Dubai, October 2, 2025 – The global movement toward sustainability and circular innovation took centre stage at the PolyNext Awards 2025, organised by Next Business Media , held on October 1–2, 2025, in Dubai. Among the distinguished industry leaders celebrated this year, one name stood out for his visionary work in redefining how the world approaches plastic recycling and circularity — Simon Fiedler, Founder and CEO of Simiplas GmbH, who received the prestigious title of “Rising Star in Circular Plastics” under the category Excellence in Plastic Industry – Leaders.
The award recognises individuals and companies that are not just innovating within the plastic industry but reshaping it with a forward-thinking, responsible approach to sustainability. Fiedler’s recognition comes at a pivotal moment for the global plastics ecosystem, as industries worldwide accelerate their transition from linear production models toward regenerative, circular systems.
Celebrating Innovation and Responsibility in Plastics
The PolyNext Awards, now one of the most respected global recognitions in the plastics and recycling sectors, brings together top-tier organizations, innovators, researchers, and policymakers from across continents. Hosted annually by Next Business Media, the event serves as a nexus for cross-industry collaboration, spotlighting individuals and companies driving meaningful change toward a sustainable plastics economy.
This year’s edition of the PolyNext Conference and Awards featured a dynamic lineup of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and sustainability experts exploring how plastic innovation, policy, and technology can converge to create a truly circular world. With Dubai as its host city, the event echoed the emirate’s growing role as a hub for global trade and sustainability leadership.
Amidst this gathering of pioneers, Simon Fiedler’s win symbolised a new generation of leaders who are blending commercial success with environmental responsibility.
Simiplas GmbH – A Vision for Responsible Plastics
At the heart of Fiedler’s achievement lies his company, Simiplas GmbH, a fast-emerging player in the global recycling ecosystem. Founded on the principle that “plastics can and should be used responsibly,” Simiplas is redefining the material’s lifecycle through smart, sustainable trade and processing strategies.
The company’s vision is simple yet transformative:
“We want a world in which plastics are used and recycled responsibly. Our innovative solutions help reduce waste and extend the life of plastics.”
In an industry often criticised for its environmental footprint, Simiplas stands out for its pragmatic, results-driven approach. Instead of rejecting plastics, the company focuses on reimagining their use — finding efficient ways to extend the material’s life, reduce waste, and optimize recycling flows across international markets.
Simiplas operates at the intersection of trade, technology, and sustainability, connecting recyclers, manufacturers, and distributors worldwide. Through strategic partnerships and transparent operations, the company enables efficient circulation of recycled materials, ensuring that post-consumer and post-industrial plastics re-enter the production cycle rather than ending up in landfills or oceans.
Simon Fiedler – The Visionary Behind the Movement
Behind Simiplas’s rise is the entrepreneurial spirit of Simon Fiedler — a name now synonymous with innovation and leadership in circular plastics.
Fiedler’s professional journey didn’t begin in recycling. In fact, it began in the fast-paced world of European startups, where he cultivated a rare blend of product innovation, business strategy, and digital transformation. As a Product Manager in a leading FinTech firm, Simon was instrumental in shaping digital wealth management tools that bridged technology and human decision-making — a skillset that would later become invaluable as he entered the sustainability sector.
His career trajectory took a decisive turn when he joined a sustainability tech company as a Business Development Lead, driving growth and strategic partnerships. This experience ignited his passion for environmental innovation, inspiring him to apply his digital and strategic expertise to one of the most pressing global challenges: plastic waste.
In 2020, Simon founded Simiplas GmbH, motivated by a simple question: “What if we could change how the world perceives and manages plastics — not as waste, but as a resource?”
Blending Technology, Commerce, and Sustainability
What sets Simon apart from traditional recycling leaders is his tech-native mindset and entrepreneurial agility. He understands that sustainability, to be successful, must also be scalable and commercially viable.
Under his leadership, Simiplas has built a model that merges data-driven decision-making with market intelligence — allowing recyclers and manufacturers to access high-quality, traceable recycled materials globally.
Simiplas doesn’t just move materials; it moves the industry forward. By adopting advanced analytics, digital supply chain visibility, and transparent trade practices, Simon’s company is helping establish a new standard for trust and efficiency in the recycled plastics market.
His approach exemplifies the next evolution of sustainability — one where innovation, impact, and profitability coexist.
The PolyNext Awards 2025 – A Global Platform for Change
This year’s PolyNext Awards celebrated the theme “Circular Solutions for a Sustainable Tomorrow,” highlighting how collaborative innovation can drive climate-positive impact.
From recycling machinery manufacturers to polymer scientists, from policy advocates to material innovators — the event brought together voices that are actively transforming the future of the plastic industry.
The Excellence in Plastic Industry – Leaders category, under which Simon Fiedler received his award, specifically honours trailblazers and companies demonstrating leadership in circularity, ethical business practices, and sustainable innovation.
Each winner was selected after a rigorous evaluation process, with the jury comprising industry experts, environmental strategists, and corporate sustainability executives. The criteria included innovation, measurable impact, scalability, and leadership vision.
Why Simon Fiedler’s Win Matters
Simon Fiedler’s recognition as a Rising Star in Circular Plastics carries significance far beyond personal achievement. It reflects a growing global acknowledgment that individual leadership plays a critical role in solving systemic sustainability challenges.
