Grupo Plastilene lifts recycled resin output to 3.26m kg, develops 50% PCR structure
Colombian flexible-packaging maker Grupo Plastilene produced 3,261,680 kg of post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin in 2025, up from none in 2018, and is developing a packaging structure with 50% recycled content that halves the virgin resin used. The group, which operates in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and the United States, says it is moving ahead of expected recycled-content regulation in Central America and Mexico. In Central America, according to the head of its Guatemalan unit Tecnofilm, pressure currently comes mainly from retail chains whose parent companies require minimum recycled content.
Why this mattersIn Central America, retailers' recycled-content requirements rather than legislation are setting the pace, favouring flexible-packaging converters that already have their own PCR supply.
- Grupo Plastilene's PCR output rose from zero in 2018 to 3,261,680 kg in 2025, yielding about 5 million kg of packaging with recycled content
- The group is developing a structure with 50% recycled content, against 20-40% in its current Central America and Mexico offering
- Guatemalan unit Tecnofilm increased PCR use from about 12,000 kg a month in 2025 to nearly 44,000 kg a month in 2026
- Customer Papelera Internacional scaled PCR use from about 1 tonne in late 2024 to 12 tonnes a month
- Tecnofilm says pressure in Central America comes mainly from retail customers rather than legislation