Professional Role and Responsibilities
Raj Bagaria currently serves as Director at GDB Circular, a division of GDB International Inc., based in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He assumed this role in May 2023 and is responsible for overseeing plastics and postconsumer recycled plastics operations. His directorship encompasses strategic leadership over GDB’s recycling and sustainability solutions, with a strong focus on plastic film recycling. Under his stewardship, GDB Circular has been actively expanding and operationalizing key recycling facilities, including the relaunch of the Myplas film recycling plant in Rogers, Minnesota.
Raj Bagaria has been instrumental in the transformation and revival of the Myplas plant after its earlier operational setbacks. He is reported to be on-site in Minnesota to supervise the plant’s transition to GDB’s proven production model, reflecting hands-on leadership in operational scalability and process optimization. The acquisition and subsequent reopening of this plant under a new leadership structure aim to reinforce GDB’s position as a more sustainable and circular economy enabler in the Midwest plastics recycling sector.
Company Overview: GDB International
Founded in 1993, GDB International is a global leader in recycling and sustainability solutions, specializing across multiple commodities including plastics, paper & pulp, metals, and paints & coatings. The company operates over 15 clean-tech recycling facilities throughout the United States, with a combined footprint exceeding 2.2 million square feet. GDB International's focus is on advancing material circularity and leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and optical sorting to drive efficiencies in recycling processes—initiatives where Bagaria has been notably active.
Industry Engagement and Thought Leadership
Raj Bagaria publicly discusses regulatory impacts on the plastics recycling industry, including recent legislation affecting collection and processing standards. He advocates for the integration of technology, including AI and optical sorters, to improve sorting accuracy and scale postconsumer recycled content quality. Bagaria has shared insights through interviews and industry publications such as Recycling Today (March 2025), underscoring his role as a thought leader in the sector.
He also participates in industry-wide collaborations promoting sustainability and circular economy initiatives, supporting partnerships to advance recycled content usage across packaging and flexible film markets. His commentary reveals familiarity with policy environments and the market requirements for flexible packaging recovery, aligned with GDB’s operational expansions and strategic investments.
Education and Background
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in International Business from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (2017–2021).
- Prior experience includes a nearly two-year tenure (June 2020 – April 2023) at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked as an Associate in Dallas, Texas.
- Previous internships include work at Closed Loop Partners in New York City during the summer of 2019, indicating exposure to investment and innovation in the circular economy.
- Native or bilingual proficiency in Hindi and English, with limited working proficiency in Spanish.
- Active organizational engagement as a member of the Boy Scouts of America, where he attained Eagle Scout status, demonstrating longstanding leadership discipline.
Professional Network and Reach
- Raj's LinkedIn profile reports over 827 followers and 500+ connections, indicative of a significant professional network in sustainability, consulting, and recycling sectors.
- Visible engagement in sustainability discourse, frequently liking and sharing industry updates involving innovations, legislative changes, and company achievements related to plastics recycling and circular initiatives.
Key Achievements and Strategic Initiatives
- Leadership in the acquisition and reopening of the Myplas USA film recycling plant in Rogers, Minnesota (acquisition around September 2024; reopening efforts ongoing as of early 2025).
- Oversight of scaling GDB Circular’s operations to meet increased demand for recycled plastic materials amid evolving regulatory regimes and market preferences.
- Advocacy for and implementation of advanced technologies to optimize sorting and processing within the recycled plastics value chain.
- Public representation of GDB International in prominent industry forums such as the 2024 Sea Grant Marine Debris Symposium, reinforcing the company’s commitment to marine and environmental sustainability.
This profile outlines Raj Bagaria as a technically informed, operations-focused director with a strong consulting background and a strategic role in expanding GDB International's influence in the plastics recycling market. His direct involvement in facility turnarounds and technological implementation positions him as a key decision-maker in efforts to increase sustainability and circularity in commodity recycling.
