The search for influential figures putting the PET polymers industry on a regenerative path and bringing solutions together for the systemic issues surrounding plastic.
The AdaPETation Network, the first regenerative network within the plastic industry that seeks, promotes and powers the best solutions to the systemic issues surrounding plastics, has launched a global search for the people putting PET plastic on a regenerative path.
PET Heroes 2023 is designed to identify and showcase the talented startups, students and life-mimicking organizations working to close the loop on plastic waste by providing them with regenerative insights, business training, communications support, networking opportunities and the chance to receive funding and visibility for their regenerative ideas.
THE PRIZE
AdaPETation’s founding members, Evertis & Selenis – working with partners that include, regenerative agency, Dear Wise Earth will select eight candidates for the annual award with the winner receiving €10,000 in non-dilutive funding and the opportunity to work with other members of The AdaPETation Network to develop their prototype, business idea or regenerative venture in 2023.
NOMINATE YOUR PET HERO
As part of this objective, the PET Heroes 2023 award seeks to unite a diverse selection of nominees – individuals, companies and organizations – in a shared mission to expand our understanding and awareness on the intelligent use of plastic. Central to the award’s success is showcasing the material’s importance in ecosystem restoration and encouraging examples of the kind of regenerative design that will be needed to close the loop on plastic waste.
If you have a possible PET Hero then please nominate them for the award by clicking on the button at the bottom of the page.
Nominees to date include a socially-conscious startup converting plastic waste into fuel that’s used to restore coral reefs in the gulf of Mexico, a talented Spanish designer empowering indigenous women around the world with designs on closing the loop on plastic waste, and a young design student that wants to use plastic bottles to save lives in Bangladesh.
The general public will be invited to vote to choose the first winner of the award from the final shortlist of 8 nominees in January and February 2023.
Launched earlier this year, the first three initiatives selected for the inaugural PET Heroes 2023 award include:
- Alvaro Catalan de Ocón / A social entrepreneur and designer who’s weaving a conversation between plastic producers, collectors, recyclers and consumers about how to close the loop on plastic waste.
- Ewan Morrell / A UK-based design student who’s designed a life-jacket that uses plastic and fabric waste to save lives during monsoon season in Bangladesh.
- PET Gas / A Mexican startup pulling plastic out of the oceans to help restore coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Marta Matos Gil, co-founder of The AdaPETation Network, welcomed the initiative and the impact it can have in raising awareness on some of the systemic issues surrounding plastic by bringing diverse solutions together.
“Lying at the conjunction of the most critical problems faced by humanity: namely the climate crisis, human population growth, the destruction of the planet’s precious ecosystems and the rapid loss of the world’s biodiversity, plastic has a critical part to play in our ability to make sense of the Anthropocene epoch,” says Matos Gil.
“Through the AdaPETation Network we seek to raise our socio-ecological footprint and regenerative frequency to restore the health of the planet, individuals and communities. To help achieve this, placing life back at the center is key, so we’re looking for organizations and individuals that want to go beyond sustainability and create a regenerative multi-stakeholder network that fosters and speeds innovation, placing PET plastic at the service of humanity and the planet.”
“PET Heroes is an opportunity to recognize and reward inspirational talents like Álvaro Catalán de Ocón, people who can see the beauty and recognise the value of plastic. These figures are so important in elevating the conversation about how best to treasure the material and make sure it is used wisely,” says Matos Gil.
New nominees will be accepted throughout the rest of the year and a winner will be announced in March 2023.
“We want to celebrate and showcase people like Alvaro and talented design student, Ewan Morrell, who’s been inspired to create a simple solution to the needless deaths of 19,000 children a year in Bangladesh during the monsoon system or the team of change agents behind PET Gas in Mexico who have captured PET’s value to empower ecosystem restoration. The search is just beginning. We hope others will join us on this important journey.”
PET Heroes 2023 / Timeline
- All nominations for PET Heroes 2023 closes: 31:12:2022
- Full shortlist of PET Heroes 2023 published: 01:01:2023
- Voting for the PET Heroes 2023 opens: 01:01:2023
- Voting for the PET Heroes 2023 closes: 22:02:2023
- Winner of PET Heroes 2023 announced: 28:02:2023
About The AdaPETation Network
The AdaPETation Network was founded in June 2022, to become the first regenerative network within the polymers industry that seeks, promotes and powers the best solutions to the systemic issues surrounding plastics. A think tank with a focus on making sense of our interdependence on plastic, it aims to bring together the most intelligent nature-based solutions that will help steer the polymers industry towards a regenerative path
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
Check out the final list of PET Heroes 2023 and show your support for your favorite.
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THE HISTORY OF PLASTIC
Throughout the history of plastic, PET has been crucial in keeping food fresh with lightweight and durable packaging solutions that have helped reduce food waste for almost a century. Learn all about the invention of plastic and the important role it has played feeding people and saving the lives of humans and elephants in the adaPETation® timeline of the history of plastic.
