The Circulate Initiative boosts leadership to tackle plastic waste
The Circulate Initiative has appointed Matthew Fraser as Director of Programmes and Research, as the organisation seeks to enhance its capabilities in addressing plastic pollution and promoting circular economies in emerging markets.
Leadership expansion
Fraser will oversee The Circulate Initiative's research activities, particularly work at the intersection of plastics and finance. He will manage flagship data resources such as the Plastics Circularity Investment Tracker and the updated Plastic Lifecycle Assessment Calculator for the Environment and Society (PLACES) climate tool. These platforms provide data-driven guidance to stakeholders including investors, policymakers, and businesses.
Fraser joins with more than 15 years of experience in the circular economy across multiple continents. His previous role was at Circle Economy, where he developed tools and reports that influenced policy and investment decisions globally.
"Matthew's expertise in circular economy research and program development comes at a pivotal time for The Circulate Initiative. His leadership will be key as we work to drive increased investment into solutions to plastic waste and expand our research capabilities to ground our programs in robust data and insights," said Michael Sadowski, Executive Director, The Circulate Initiative.
Fraser highlighted the importance of connecting research to practical programme delivery: "Preventing plastic pollution requires systemic solutions that combine policy, infrastructure, and economic incentives. I am excited to join The Circulate Initiative to advance the circular economy by leveraging their data-driven research to practical program design, supporting the creation of circular systems that generate measurable environmental and economic impact, strengthen local economies, and improve livelihoods in emerging markets."
Responsible sourcing
The organisation has also expanded its team for the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, a programme designed to address human rights issues within recycling value chains. Arun Murugesh has taken the role of Director for the initiative in India, bringing nearly two decades of experience in the waste management sector, which includes previous work integrating informal waste workers into ethical supply chains and developing systems to track recycled materials.
Yunia Bidali has joined as Responsible Sourcing Initiative Africa Lead. She previously held the position of Chief of Growth and Innovation at Mr. Green Africa in Kenya, focusing on integrating informal waste pickers and other stakeholders into formal recycling systems using technology to promote transparency and traceability.
Global projects
The Responsible Sourcing Initiative now covers five active projects in Viet Nam, Kenya, India, and Indonesia. These projects are delivered in collaboration with a network of partners, including major international brands. Insights from this work have contributed to the creation of the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Materials, a practical set of guidelines for sourcing recycled materials responsibly.
Discussing the demand for clear guidance, Annerieke Douma, Senior Director of Programmes, The Circulate Initiative, said: "As pressure mounts on brands to comply with regulations like extended producer responsibility, secure recycled materials, and meet new due diligence and disclosure standards, clear guidance on how to source recycled materials responsibly has never been more urgent. Through the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, we're working to fill that gap - ensuring that plastic waste supply chains not only support recycled plastics and advance a circular economy, but also respect the rights of all workers."
