Plastic Europe announces the “Towards Zero” start-up contest

GERMANY – Plastic Europe announces its plan to host the ultimate plastic start-up battle for a circular future contest “Towards Zero”, a significant initiative aimed at reducing the sector’s dependence on fossil carbon by highlighting and supporting early-stage ventures.

K 2025 is the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber and will be hosted on 13th October 2025 in Düsseldorf, Germany, according to Plastic Europe.

The trade fair will showcase ideas that close plastic loops, reduce emissions, and replace fossil resources in production processes.

Additionally, it will highlight new machinery, large-scale installations and the technological roadmaps of major manufacturers. 

Among the start-ups, six emerging ventures will pitch at the “Newcomer Stage”, a platform designed to showcase innovative solutions that reflect a broader transformation from centralised, resource-intensive systems to more modular, data-informed, and circular models.

There are two finalists, AES and Radical Dot, who are challenging conventional chemical recycling processes. Instead, they’re developing modular systems designed to function near the sources of waste.

AES designs decentralised pyrolysis systems that transform plastic waste into reusable oil, reducing transportation and creating local value chains.

In contrast, Radical Dot has developed an energy-efficient catalytic method that converts mixed plastics into fundamental chemicals, offering a promising advancement for scalable chemical recycling.

Both finalists share a common idea to shrink the footprint of recycling and reduce the barrier to entry.

While the discussion on defossilisation largely centers on materials, a more unseen transformation is unfolding within the machinery itself.

This transformation focusing on the methods of production rather than the products themselves will be showcased by start-ups such as COISS, Moldsonics, and Osphim.

COISS retrofits legacy machinery with smart sensors to monitor energy use and reduce downtime.

Moldsonics introduces ultrasonic sensors into injection moulds, providing real-time data on flow and solidification.

Osphim uses AI to help manufacturers optimise production with higher shares of recyclate, a key challenge for many converters.

The machine transformation aims to make existing equipment more intelligent, responsive, and efficient without requiring significant capital investment.

Another participant is the S1SEVEN, driven by the principle that “Reliable data is the foundation of a true circular economy.”

S1SEVEN provides digital material passports that track the origin, makeup, and carbon footprint of plastic products.

Their systems are designed to meet tamper-proof standards, which may soon make them a cornerstone for future regulatory and compliance efforts, especially as the EU framework continues to evolve.

These six start-ups’ ideologies may not line the exhibition halls of K 2025, but they will take centre stage and challenge the status quo.

“The real challenge for incumbents isn’t just replacing materials,” says Dr. Christine Bunte, Managing Director of Plastics Europe Germany, the association of plastics manufacturers.

“It’s rethinking the systems behind them.”

For more information, check on their website at https://plasticseurope.org/de/towards-zero/

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