Plastics crisis: ‘Downturn can be catalyst for transformation’

The global plastics recycling industry continues to face one of its most difficult periods in years, with no immediate signs of rapid recovery. Despite these challenges, there is room for optimism, at least among some speakers at the BIR world recycling convention in Bangkok.

‘When times are tough, it is easy to lose faith, to think maybe that this industry has no future,’ BIR plastics division chair Henk Alssema of Inviplast (Netherlands) told delegates in the Thai capital. ‘But, in my opinion, the opposite is true. Every circular revolution starts in a downturn. When things break down, that’s when new ideas break through.’ He emphasised the role of innovation resilience in times of crisis.

Discussing the current market, Max Craipeau, ceo of Singapore based Greencore Resource, called it ‘an understatement to say it was depressed or bad’. The figure of one million tonnes of plastics recycling capacity lost from Europe over two years had happened in just one year, he argued, if you combined shutdowns across Europe, Asia and the US.

More regulation, more support needed

Plastics recyclers at the Bangkok event agreed that more decisive action is needed. True progress, they stressed, depends on products being designed for recycling, and on more and better collaboration across the broad value chain, including policymakers and brand owners. Implementing mandatory recycled content targets, long under discussion, was identified as a key step to achieving circularity and climate goals.

Best practice in France

Concrete progress is being seen in several parts of the world. France’s upcoming financial incentives, set to take effect on1 January, will reward companies for using recycled materials in their final products – a move welcomed by industry stakeholders. Similarly, the European Union’s renewed commitment to support the recycling sector offers hope for a more sustainable and circular future.