Plasteax has served as a resource for plastic waste data analysis for several years. In that time, it received a lot of good, very useful feedback that made the need for iteration quite [MG1] clear.
We heard that the data was hard to share, that it was unclear how the model works or where the data came from. The sheets we delivered were too complex, the documentation was hard to read, and we were missing the 2022 dataset for quite a while.
Most of all, we heard that accessing what is useful in the data was hard.
Over the past year, with the help of funds from InnoVaud’s SyNNergy project, the Plasteax team has been working with developers at KLEIS to transform Plasteax to better serve its users – researchers, sustainability professionals, and policymakers.
We are now ready with Plasteax v1.1.
What’s new in Plasteax v1.1
This update brings 2022 data for 73 countries, along with improvements and bug fixes to increase accuracy and functionality.
- Comprehensive 2022 data for 73 countries – Including updated production figures, recycling rates, and the latest BACI import-export information
- Modernized API with centralized documentation – Now available at docs.plasteax.earth, replacing the previous PDF-based system
- Enhanced data models – Featuring improved calculations, better mass balance checks, and resolved country-specific exceptions
- User-informed spreadsheet redesign – Restructured based on direct feedback to improve clarity and usability
To read more about it see our new change log or reach out to the team and we can talk more.
This is the beginning of a more dynamic development cycle for Plasteax.
In the short term we’re going to work with existing clients on API integration, expand country coverage, and re-look at the bones of the model. This is because we’re in a time of waiting.
In the future we hope and expect even more developments. Most significant of which was talked about in February, when EA and Systemiq announced a partnership to launch the Packaging Data Hub (PDH)— a platform designed to provide detailed, global insights into packaging waste flows.
We are still waiting for funding confirmation to kick off this work but when we do it will be built with Plasteax as a core data-modelling component. The PDH will be the natural, if very significant, step up for packaging data, not necessarily just plastic.
We invite you to experience a taste of the updated Plasteax at docs.plasteax.earth or, if you’re interested in accessing the data itself, contact us at contact@plasteax.earth to talk business and use cases.
