In PlastiCity, partners are collaborating to create innovative and local circular business models within the plastic value chain. However, implementing successful circular business models requires creating an ecosystem and collaboration between a wide range of actors including waste owners, designers, recyclers, policy makers, NGOs, waste management companies, logistic companies, plastic makers, and universities.

For the actors to meet, collaborate and create new opportunities and partnerships, PlastiCity will create among other things a digital urban platform and physical recycling hubs. The urban platform is a collaborative platform where data and information are shared to facilitate the implementation of circular business models and knowledge exchange. The recycling hubs are physical spaces where actors will meet and start the value co-creation process to develop plastic upcycling opportunities.

To facilitate and create such community, an ecosystem coordinator is needed to manage the ecosystem, the spaces and help creating matches between actors. The coordinator facilitates the exchange of knowledge and resources between PlastiCity partners but also between actors of the plastic value chain. Therefore, he or she will look for what already exists within the city and what is needed. Hand in hand with a knowledge team composed of experts from the academic and public Institution and private companies, the coordinator will contribute to create matches between actors. By creating an ecosystem and by knowing who the actors of the ecosystem are and what can they bring in the development of new circular value chains will facilitate the implementation of successful circular business models.

The presentation below elaborates on the fase shield in The Hague as an example of a local circular plastic value chain.