Zero Plastic Enterprise Challenge

Entrepreneurial Solutions for Guanabara Bay

Visit project page (PT only)

Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Brazil

2025 - 2027

Client

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)

Beneficiaries

Residents of Manguinhos, Maré, Fishermen´s Colony Z10, and Rio de Janeiro in general.

Key Partners

BlackForrest Solutions
Instituto Eventos Ambientais (IEVA)

Plastic pollution severely affects coastal ecosystems and livelihoods in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. When local actors approached us to support solutions that go beyond clean up efforts, we joined forces to help turn plastic waste into an opportunity through inclusive and sustainable business models.

Zero Plastic Enterprise Challenge is a startup focused project within the Social Recycling Shipyard initiative led by BlackForest Solutions in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. The project aims to contribute to the sustainability of social recycling centers and business models established in the communities of Manguinhos, Zumbi (Fishermen’s Colony Z10), and Maré.

Through training, mentoring, and hands on support, the initiative helps participants develop creative and viable social business ideas based on plastic waste management. By strengthening local capacities and improving recycling practices, the project seeks to increase recycling rates, reduce plastic leakage into water bodies, and generate positive social and environmental impacts in vulnerable coastal communities.

As seecon, our role is to facilitate learning processes, share key expertise, and support participants and partners in developing and strengthening sustainable business models through the following activities:

Explore and discover

Through targeted research, analysis, and stakeholder engagement, we identify learning opportunities, relevant practices, and innovation potential within the local ecosystem and community-based recycling initiatives.

Co-create and design

We support the co-creation of business ideas, strategies, and action plans together with project partners and community participants, contributing to the design of viable and context specific business models.

Empower

We provide training, mentoring, and ongoing support to participants and partners, bridging knowledge gaps and empowering them to further develop and sustain their business models.

Reach and connect

We facilitate bootcamp sessions, field visits, and exchanges with strategic partners to strengthen networks, share experiences, and maximize learning outcomes for the participants.

Links to publications (in Spanish)

Factsheets 1, 2, and 3 describe the properties and characteristics of PET, PP, and HDPE, respectively. These documents present examples of industrial applications, material properties, and the causes and effects of improper disposal of these materials.
Factsheet 4 explains the waste management hierarchy and describes each of its steps. It presents a ladder ranging from the most sustainable actions to the least desirable ones. The higher we climb, the greater the environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Factsheet 5 focuses on sustainable business models and their key elements: customers, revenue streams, margins, value proposition, key activities, and key resources.
Factsheet 6 is an eight-page document describing the main business models related to waste management and their specific characteristics.