Circular Colorado in partnership with Direct Polymers to establish an innovation hub for circular product development
Strategic partnership pairs the state’s largest plastics processor with a new facility to de-risk and accelerate the development of products made from recycled materials, creating new markets and advancing Colorado’s circular economy.
Circular Colorado announced plans to develop NextRun, a first-of-its-kind innovation hub to support the development of products made from recycled materials. This initiative is designed to create new markets for recycled materials, starting with plastics.
This initiative is powered by a new strategic partnership with Direct Polymers, Colorado’s largest plastics processor. In a move that solidifies the hub’s industrial capabilities, NextRun will be housed within Direct Polymers’ facility, co-locating the innovation hub directly at the source of recycled plastic production. This physical integration provides unparalleled benefits for NextRun, offering innovators direct access to a consistent stream of diverse materials, real-time technical expertise from processing engineers, and the ability to immediately test and refine their designs using industrial-grade equipment, accelerating the path from prototype to market-ready product.
NextRun will provide a full-scale testing and production environment for two key groups: startups scaling a prototype and established companies seeking to reformulate products with recycled materials.
“The path to a circular economy requires both new innovators and established industry leaders,” said Laurie Johnson, Founder & CEO of Circular Colorado. “With Direct Polymers as our foundational partner, NextRun becomes more than just a facility—it becomes an ecosystem. For the entrepreneur with a breakthrough idea, we will provide the equipment and material access to accelerate their path to scale, while training them in best practices for operational execution. For the manufacturer, we will offer a risk-free environment to test recycled feedstocks. Together, we are building the supply and the demand simultaneously in the heart of Denver.”
While there has been increased awareness and collection of recycled materials in recent years, the end markets for these materials has not been simultaneously growing.
“For years, we’ve seen recycled plastic from Colorado get shipped out of state because of the lack of local demand,” said Adam Hill, CEO of Direct Polymers. “Our partnership with Circular Colorado on NextRun is the solution. We are not just a supplier; we are a technical partner ensuring innovators have the right materials and knowledge to succeed. This closes the loop right here in Colorado, turning waste into economic opportunity.”
The NextRun hub will offer:
- A Full-Scale Production & Testing Environment: A facility in the Denver metro area, equipped with industrial-grade machinery like shredders, extruders, injection molding machines, and 3D printers.
- Reliable Feedstock & Expert Support: Access to a consistent supply of diverse, high-grade recycled plastics from Direct Polymers, backed by technical expertise in material properties and processing.
- A Collaborative Ecosystem: A dedicated space where startups, established manufacturers, and material experts can connect to solve common challenges while learning operational and safety excellence.
The first phase of NextRun, expected to launch in the second half of 2026, will focus on products made from recycled plastics, with Direct Polymers serving as the core material partner. A subsequent phase will be dedicated to construction and demolition (C&D) waste streams. Circular Colorado is seeking interest from established companies, startups, and programs with scale-up support needs for polymer circularity.