Plug and Play has partnered with SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, to launch the CIRCUL-A-THON challenge to engage with creative and visionary designers in the quest to find solutions facing the future of circularity. The challenge will focus on industrial designs for real-life products having ease of reuse and recyclability of plastics throughout their life cycles.

"Our circular economy journey at SABIC is demonstrated through the TRUCIRCLETM portfolio and services with Design for Circularity being a pillar. By launching CIRCUL-A-THON, we invite innovators in the industrial design space to an exciting platform in order to contribute their ideas which can bolster the sustainability vision endeavors," commented Dr. Waleed Al-Shalfan, Vice President of Polymers Technology and Innovation at SABIC.

A SABIC initiative that started in 2001 continues today with SABIC's CIRCUL-A-THON to address the future of circularity in plastics for various industries. The challenge will reward the winning designers of both student and professional level. The designs will mainly focus on four industry themes in packaging, transportation, healthcare, and electronics that are facing the demanding challenges on sustainable development.

This partnership is in alignment with Plug and Play's broader sustainability initiative. Plug and Play Sustainability brings together game-changing ideas from different industries and countries on one platform to solve some of the greatest environmental challenges our society faces today.

"We're really excited to kick off the CIRCUL-A-THON challenge with an industry leader like SABIC. At Plug and Play, we believe that when we bring together the ideas of students and professionals from different backgrounds to solve the challenges of circularity, we will find the necessary solutions to effect a change," said Plug and Play Corporate Partnerships Manager Omer Alparslan.

SABIC has committed to accelerate the circular economy with its advantage and know-how in the plastic industry. The CIRCUL-A-THON challenge is in alignment with SABIC's priorities to engage with the whole value chain to take the challenges of creating reusable and recyclable products in the key focused industries segments. By awarding the inspiring and creative ideas from the designers, SABIC is able to further value the opportunities and explore future application and solutions that may push the circular economy of the whole plastic industry.

The CIRCUL-A-THON submission portal will be open until April 10, 2023. Designers, students, professionals, and startups who are interested in submitting a design to this challenge can apply here: https://circulathon-by-sabic.pnptc.com/