Circulate Capital - Circular Economy Investment Fund

Enriched Impact Investor · Found: 2026-03-11 10:50

Impact investment firm with $106M committed capital (Circulate Capital Ocean Fund) focused on circular economy solutions preventing plastic waste in oceans across high-growth markets including emerging Africa presence.

Source: https://circulatecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/circulate-capital-WEF-SMI-white-paper-May-21.pdf

Funding Details

Funder

Circulate Capital

Funding Goal

To finance circular economy solutions that prevent plastic waste from entering oceans, by investing in recycling supply chains and disruptive innovations across high-growth emerging markets, while delivering competitive financial returns to investors.

Funding Amount

$2-30 million USD for Recycling Supply Chains strategy; $1-5 million USD for Circulate Capital Disrupt (Innovation) strategy. Capital deployed as equity, quasi-equity, and debt. (1.000.000 € – 30.000.000 €)

How to Apply

Interested companies submit their pitch deck via the online application form at circulatecapital.typeform.com. Submission does not guarantee consideration — only candidates meeting the stated investment criteria receive invitations to submit complete proposals. The process appears to be ongoing (rolling basis) rather than tied to specific deadlines.

Target Region

South and Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines), Latin America and Caribbean, Global (for Disrupt strategy)

Contact

Apply via: circulatecapital.typeform.com. Website: https://www.circulatecapital.com. Related nonprofit: The Circulate Initiative (501(c)(3)).

Official Page

https://www.circulatecapital.com/apply-for-funding/

Last Checked

2026-03-11 19:53

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Company must operate in eligible geographies: South and Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines), Latin America/Caribbean, or globally for Disrupt strategy
• Must be at Early-Growth or Growth stage (Recycling Supply Chains) or Series A/B/C (Disrupt Innovation)
• Must demonstrate financially attractive investment opportunities with risk-adjusted returns alongside measurable environmental and social impact

Project Scope

• Focus must be on circular economy solutions: recycling supply chains, collection/sorting, upcycling, bio-based materials, circular business models, or advanced recycling technologies

Required Documents

• Submit pitch deck via online application form at circulatecapital.typeform.com

Constraints

• Must show measurable impact metrics: waste diversion, GHG reduction, post-consumer recycled material usage, job creation, gender equality
• Investment is equity, quasi-equity, or debt — not grants. Company must be structured to accept and return investment capital

Summary

Circulate Capital is the leading circular economy investment management firm in high-growth markets, launched in 2018 to address the ocean plastic crisis. The firm deploys capital through two complementary strategies: (1) Recycling Supply Chains, which targets investments of $2-30 million in companies transforming collection, sorting, and upcycling systems primarily in South and Southeast Asia (India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines) with expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean; and (2) Circulate Capital Disrupt, which invests $1-5 million in disruptive innovations including bio-based materials, circular business models, and advanced recycling technologies with global scope. The firm is backed by major multinational corporations including PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Dow, Danone, and Coca-Cola, who provide not only capital but also market insights and commercial opportunities to portfolio companies. Circulate Capital combines direct investment with blended finance vehicles in partnership with development finance institutions. Their ambitious goal is to unlock $1 billion to prevent 150 million tonnes of plastic pollution. Circulate Capital invests through equity, quasi-equity, and debt instruments — this is not a grant program. Companies must demonstrate both financial attractiveness with risk-adjusted returns and measurable environmental and social impact. Notable portfolio companies include Tridi Oasis (Indonesia), Lucro Plastecycle (India), Recykal (India), and Srichakra Polyplast (India). The fund has achieved major milestones including 1 million tonnes of annual GHG emissions avoided and maintains the largest recycling portfolio in South and Southeast Asia.

Historical Context

Founded in 2018 to invest in solutions for the ocean plastic crisis in South and Southeast Asia. The Circulate Capital Ocean Fund (CCOF I) deployed US$39 million in India by 2020 and has grown to over $106M in committed capital. Backed by major corporations including PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Dow, Danone, and Coca-Cola. Ocean Fund I received a Platinum rating on BlueMark's Fund ID Leaderboard (86/100). Latin America and Caribbean Fund completed its final close in 2025. Named "Impact Firm of the Year (Circular Economy)" in the New Private Markets Awards 2025. Has achieved 1 million tonnes of GHG emissions avoided annually. Maintains the largest recycling portfolio in South and Southeast Asia.

Why it was added

Africa plastic recycling social enterprise funding

Sources

• https://circulatecapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/circulate-capital-WEF-SMI-white-paper-May-21.pdf
• https://www.circulatecapital.com
• https://www.circulatecapital.com/investments
• https://www.circulatecapital.com/apply-for-funding/
• https://www.circulatecapital.com/about/

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