Ripening coffee beans on the tree

Plastic Corporation

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Plastic Corp transforms agricultural plastic waste into durable building materials, creating jobs and reducing pollution in northern Peru.

Every day, Peru generates over 21,600 metric tons of waste, much of it plastic. In the northern banana-growing regions, single-use plastic bags used in agriculture have become a major source of pollution, often burned, buried, or left to litter the land.

30%
Location
Sullana, Peru

Programme
South America Accelerator Programme
in partnership with NESsT
Founded in 2022, Plastic Corp was created in direct response to the growing contamination caused by these plastic banana bags. Rather than seeing waste as a problem, the company saw it as a resource and an opportunity to create change.

Plastic Corp transforms plastic waste and reclaimed plant fibres into sustainable alternatives to wood, creating products such as furniture, playground equipment, and construction materials. This not only reduces waste but also strengthens the local circular economy.

The company works closely with four associations of municipal recyclers, many of whom come from marginalised backgrounds. These 150 recyclers collect, sort, and sell plastic waste as a source of income. The company pays fair prices and provides training in proper recycling practices. It also partners with small banana-farming families in rural areas, who gather and sell used plastic packaging, creating a new income stream in places where economic opportunities can be limited.

At its processing plant in Sullana, Plastic Corp employs local workers, including Indigenous people, to produce “plastic wood”—a strong, weather-resistant material that lasts longer than traditional timber and helps reduce deforestation in the Amazon. The plant produces 1.5 tons of this sustainable material each day.

Beyond production, Plastic Corp invests in awareness and education, offering workshops on waste management in schools and communities.

“This programme is crucial for our growth as a company. The technical assistance and continuous support we receive in all areas, along with the challenges we face as entrepreneurs, are helping us to optimise our operations, identify and quantify our socio-environmental impact, establish effective commercial strategies, and position ourselves as a company. This translates into greater income and possibilities for a more equitable society.”

— Oscar Cornejo, CEO of Plastic Corporation

Programme support

Through the South America Accelerator Programme with NESsT, we’ll support Plastic Corp in shaping its business strategy and managing its sales approach to strengthen its presence in the B2B market, focusing particularly on the construction sector. This support will enable Plastic Corp to diversify its customer portfolio, positioning itself in the market as a socially and environmentally responsible company that offers an alternative to natural wood products.