The Röchling Stiftung GmbH, a nonprofit foundation, was established in 1990 by the Röchling entrepreneurial family in Mannheim, Germany, where it maintains its office at Richard-Wagner-Str. 9. Its endowment stood at 20 million euros in 2024, funded by family-provided capital, gifted shares in Röchling SE & Co. KG, investment returns, and donations.
Since 2018, the foundation has focused exclusively on plastics and the environment, supporting efforts to cut global plastic waste pollution. It funds civil society groups and research under its POLYPROBLEM program, which explores waste reduction, breakdown, and recycling, while fostering cross-sector networks among NGOs, business, science, and politics. In 2024, it allocated over 900,000 euros to such projects.
Recent initiatives include financing the "Seekuh" research vessel for One Earth One Ocean, costing around 400,000 euros, to collect and analyze ocean plastics in Hong Kong; backing Pro Ocean's consumer education on plastic types; aiding the Bauwende Allianz for climate-positive construction; and supporting Regenerate Sundarbans to protect Bangladesh's mangrove delta from waste. The foundation's five-member board, chaired by Annunziata Hoensbroech, sets strategy, with three family shareholders overseeing the annual budget.