a kick start to
Build momentum
Two million euros is a large amount of money, especially for a non-profit organization like Precious Plastic.
While institutions and governments also benefit from our work, securing funding is challenging as public attention on plastic waste has decreased. That's why we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign to build momentum for larger-scale funding opportunities.
We need your support to begin as the first step is crucial to get the campaign off the ground and unlock new steps along the way.
While institutions and governments also benefit from our work, securing funding is challenging as public attention on plastic waste has decreased. That's why we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign to build momentum for larger-scale funding opportunities.
We need your support to begin as the first step is crucial to get the campaign off the ground and unlock new steps along the way.
top supporters
Randall Meyer
€1042
George Row
€591
Shane Rohrbaugh
€333
Davide Venturini
€250
Ursina Rathgeb
€222
Sjoerd Hoekstra
€209
David Pfeifer
€209
Our Plan in three phases
precious plastic version 5
Strengthen the team
long term
long term
Phase 1
Strengthen the team long term
Currently we are a small team, as we are in between versions.
So we need to scale up our team and depend on people helping out. We have a large pool of people to choose from. But we particularly need the ones that can hold responsibility and really go for it.
That said, we did it before, it always worked out and we are confident we can do it. But it’s risky.
Want to help out? Sign up here!
We made a page with an overview of all the open positions.
So we need to scale up our team and depend on people helping out. We have a large pool of people to choose from. But we particularly need the ones that can hold responsibility and really go for it.
That said, we did it before, it always worked out and we are confident we can do it. But it’s risky.
Want to help out? Sign up here!
We made a page with an overview of all the open positions.
Pro
Membership
Membership
Phase 1
Pro
Membership
Membership
Precious Plastic is a community.
People from all around the world want to fix the plastic waste problem. We truly believe in the power of people coming together.
By now we are one of the largest Open Source hardware communities in the world.
It’s quite hard to find funding for this growing community.
Having community members pay a monthly fee in exchange for something useful.
As this puts our incentives in the right place.
1) We want to increase the amount of people recycling plastic thus get more members.
2) We need to continuously provide something useful back to the community.
A very pure and scalable way to grow a community. We already start to roll it out now for workspace and improve it overtime.
People from all around the world want to fix the plastic waste problem. We truly believe in the power of people coming together.
By now we are one of the largest Open Source hardware communities in the world.
It’s quite hard to find funding for this growing community.
Having community members pay a monthly fee in exchange for something useful.
As this puts our incentives in the right place.
1) We want to increase the amount of people recycling plastic thus get more members.
2) We need to continuously provide something useful back to the community.
A very pure and scalable way to grow a community. We already start to roll it out now for workspace and improve it overtime.
Improved
Marketplace
Marketplace
Phase 1
Improved
Marketplace
Marketplace
To recycle plastic, people need the right tools.
The easier they are to access, the more likely people are to start.
That’s why we developed open-source machines, built a network of makers, and launched the Bazar (marketplace for recycling equipment).
It helps users get started, supports community income, and brings income to Precious Plastic.
Our goal now is to upgrade and reposition the Bazar as the go-to marketplace for plastic recycling tools and materials.
The easier they are to access, the more likely people are to start.
That’s why we developed open-source machines, built a network of makers, and launched the Bazar (marketplace for recycling equipment).
It helps users get started, supports community income, and brings income to Precious Plastic.
Our goal now is to upgrade and reposition the Bazar as the go-to marketplace for plastic recycling tools and materials.
Impact
Data
Data
Phase 1
Impact
Data
Data
All together the Precious Plastic network recycles a large amount of plastic and creates many jobs (see our impact data).
Which is great, but plastic recycling is still a tough business.
However more and more companies and organisations are looking for ways to offset their impact. Carbon credits is a knows method for this, but 'Plastic Credits' are rising in popularity.
We want to bring the impact from the Precious Plastic community together, verify the data, make it presentable and establish partnerships with organisations to fund it.
This allows more money to flow towards the plastic recyclers around the world and makes the job more compelling.
Which is great, but plastic recycling is still a tough business.
