Case Study: The Circulate Initiative advances local plastic recycling insights with Anthesis

The Circulate Initiative selected Anthesis to be the lead research partner to conduct a detailed assessment of wastesheds in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam

The Circulate Initiative needed to better understand the local, often informal, plastic recycling supply chains in major cities across India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to identify opportunities for scaling collection and reducing environmental impact. They engaged the sustainability firm Anthesis to conduct an eight-month study, utilizing their services in resource efficiency, supply chain engagement, and circularity strategy.

Anthesis, supported by in-country partners, mapped local plastic waste flows by reviewing literature and conducting extensive stakeholder interviews. The solution provided a detailed assessment of the supply chains, evaluating economics, key actors, and influencing regulations. Key findings highlighted the critical role and challenges of the informal sector and identified vast opportunities to improve plastic recovery. As a result, Anthesis delivered proprietary playbooks and specific recommendations for investment, providing a foundational understanding of the wastesheds to help grow local recycling and reduce dependency on imports.

The Circulate Initiative

Umesh Madhavan

Research Director