Page 49 - Plastics News November 2025
P. 49
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The Eco-Design Challenge “Regulation is key. Without binding targets, the
market always chooses the cheapest option, and
that blocks circularity. With extended responsi-
bility, design must include end-of-life costs from
the start.”
Innovation Across the Chain
The frontline of circularity remains in the lab,
where chemistry and engineering rewrite plas-
tic’s life cycle.
Even without a global treaty, the circular econ-
omy is already a market and technical demand.
Mitchell concludes:
Product redesign also demands attention. “Eco-
design is essential. We need packaging and “R&D teams that act now will not only meet fu-
parts with higher recycled content, easy reuse, ture regulations. They will also build reputation,
and simple separation. Without demand for attract investment, and win market trust.”
these products, the circular economy will not
succeed,” Mitchell notes. Plastics in Packaging 2025
The upcoming Plastics in Packaging 2025 con-
Technical teams already test lighter bottles, sin-
gle-material structures, and multilayer designs ference will bring together researchers, manu-
that improve recyclability and reuse. facturers, and policymakers to explore how sus-
tainability and regulation are reshaping global
Advanced Recycling: Promise and Cost packaging. Spanning three sessions—Regula-
tions & Market Compliance, Sustainability & Cir-
In Geneva, delegates also debated chemical cular Economy, and Materials Innovation—the
traceability through digital product passports. program will cover topics ranging from advanced
For R&D, this means mapping additives and en- recycling to bio-based materials.
suring transparency across every formulation.
Among the highlights, Daniel Mitchell, Execu-
Regulation can close this gap. In Colombia, man- tive Director of Acoplásticos, will present “Plas-
datory PET recycling targets in bottles already tics Regulation in a Developing Country: Les-
drive demand, pushing R&D to deliver more sons from Colombia,” offering a perspective
competitive formulas. that bridges Latin American realities with global
Extended Producer Responsibility policy trends. His insights will join those of other
leading voices, including Ana Vasconcelos (AIM-
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) also en- PLAS) and Shannon Gainey (JM Huber Corpora-
tered the negotiations. Mitchell views it as a di- tion), as part of a broader dialogue on the inter-
rect driver for innovation. section of innovation, compliance, and circular
November 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 49
