil-based plastics in select use cases.
AI for R&D and Material Development: Polymerize
Material development in the plastics industry is often slow, iterative, and resource intensive. Polymerize streamlines this process with an AI-powered platform that helps researchers and product developers explore and refine new formulations digitally. By accelerating experimentation and reducing physical prototyping, the tool can lower material waste and speed up the adoption of more sustainable, high-performance plastics for complex use cases. Over time, this could contribute to more efficient use of resources and potentially support emission reduction efforts in the early stages of product design.
Enabling Scalable Circular Systems: sykell
While packaging reuse is gaining momentum, its implementation often stalls due to fragmented systems and operational complexity. sykell addresses this with an ERP-style platform designed to manage the logistics of returnable packaging, integrating tracking, reverse logistics, deposit handling, and regulatory compliance across multiple stakeholders. By standardising processes and creating transparency across the reuse chain, the software aims to make circular packaging systems technically feasible and scalable in everyday operations.
A full spectrum of innovation, on stage at K 2025
While six ventures present market-ready technologies in the afternoon session, six others will open the day on the “Newcomer Stage”, sharing early-stage concepts and fresh perspectives. “At K 2025, we want to showcase just how diverse and dynamic the entrepreneurial landscape has become, from early-stage concepts to scalable solutions,” says Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Germany and host of the start-up contest. “The contest is part of our Plastics shape the future stage – a full week of expert talks, startup pitches, and hands-on innovation.”
📍 Start-up Pitch @ K 2025
- Date: Sunday, 13 October 2025
- Location: Plastics Europe Startup Stage, Hall 6 / C40, Trade Fair Düsseldorf
- Details: https://plasticseurope.org/de/towards-zero/
For more information about K 2025 or the start-up contest, please contact Jacob Loring via jacob.loring@plasticseurope.de