Page 38 - Plastics News January 2026
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FEATURE NEWS
INDIA'S WASTE MANAGEMENT MARKET SET TO SURGE TO
$39 BILLION BY 2030, GUJARAT EMERGES AS RECYCLING POWERHOUSE
operations at PolySource, located in Overland
Park, Kansas, and a company known for being
a resin distributor and a trusted consultant and
problem solver dedicated to helping customers
meet their goals. Dickson shared three supply
chain certainties for 2026:
1. Rapid Change – Unlike previous events,
a single pen stroke now has the power to
reshape the plastics landscape overnight –
without warning, without leading indicators
and without clear rules. This economic envi-
ronment of quick shifts will persist through
the end of 2025 and should carry into 2026.
s the plastics industry approaches the
end of 2025, it stands at a crossroads – 2. Adapting to Survive – Those who don’t
Abalancing innovation and technological adapt will struggle to survive. As observed
advancements with ongoing supply chain dis- over the past year, the industry has seen
ruptions, regulatory pressures, shifting market how policy changes, such as retaliatory tar-
demands and more. In this article, three industry iffs, Annex II, Section 232 and 301, can dis-
veterans share their insights and perspectives rupt operations. If companies can’t quickly
on what lies ahead in 2026. Each professional assess the impacts on their businesses, they
has taken a moment to offer their expertise on will be late to respond.
the progress made throughout the prior year
and the challenges that remain. With 2026 on 3. Economic Strength is Uncertain – The US
the horizon, it is crucial that companies strategi- macroeconomics outlook may not corre-
cally align their operations to navigate and shift late directly with the microeconomics of the
with a dynamic global landscape. business or even specific programs within it.
The Supplier Perspective “So, what is the solution?” said Dickson. “Be-
coming an expert in all areas of the supply chain!
As 2026 approaches, gaining insight from a sup- While that is an impossible task, we can take
plier actively engaged in the industry and with what has been learned over the past years and
depth and knowledge on its team is key to un- apply it to today.” There are two key areas to
derstanding the current landscape of plastics focus on:
manufacturing and what lies ahead. Kevin Dick-
son is the director of global supply chain and ♦ Pricing Volatility – Imports will be impacted
38 PLASTICS NEWS January 2026
