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Category: Top stories

Mondelez, General Mills, Cotopaxi report progress

Published: April 30, 2025
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In North America, Mondelez is looking to put up to 50% RPET in cookie trays, including its Oreo packaging. | Steve Cukrov/Shutterstock

Two big food brands and an eco-conscious apparel company reported on their use of plastic resins recently, with Mondelez and General Mills reporting a focus on reducing the use of plastic packaging and transitioning to mono-material packaging, respectively. Continue Reading

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Resin producer, environmental group lawsuits heat up

Published: April 30, 2025
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Several lawsuits centering on ExxonMobil’s role in plastic recycling and plastic pollution are slowly moving through the legal process. | Kirkam/Shutterstock

Three connected lawsuits between resin supplier ExxonMobil, a handful of nonprofit organizations and California’s attorney general are working their way through the courts. Recently, a Texas city that’s home to an ExxonMobil pyrolysis plant has joined the fray to support the company. Continue Reading

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Eastman, LyondellBasell provide plant updates

Published: April 30, 2025
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The two chemical majors remain optimistic on demand for recycled polymers, while slowing plans for new U.S. capacity. | Rene Notenbomer/Shutterstock

Two U.S.-based chemical companies discussed upcoming recycling projects during recent earnings calls, expressing optimism despite persistent economic uncertainty and potential administrative hurdles.
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Most major bottlers upped PCR use in California last year

Published: April 23, 2025
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California began requiring beverage manufacturers to report their annual virgin and recycled resin use beginning in 2018. | DonPablo Lorez/Shutterstock

Newly released data shows many major bottlers increased their post-consumer PET use in beverage containers sold into California last year, surpassing the state’s 15% minimum recycled content mandate for that year and putting them on track to hit the expanded mandate for 2025. Continue Reading

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US labels Canadian agenda as trade barrier

Published: April 23, 2025
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The Trump administration included Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda among numerous barriers to foreign trade in a recent report. | Monticello/Shutterstock

The Trump administration has included Canada’s Zero Plastic Waste Agenda among foreign trade barriers, drawing criticism from a Canadian advocacy group and caution from the country’s chemical industry. Continue Reading

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US Plastics Pact formalizes PCR approach in new report

Published: April 23, 2025
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Plastic pellets with blue pigment pellets.

The report explores the interrelated challenges to widespread adoption of PCR content and proposes solutions from both industry and policy standpoints. | Joyce Blessthink/Shutterstock

In its most recent report, the U.S. Plastics Pact outlined numerous market-based and policy solutions for existing challenges that may inhibit adoption of PCR in plastic packaging, including collection infrastructure and virgin resin oversupply. Continue Reading

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Procurement tactics adapt to new supply realities

Published: April 16, 2025
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Crystal Bayliss of the U.S. Plastics Pact emphasized that procurement involves far more than just haggling prices, a sentiment echoed by an Orbis executive. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

With PCR requirements increasing rapidly, companies throughout plastics value chains face similar challenges in controlling feedstock supply, scaling up supply and managing capital costs. This sentiment was clear during a Plastics Recycling Conference session as well as a recent industry interview.  Continue Reading

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Brightmark Indiana auction advances post-bankruptcy

Published: April 16, 2025
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Mixed plastics / serthayos_sansuwansri, Shutterstock

Brightmark says it is engaged in a “robust” sale process involving numerous interested parties, in response to allegations from a key creditor. | Serthayos Sansuwansri/Shutterstock

As of early this month, two dozen interested parties had signed non-disclosure agreements expressing interest in bidding on Brightmark’s Indiana chemical recycling facility, which filed for bankruptcy last month. A sale process is set to take place over the next few weeks, culminating May 9. Continue Reading

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Tariff chaos bobs, weaves throughout recycled polymers market

Published: April 9, 2025
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Shipping vessel from above

Although recent tariffs may exclude resin shipments, market players are seeing no shortage of confusion and consternation. | AlexKol Photography/Shutterstock

After many weeks of shifting narratives and uncertainty, participants in recycled polymer  markets are working to navigate the new tariff environment, in which buyers and sellers as well as customs officials struggle to align federal mandates with on-the-ground implementation.  Continue Reading

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