However more and more companies and organisations are looking for ways to offset their impact. Carbon credits is a knows method for this, but 'Plastic Credits' are rising in popularity.
We want to bring the impact from the Precious Plastic community together, verify the data, make it presentable and establish partnerships with organisations to fund it.
This allows more money to flow towards the plastic recyclers around the world and makes the job more compelling.
Sell more
recycled products
recycled products
Phase 1
Sell more
recycled products
recycled products
Each Precious Plastic product sold is a win for all of us, as it means more plastic is being recycled. But we also noticed that selling products is hard for our community members.
Specially if they need to compete with (new plastic) products from large corporations with big marketing budget.
We want to step in and push product sales by using our global brand.
Design a few dedicated useful products, setup an online store and help our entire community to sell their products.
Because each item sold means some plastic recycled but also some income for the recyclers involved.
Specially if they need to compete with (new plastic) products from large corporations with big marketing budget.
We want to step in and push product sales by using our global brand.
Design a few dedicated useful products, setup an online store and help our entire community to sell their products.
Because each item sold means some plastic recycled but also some income for the recyclers involved.
Phase 1
Phase
1
Sustain recycling
long-term
Develop tools that bring extra income to recyclers and Precious Plastic so it can sustain itself for years to come.
Recycle
other plastics
other plastics
Phase 2
Recycle other plastics
Most of the plastic recycled on industrial scale is PET and HDPE, however there are many other types of plastic out there which are not recycled. It’s either too complex, too little available or they don’t have the right recycling tools.
Precious Plastic works on a smaller scale which allows us to process these: foils, 3D print waste, plexiglass etc.
We want to develop new techniques and tools so people around the world can start processing this.
Precious Plastic works on a smaller scale which allows us to process these: foils, 3D print waste, plexiglass etc.
We want to develop new techniques and tools so people around the world can start processing this.
Upgrade the core
of Precious Plastic
of Precious Plastic
Phase 2
Update the core
The Academy is the core of Precious Plastic.
Its the place everyone is guided step by step with video tutorials videos to setup your own recycling workspace. Everyone in the Precious Plastic network started here.
The better the information we share, the better the community is educated.
That said a lot of content there is outdated from 2016 and 2020.
By now we and the community learned much more and develop new machines and improvements that need to be documented.
This means +40 in depth educational videos that help new people to become a recycler and help existing ones to scale and professionalise.
Its the place everyone is guided step by step with video tutorials videos to setup your own recycling workspace. Everyone in the Precious Plastic network started here.
The better the information we share, the better the community is educated.
That said a lot of content there is outdated from 2016 and 2020.
By now we and the community learned much more and develop new machines and improvements that need to be documented.
This means +40 in depth educational videos that help new people to become a recycler and help existing ones to scale and professionalise.
Easier ways
to start recycling
to start recycling
Phase 2
Easier ways to
start recycling
start recycling
After updating and cleaning up the academy, information will be easier to understand and it will be more straightforward to get started.
More detailed information will be provided to improve the existing recycling process.
More detailed information will be provided to improve the existing recycling process.
New video content
Phase 2
New Video Content
Precious Plastic started on just a bunch of Youtube videos.
It's been a great tool to reach people, share knowledge, try new recycling techniques and important right now: it can be a source of income.
We are experienced with the topic but stopped doing it after we had to leave our workspace.
We want to restart it, get a workspace with machines and moulds and start making videos.
Review machines, try moulds and test new recycling techniques.
Basically become the main channel for everything about Plastic recycling.
It's been a great tool to reach people, share knowledge, try new recycling techniques and important right now: it can be a source of income.
We are experienced with the topic but stopped doing it after we had to leave our workspace.
We want to restart it, get a workspace with machines and moulds and start making videos.
Review machines, try moulds and test new recycling techniques.
Basically become the main channel for everything about Plastic recycling.
Main website
updates
updates
Phase 2
Main website
updates
updates
This version will professionalize all our tools and infrastructure.
Build a steady team that can sustain the organisation.
Put us in service of the community.
Have more connections with buyers and large companies.
This means a big update on our website to integrate all these updates properly and positions ourselves clearly towards the world.
Build a steady team that can sustain the organisation.
