European company Fortum developed a post-consumer plastic chair to showcase how recycled plastic compounds can be used for more technical and challenging products. | Courtesy of Fortum
Several companies have announced progress toward recycled-content goals and new products made from recycled plastics. Here’s a roundup of recent developments.
Using an FDA-approved additive, ReCon^2 has developed a method for verifying recycled content claims. | Courtesy of ReCon^2
Rising prices for post-consumer resin also bring a greater incentive for shady suppliers to cheat. A U.K. nonprofit is commercializing a technology that will detect lies about recycled plastic use.
An extended producer responsibility (EPR) bill in Maryland would give more control to packaging producers than either Maine or Oregon’s legislation. | Nicole Glass Photography/Shutterstock
A bill introduced in Maryland’s legislature would establish an extended producer responsibility system for packaging that could give producers more control and flexibility than laws in Oregon and Maine.
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Star Plastics has made a $5 million investment in a pair of twin-screw extruders to boost capacity. | Courtesy of Star Plastics
Recycling and compounding company Star Plastics installed the first of two additional extruders at its West Virginia plant to expand its capacity and product offerings.
Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act was signed into law in August 2021, creating a 12-person task force to research and evaluate recyclability claims. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock
For several years, lawmakers across the U.S. have been drafting policy to address concerns about ocean plastic. In Oregon, a key recycling labeling task force elected a representative from an ocean environmental group as vice chair.
Volatile pricing in resin markets has presented challenges for Advanced Drainage Systems over the past year. | Chris Tennant/Shutterstock
Using recycled plastic is good business for Advanced Drainage Systems, but recent reports and interviews make clear that it’s not always painless.
Overall, the government of Canada plans to require 50% recycled content in plastic packaging by 2030. | Nextcreative/Shutterstock
Canada’s federal government will mandate recycled plastic be used in bottles, foam protective packaging, films and other products. But first, officials are asking for public input on important details.
February has brought substantial price increases for curbside PET and PP, with both up by double-digit percentages.
Shipping company CMA CGM didn’t specify exactly which categories of plastic scrap or waste the prohibition would apply to. | EQRoy/Shutterstock
CMA CGM Group, the third-largest ocean shipping company in the world, announced it will no longer carry post-use plastics on its ships as of June 1.