In its pursuit to advance food-grade recycled PP, the NextLoopp initiative is finding progress slower in the States, but still moving forward. | Meaw_stocker / Shutterstock
The Americas branch of a European initiative to advance incorporation of food-grade PP resin has achieved several initial milestones in recent weeks, though progress is slower than in Europe, according to the group’s president.
Advanced Drainage Systems, one of the biggest buyers of recycled HDPE and PP, also saw a 7.3% drop in purchases of recycled materials. | Courtesy ADS
Major buyer Advanced Drainage Systems reached its lowest level of recycled plastic purchases since its fiscal 2022 baseline, according to its annual sustainability report. Continue Reading
The Association of Plastic Recyclers recently announced updates to its Design for Recyclability program. | Photo Credit Tan Sackett/APR
The Association of Plastic Recyclers has added new packaging components to its eligibility criteria for Preferred Design Recognition, along with a new tool to simplify the submission process.
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Denton Plastics recently broke ground on a $2 million Oregon expansion to double PP recycling capacity, boost sorting technology and meet Recycling Modernization Act goals. | Photo courtesy Denton Plastics
Denton Plastics has broken ground on a major expansion of its polypropylene recycling operations in Oregon, a move hailed as both strategic and timely amid the state’s evolving recycling landscape. Continue Reading
The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has helped upgrade the polypropylene recycling system of a MRF in St. Peters, Missouri. | CalypsoArt/Shutterstock
Recycle City MRF in St. Peters, Missouri, has expanded its PP recycling abilities with upgrades made possible by The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition. Continue Reading
Although a total ban on U.S. scrap plastic took hold July 1, a sell-side source said Malaysian stakeholders are working to provide nuance so the new regulations tighten the focus to more problematic e-plastics. | Robert Harding/Shutterstock
On July 1, Malaysia implemented new regulations that include an apparent ban on U.S.-sourced imports of scrap plastic, causing confusion and consternation both domestically and in Southeast Asia. And although commodity brokers indicated that the changes were disrupting supply chains ahead of implementation, they added that relief could be seen soon. Continue Reading
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
With its latest sustainability report, Walmart became the latest mega-brand to announce it was unlikely to meet its voluntary commitments for plastics. | Harun Ozmen/Shutterstock
With the arrival of the benchmark year of 2025, two industry giants announced challenges and progress in meeting the ambitious plastics-related goals set for this year. Continue Reading
Panelists at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference spoke about the current landscape for food-grade PP recycling, where it came from and what’s needed to improve recycling rates. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.
The technology for sorting and recycling PP back into food-grade packaging already exists, and with more value chain alignment, it is poised to take off at scale, those involved at all levels of the process said during a session at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference. Continue Reading
Polypropylene bale pricing has risen to levels not seen since August 2022, largely attributed to increasing demand for use in food-contact packaging. | Retan/Shutterstock
Post-consumer PP bale pricing has continued to rise in March, reflecting trends in recycled content adoption and potentially encouraging MRFs to sort for the polymer. Continue Reading