CIRCLE Alliance — Plastic Packaging Circularity Grants

Enriched Corporate · Found: 2026-03-14 21:14

A USD 21 million public-private partnership by Unilever, USAID, and EY providing grants and business support to entrepreneurs and NGOs tackling plastic waste collection and recycling in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Source: https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2024/the-circle-alliance-scaling-packaging-circularity-to-reduce-plastic-waste/

Funding Details

Funder

CIRCLE Alliance (Unilever, USAID, EY)

Funding Goal

Support entrepreneurs and small businesses across the plastics value chain to scale solutions that reduce plastic use, tackle plastic waste, and build circular economies. Focus on packaging circularity, collection, recycling, reuse-refill models, and women's economic empowerment in the informal waste sector.

Funding Amount

Total initiative: USD 21 million public-private collaboration. Mix of grant funding and bespoke business support for SMEs and entrepreneurs.

How to Apply

Contact Laurie Pickard (lpickard@resonanceglobal.com), Chief of Party for the CIRCLE Alliance implementing partner Resonance, to learn more and express interest.

Target Region

India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines (initial focus); plan to expand to other markets

Contact

Laurie Pickard, Chief of Party (CIRCLE Alliance / Resonance): lpickard@resonanceglobal.com

Last Checked

2026-03-15 09:46

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Active in the plastic packaging value chain (collection, recycling, reuse, or refill)
• SME or entrepreneur with market-based solutions for plastic circularity

Project Scope

• Implementation in one of CIRCLE's focus countries (India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines or expansion markets)
• Solutions should reduce plastic use or increase collection/recycling of plastic waste
• Preference for initiatives benefiting women waste workers or informal sector

Required Documents

• Contact implementing partner Resonance to obtain application materials

Constraints

• Program is looking for organisations to join the Alliance, not just grantees — co-funding or in-kind contribution may be expected for partner organisations

Summary

The CIRCLE Alliance is a USD 21 million public-private initiative co-founded by Unilever, USAID, and EY to scale plastic packaging circularity in Asia. Launched in 2024, it combines grant funding with enterprise acceleration and business support to help entrepreneurs and SMEs along the plastics value chain — including collection, recycling, and reuse/refill models — reduce plastic pollution and build circular economies. Initially focused on India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, CIRCLE targets market-based solutions that drive systemic change in plastic waste management. It places particular emphasis on women, who make up the majority of informal waste collectors in the global south, aiming to improve livelihoods while protecting the environment. The initiative is seeking additional partner organisations with funds or expertise to join and expand its geographic reach. It is implemented by Resonance as the lead implementing partner, with enterprise acceleration modelled after the successful TRANSFORM programme.

Historical Context

Builds on the TRANSFORM initiative led by Unilever, the UK FCDO and EY. Launched at Capitol Hill Ocean Week in June 2024. USAID, Unilever, and EY co-founded the initiative.

Why it was added

grant-scan-list10-2026-03-14

Sources

• https://www.unilever.com/news/news-search/2024/the-circle-alliance-scaling-packaging-circularity-to-reduce-plastic-waste/

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