Recycling industry news
Our top news picks from June:
- E+E Leader [Environment + Energy LEADER]: Recyclable Packaging Market to Top $41 Billion by 2031
- Waste Dive: WM [Waste Management] begins work on new Ontario MRFs as part of Canadian EPR program
- GreenBiz: Amazon eliminates 15 billion plastic ‘air pillows’ from delivery boxes
- GreenBiz: Nearly half of all $1 billion-plus companies are failing the Plastics Scorecard
- McKinsey & Company: Positioning for success in the chemical markets of the future
Recyclable Packaging Market to Top $41 Billion by 2031
The recyclable packaging market is expected to grow from $31B in 2024 to $41B by 2031 boosted by consumer and regulatory pressure for more sustainable packaging solutions.
Our take:
Post-consumer recycled plastic, recycled paper, and biodegradable plastics will be paramount for food and beverage companies as the largest - and growing - users of recyclable packaging.
WM [Waste Management] begins work on new Ontario MRFs as part of Canadian EPR program
Waste Management Canada is building two state-of-the-art recycling facilities with capacity to process 30% of Ontario’s recycling volume, as the province transitions to an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program for packaging (effective January 1, 2026).
Our take:
Waste management companies are optimistic about the recycling market and investing in infrastructure and technology. Brands collaborating with such partners will be more likely to reach ambitious recycling and post-consumer recycled (PCR) content targets.
Amazon eliminates 15 billion plastic ‘air pillows’ from delivery boxes
Following a similar move in Europe, Amazon is switching from hard-to-recycle plastic air pillows to recycled paper filler in delivery boxes across North America. The retailer has already replaced air pillows in 95% of delivery boxes and expects to reach 100% by year’s end, eliminating some 15 billion air pillows annually.
Our take:
The move is an important one, but more is needed to address Amazon’s remaining ~86K ton annual plastic packaging portfolio, including a switch to post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic for applications where plastic packaging cannot readily be replaced.
Nearly half of all $1 billion-plus companies are failing the Plastics Scorecard
A new report by the shareholder advocacy group As You Sow and Ubuntoo, a sustainability consultancy firm, rated 225 companies with at least $1 billion in revenue. None of the companies achieved an A on their Plastics Scorecard; only 4% got a B- or above, and 47% received an F. The report offers advice on improving performance in key pillars such as recyclability, reduction, and recycled content.
Our take:
Going forward, we expect both ambition and action to increase with the implementation of EPR legislation and greater transparency around supply and demand offered by platforms such as Circular.co.
Positioning for success in the chemical markets of the future
A recent McKinsey report discusses how high energy prices, oversupply of chemicals, and new sustainability trends and regulations - such as brand owner commitments to recycled materials for packaging, and the mandated use of 25% recycled plastic content in the automotive industry - are transforming the European chemical market.
Our take:
We are at a pivotal moment, with a challenging economic environment, and petrochemical companies should aggressively look to shift to sustainable chemicals, incorporating recycled plastic.
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Circular news
What has Circular.co been up to in June?
In the media:
- Circular shares its perspective on how companies can prepare for emerging Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation with Waste360.
- Circular’s CEO Ian Arthurs discusses with Sustainable Plastics how Circular.co gives customers access to a wealth of data to help them source sustainable materials, and notes how AI plays a role in the platform.
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About Circular
Launched in 2022, Circular.co makes sustainable sourcing easier with data. We built the world's largest post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials database for brands to navigate markets and make data-driven decisions. Responsible producers can easily use detailed technical spec data to find the right materials at transparent prices from vetted suppliers, all in one online platform. Book a demo here or visit circular.co.