Unlocking Innovation in Circular Plastics in the LATAM region 2025

Supporting the identification and scaling of solutions to solve critical challenges to move towards plastics circularity.

About the programme

WRAP and the Plastics Pacts Network seek to award 10 innovative solutions that address identified critical challenges to accelerate plastics circularity in Latin America. The selected solutions will benefit from a capacity-building programme designed to boost their growth and facilitate their expansion into new markets.

What’s in it for you?

The 10 successful solutions will receive technical support from WRAP and the Plastics Pact Network experts to enhance the scalability of their solutions focusing on:

  • Connection with the Plastics Pacts of Colombia, Chile and Mexico, and experts from the network of pacts made up of 13 countries.
  • Specialised workshops on regulatory context, technical knowledge on plastics circularity, behaviour change, capital raising, and global and regional trends on plastics.
  • Access to networks of potential commercial users, strategic allies, investors, and financing options.
  • Customised pilots and/or 1-on-1 meetings with companies and experts, depending on resource availability and participants’ specific needs.
  • Dissemination of winning solutions in media, networks and key events, with support from WRAP and the global Plastics Pact Network to increase their visibility and facilitate connections with key allies in Latin America and the global network.

Who can apply?

Organisations of any size and country can apply, provided they are legal entities. Organisations must have the legal capacity to operate in at least one of the target countries (Colombia, Chile, or Mexico) or have the means to implement their solution in those markets.  

For more information, please refer to the application form

The 3 Challenges

Solutions must focus on packaging and flexible plastics with a high risk of leaking into the ocean ("ocean-bound plastic").  Proposals must address one or more of the following critical challenges:

  1. Reduction in the use of problematic flexible plastics and/or with a higher risk of leakage into the environment (sachets, wrappers, labels, etc.)

    More detail here

  2. Enable the recycling of flexible plastics through design and intermediate technologies (monomateriality, elimination of non-recyclable components, technologies that facilitate their recovery, etc.) 


    More detail here

  3. End markets for recycled polypropylene (PP) and mixed polyolefins (PP/PE) materials 

    More detail here

Timeline

  • Applications open - 7 August 2025
  • Application period - 7 August 2025 to 22 September 2025
  • Clarification queries on the competition may be submitted no later than 12 September
  • Evaluation period - 23 September to 23 December 2025
  • Successful applicants informed and announced - January 2026
  • Capacity building programme commences - February 2026

Should a large volume of applications be received, WRAP, at it’s sole discretion, may introduce a second stage application and/or evaluation process in order to select the ten solutions.  Any changes to the application process will be communicated to applicants via email and this page.  

Evaluation process

The proposals for solutions received will be evaluated by an expert panel. 

For more details on the competition, please see our info pack

Any questions please contact [email protected]

This project is supported by Builders Initiative.

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Apply here

Application form

Coordinated action for local impact

This call for proposals is part of WRAP’s global mission to accelerate circular innovation through international collaboration. Building on projects funded through the International Circular Plastics Flagship Programme, WRAP supports scalable solutions in countries including Chile, India, Kenya, and South Africa.

The Plastics Pact Network, coordinated by WRAP and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, unites regional initiatives to tackle plastic pollution. These multi-stakeholder platforms bring together businesses, governments, NGOs, and communities around shared goals for a circular plastics economy.

In Latin America, three national pacts are driving local change:

  • Chile (since 2019)

    Led by Fundación Chile and the Ministry of Environment, the pact brings together 55+ organizations. Key actions include public awareness campaigns, industry design guidelines, policy input, and innovation pilots.

  • Colombia (since 2023)

    Coordinated by CEMPRE, this pact includes 16+ organizations across the plastics value chain. Its 2030 goals include redesigning problematic plastics, raising recycling rates to 50%, and incorporating 30% recycled content into packaging.

  • Mexico (since 2024)

    Led by WWF Mexico, the newest pact brings together 18+ organizations to shape public policy and build a national roadmap toward plastic circularity.