Back to Top

Tag Archives: PET

Unifi pushes for textile recycling progress

Published: July 16, 2025
Updated:

by

Despite gains made in recycled content, textile manufacturing faces unique challenges, a Unifi executive said during a recent APR podcast. | Photo Courtesy of Unifi

Editor’s Note: Mark your calendar for the 2026 Textile Recovery Summit, Feb. 23-25 in Chula Vista, California.  Continue Reading

Candy giant Mars reached 7% PCR use in 2024

Published: July 9, 2025
Updated:

by
Candy containers from Berry Global and Mars.

Candy conglomerate Mars outlined the company’s steps toward circularity and zero emissions in its 2024 sustainability report. | Courtesy of Berry Global and Mars

Candy and pet food giant Mars used 14,000 metric tons of recycled materials for its products in 2024, according to its recently released sustainability report. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

PET Recycling Coalition doubles down on thermoforms

Published: July 9, 2025
Updated:

by
Pile of empty plastic packaging containers.

Despite making gains in PET recycling, the Coalition acknowledges that its goals require more industry support. | Konektus Photo/Shutterstock

Since forming in 2022, the PET Recycling Coalition has worked to increase PET bottle recycling rates and access to curbside recycling for non-bottle materials, including thermoforms.  Continue Reading

Bottle cap design: No need to ‘reinvent the wheel’

Published: June 25, 2025
Updated:

by

State-level initiatives have suggested PET closures and tethered caps, but these designs may introduce complications while attempting to provide a solution. | FotoDax/Shutterstock

Mono-material design often is the goal for packaging, but due to color and sortation nuances it may not be the best approach for beverage containers, according to a packaging design expert during a recent webinar.  Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Coke bottler’s switch to clear PET provides lessons learned

Published: June 18, 2025
Updated:

by
Sprite bottles in store.

A case study from the Northeast Recycling Council details a regional bottler’s journey from green PET to clear. | Adnan Zain Kautsar/Shutterstock

A recent case study from the Northeast Recycling Council offers insights on transitioning packaging materials, gleaned from a regional Coca-Cola bottler that switched from green PET to clear for several of its products. Continue Reading

Texas plant in limbo after Eastman loses DOE grant

Published: May 30, 2025
Updated:

by

The $375 million grant represented about one-third of the required funding for the company’s second U.S. chemical recycling plant. The operational Kingsport, Tennessee facility is pictured. | Photo Courtesy of Eastman

Tennessee-based Eastman has lost its $375 million federal grant, which previously had spurred the company to make a final investment decision on its second U.S. methanolysis plant, located in Texas. 

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Alpek closing North Carolina PET plant

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated:

by

The Fayetteville site is the company’s second U.S. PET plant to close in less than two years. | Aykut Erdogdu/Shutterstock

Major PET producer Alpek is closing a North Carolina plant that includes both virgin and RPET production, with operations to cease by July 31.

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Pepsi reduces global PCR goal, extends target date

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated:

by

PepsiCo will now shoot for 40% global recycled plastic use by 2035, instead of 50% by 2030. | FotograFFF/Shutterstock

Citing factors outside the company’s control, brand giant PepsiCo has softened its global post-consumer recycled content target and given itself more time to achieve the goal. Continue Reading

Posted in News | Tagged , |

Bale pricing bucks seasonal trend, trade alliances shift

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated:

by

Foreign trade partners see risk as well as opportunity amid tariff-related chaos, market sources said. | Alones/Shutterstock

This story has been corrected.

Post-consumer plastics bales are defying typical springtime trends, with average pricing in May reported flat-to-softer on the month as the peak summer season nears. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

Clarity on future of FDA LNO program yet to emerge

Published: May 14, 2025
Updated:

by
Resins spilled out of a tube onto a pink background.

Following dramatic staffing cuts and an overall lack of clarity from federal officials, the future of an important program for recycled plastics remains a question mark. | StanislauV/Shutterstock

Amid sweeping federal staffing cuts, the future of a government program to assess processes to make food packaging from recycled plastics is unclear, sources told Plastics Recycling Update in recent interviews. 

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |