As the overall recycling sector struggles, plastic film stakeholders are bearing the brunt of the industry’s challenges. | Dmitry Markov152/Shutterstock
Editor’s note: Some industry sources for this story were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of market relationships.
Key takeaways
Two weeks after the closure of WM’s plastic film recycling operations, market players have been left to process what the development means for the overall industry.
Despite noting positive action, the foundation warns that the pace of change still falls far short of what’s needed, with 80% of the market yet to act meaningfully. | Meaw_stocker/Shutterstock
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has unveiled its Global Commitment 2025 Progress Report alongside the new 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, a sweeping roadmap to transform how the world makes, uses and reuses plastics. Continue Reading
A new study from ICIS and a Chinese industry association also predicted that the role of chemical recycling will increase amid PPWR implementation. | Alones / Shutterstock
A new study from commodity intelligence firm ICIS and a Chinese industry association explores the impacts of European regulations on global demand for recycled plastics in packaging, automotive and textile applications.
In recent quarterly investor calls, several major PE producers provided a survey of the current landscape for virgin resin and gave a glimpse at what the near future may hold. | Richard Frazier/Shutterstock
Key takeaways
For the past three years, virgin PE resin has caused severe headaches for North American recyclers who are unable to compete with pricing pushed down by vast oversupply amid a steady stream of new capacity amid lower-than-expected demand. Continue Reading
In a statement, the company called the closure of the plastic film processing plant temporary, amid challenging macroeconomic conditions. | Courtesy of Natura
Stories exploring the closure of a major film recycling plant, a recyclability assessment platform, ADS recycled plastic purchases, PET imports and drew reader attention in October.
Nick Laneville, senior associate at Hogan Lovells in Washington, DC, at the APR fall member meeting Oct. 22, 2025 | Photo courtesy Tan Sackett/APR
As pressure builds and the recycling industry faces an existential crisis, speakers at the fall member meeting for the Association of Plastic Recyclers highlighted mounting efforts that focused on finding trade remedies. Continue Reading
Lynn Dyer, executive director at Ameripen at APR’s fall meeting on October 22, 2025. | Photo courtesy Tan Sackett/APR
Lynn Dyer, executive director at Ameripen, opened her presentation at APR’s fall meeting with a reminder about packaging policy.
The APR Design Guide for recyclable packaging is now available in Spanish and Mandarin, and includes modifications to suit variations in recycling infrastructure. | Pavlo Lys/Shutterstock
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has published its design guide in both Mandarin and Spanish, to help reinforce ongoing commitment to global alignment of guidelines for plastic packaging design for recyclability. Continue Reading