Put us in service of the community.
Have more connections with buyers and large companies.
This means a big update on our website to integrate all these updates properly and positions ourselves clearly towards the world.
Phase 2
Phase
2
boost recycling
& make it easier
Make it easier for people to start recycling, make the existing workspaces more efficient and develop tools to recycle other plastics.
Material
Research
Research
Phase 3
Material
Research
Research
As we upgrade the network for more plastic to be recycled, we will start exploring plastic alternatives.
Using more natural materials that can dissolve in nature.
It will be a large multi year research.
We will layout the basic foundation for the community so the R&D can continue globally.
Using more natural materials that can dissolve in nature.
It will be a large multi year research.
We will layout the basic foundation for the community so the R&D can continue globally.
Develop
new tools
new tools
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Phase 3
Develop
new tools
new tools
We started this as a side project during Version 4 with a ‘Beyond Plastic’ project.
Trying to find biodegradable materials that we can mould into shapes like plastic, but will dissolve in nature afterwards. The techniques, moulds and machines are very similar to the processes of Precious Plastic.
We will develop the tools to replicate it for others.
Trying to find biodegradable materials that we can mould into shapes like plastic, but will dissolve in nature afterwards. The techniques, moulds and machines are very similar to the processes of Precious Plastic.
We will develop the tools to replicate it for others.
Documentation
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Phase 3
Documentation
An essential part of this process is being Open Source.
This material research is a whole new terrain to explore with lots more R&D to be done for years to come.
Our goal is to lay the educational base that can get people around the world started and continue to build upon.
Making educational videos, blueprints, 3D models etc.
This material research is a whole new terrain to explore with lots more R&D to be done for years to come.
Our goal is to lay the educational base that can get people around the world started and continue to build upon.
Making educational videos, blueprints, 3D models etc.
Setup the community
Phase 3
Setup the community
By now we know a bit what it takes to start and run a global community. We actually build our own software so we can easily replicate the community tools for it.
We will provide people the information and infrastructure to continue R&D in this area and together build a library of plastic alternative examples.
We will provide people the information and infrastructure to continue R&D in this area and together build a library of plastic alternative examples.
Develop
biodegradable products
biodegradable products
Phase 3
Develop
biodegradable products
biodegradable products
Just as every Precious Plastic product sold is a victory for us all, because it means that more plastic is being recycled, we want to develop exemplary biodegradable products so that fewer products are made from new plastic.
Phase 3
Phase
3
replace and
go beyond plastic
A large multi-year research to use more natural materials that can disolve in nature.
how You can help us
raise 2 million €
Sign up the help out developing it here
If you’re a workspace, become a supporting PRO member
Help us applying, writing to grants, or get in touch with funding organisations
Spread the word and help us reach beyond our own bubble
If you work at a large organisation, show it to your boss
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Why you should care
Less than 10% of plastics are recycled.
Still!
But the global amount of recycled plastic in kg actually increased. This means that we are producing and wasting more.
On top of this, it is projected that plastic production will continue to increase in the coming decades. In the Netherlands, we say 'mopping with the tap open'.
Now, more than ever, it is time to talk about plastic waste again!
On top of this, it is projected that plastic production will continue to increase in the coming decades. In the Netherlands, we say 'mopping with the tap open'.
Now, more than ever, it is time to talk about plastic waste again!
OPEN POSITIONS
help us
build version 5
We are currently a small team as we are in between versions. Therefore, we need to expand our team and rely on people to help out.
PROJECT MANAGERS
Developers
WEB DESIGNERS
PRODUCT DESIGNERS
BUSINESS DEVELOPER
AND MANY MORE...
APPLY NOW
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What is
Precious Plastic?
Precious Plastic is a global community of people working towards a solution to plastic pollution. Knowledge, tools and techniques are shared online, for free.
So everyone can start (yes, you too!)
So everyone can start (yes, you too!)
preciousplastic.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a direct bank transfer?
Is my donation tax deductible?
What if I fund the whole thing at once?
How can I help more?
Are you legit?
When do you start?
What happens if you don't reach your full goal?
I represent a large organisation. Can we collaborate?