Circular Colorado to establish innovation hub for product development

Circular Colorado, a Denver-based nonprofit organization that develops circular economy solutions, has announced plans to develop NextRun, an 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, and is powered through a partnership with Direct Polymers, a Denver-based materials management and recycling company. 

Circular Colorado says NextRun will be housed within Direct Polymers’ facility, locating the innovation hub at a source of recycled plastic production and offering innovators direct access to a stream of diverse materials, processing engineers and the ability to test and refine designs using industrial-grade equipment. 

NextRun says it will provide a full-scale testing and production environment for two groups: startups scaling prototypes and established companies seeking to reformulate products with recycled materials.  

“The path to a circular economy requires both new innovators and established industry leaders,” says Laurie Johnson, Circular Colorado CEO and founder. “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.” 

The facility, located in the Denver metro area, will be equipped with shredders, extruders, injection molding machines and 3D printers. The hub will also provide access to diverse, recycled plastics from Direct Polymers, the company says. 

“For years, we’ve seen recycled plastic from Colorado get shipped out of state because of the lack of local demand,” says Direct Polymers CEO Adam Hill. “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 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. The next phase will be dedicated to construction and demolition waste streams. 

Circular Colorado says it’s seeking interest from established companies, startups and programs with scale-up support needs for polymer circularity.