At a time when the world is producing over 350 million tonnes of plastic annually, with less than 10% effectively recycled, Simon’s model of responsible trade and innovation provides a much-needed blueprint for systemic change.
His philosophy is not about eliminating plastics but about transforming their lifecycle — creating economic and environmental value simultaneously. This mindset aligns perfectly with the PolyNext Awards’ mission: to inspire a new generation of innovators who see opportunity in responsibility.
Driving a Culture of Circular Thinking
Circularity is not just a technical process — it’s a cultural shift. Simon’s leadership exemplifies how business can become an agent of this transformation.
Through Simiplas, he promotes collaboration between recyclers, converters, and product manufacturers, ensuring that circular thinking flows through every stage of the supply chain. The company’s operations emphasize traceability, transparency, and trust — three values often missing in global plastic trade.
Under Fiedler’s leadership, Simiplas has already expanded its international footprint, partnering with suppliers and clients across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. These partnerships are building a network that supports the recycling and re-utilization of plastics at a scale that can influence entire industries.
An Entrepreneur with Creative Energy
Beyond the boardroom, Simon Fiedler brings a rare blend of creativity and discipline to his leadership style. A passionate music producer, he has even collaborated with global DJ and chart-topper Robin Schulz.
This artistic background mirrors his approach to business — where creativity, rhythm, and collaboration are central. He often describes entrepreneurship as a form of creative expression: “Building a business is like making music — you need harmony between innovation, timing, and passion.”
His ability to blend technical understanding, artistic vision, and business acumen makes him a multidimensional leader uniquely suited for the complex world of sustainability.
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Trade
As global demand for recycled plastics continues to surge, Simiplas is positioning itself as a trusted bridge between material recovery and circular production. The company’s focus is not just on scaling trade but also on educating markets, raising standards, and driving digital transparency.
Simon’s strategy for the next phase involves leveraging digital tools to track material flow, verify quality, and enhance accountability across borders. His long-term vision is to make responsible plastic trade the industry norm, rather than the exception.
He believes that sustainability must move beyond corporate slogans to become a quantifiable, measurable business model — one that rewards innovation and responsibility equally.
A Milestone Moment for Circular Leadership
The PolyNext Awards 2025 provided the ideal global stage to honour Simon Fiedler’s contribution. As he received the award in Dubai — a city symbolic of global connection and innovation — the recognition underscored the importance of individual vision in achieving collective progress.
In his acceptance remarks, Simon expressed gratitude to his team, partners, and mentors, emphasizing that circular change requires collaboration, not competition. He said:
“This recognition isn’t just for me; it’s for everyone working toward a world where plastic is not a problem but part of the solution. Every ton of recycled plastic represents a step toward that future.”
His words resonated deeply with the audience, serving as a reminder that leadership in sustainability is as much about inspiring others as it is about achieving success.
The Broader Impact of the PolyNext Platform
Beyond awards and recognition, the PolyNext platform aims to build momentum for industry transformation. The 2025 conference hosted panel discussions on innovations in recycling technology, bioplastics, policy frameworks, and circular investment models, with participation from global corporations, research institutions, and sustainability startups.
The event also fostered collaborations between government entities and private players to accelerate sustainable infrastructure and cross-border material trade — a mission closely aligned with Simiplas’s work.
As the plastic industry continues its journey toward circularity, platforms like PolyNext serve as vital catalysts, providing visibility to changemakers who are redefining global standards.
The Road Ahead: Scaling Innovation Responsibly
For Simon Fiedler and Simiplas GmbH, the PolyNext recognition marks both an achievement and a challenge — a call to further expand the company’s impact and continue leading with integrity and innovation.
The company is now exploring deeper integration of AI-driven material sourcing, blockchain-based traceability, and strategic partnerships with manufacturers committed to zero-waste production. These advancements aim to strengthen the supply chain’s accountability while enhancing environmental outcomes.
As Simon often says, “True innovation happens when sustainability and profitability move in the same direction.” This philosophy will continue to guide Simiplas’s journey as it scales across continents.
Conclusion: A New Era for Circular Plastics
The recognition of Simon Fiedler as the Rising Star in Circular Plastics at the PolyNext Awards 2025 is more than a personal accolade — it is a testament to a global shift. It highlights the emergence of a new generation of leaders who combine entrepreneurship, creativity, and responsibility to shape a sustainable future.
Through his vision and execution, Simon has demonstrated that circular innovation is not just an environmental imperative but a strategic business opportunity. His journey, and that of Simiplas GmbH, embodies the very essence of what the PolyNext Awards stand for — excellence, innovation, and responsibility in the plastics industry.
As industries worldwide continue to evolve toward circular models, leaders like Simon Fiedler will play a defining role in proving that the future of plastics can indeed be sustainable — and inspiring others to follow that path.
About PolyNext Awards The PolyNext Awards, organised by Next Business Media, is an international platform celebrating excellence and innovation in the plastics, recycling, and sustainability sectors. The event brings together global leaders, researchers, and innovators to drive collaborative change toward a circular economy.
About Simiplas GmbH Simiplas GmbH is a Germany-based company specialising in the international trade of recycled plastics, committed to promoting responsible use and circularity. Its mission is to build a future where plastics are used and recycled responsibly through innovative, data-driven, and transparent solutions.
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