China Resources Chemical Materials, a Changzhou-based PET producer within China Resources Group, has received a US FDA no-objection letter confirming its chemically recycled post-consumer rPET can be used across all food-contact categories, the first such letter for a Chinese company. The resin, made via depolymerisation and repolymerisation of waste PET bottles rather than mechanical recycling, reached 30,000 tonnes of sales in 2025 at a 25 percent recycled-content grade. The company says the FDA letter eases export and plans to scale a 50 percent recycled-content grade by the first half of 2027.
Why this mattersChemically recycled rPET cleared for all food-contact uses gives Chinese PET producers an export route into the US and adds recycled-content supply for brand owners.
- FDA no-objection letter confirms the chemically recycled rPET can be used in all food-contact applications, the first for a Chinese PET producer.
- The company began developing the chemical recycling process in 2018, taking eight years to solve impurity removal issues.
- In 2025 the company sold over 30,000 tonnes of 25 percent recycled-content food-grade rPET, consuming about 8,600 tonnes of recovered PET bottle flakes.
- Cumulative rPET sales since launch exceed 75,000 tonnes.
- The company has PET capacity of 3.3 million tonnes, PETG capacity of 50,000 tonnes, PA66 capacity of 40,000 tonnes, and serves customers including Coca-Cola, Nongfu Spring and L'Oréal.
- A 50 percent recycled-content rPET grade is planned for industrial-scale production in the first half of 2027.
Private equity firm Hivest Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of Sustana, a North American maker of specialty recycled fibre and sustainable paper with mills in the United States and Canada. Hivest has named Kevin Richard chief executive and intends to pursue an operational excellence programme along with selective add-on acquisitions in North America. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Why this mattersPrivate equity ownership and a stated buy-and-build mandate point to further consolidation in North American recycled fibre and sustainable paper.
- Hivest Capital Partners has completed its acquisition of Sustana.
- Sustana traces its origins to the Rolland Paper Company, founded in 1882.
- Sustana operates integrated recycled fibre and paper mills in the United States and Canada.
- Kevin Richard has been appointed chief executive officer of Sustana.
- Hivest plans an operational excellence programme covering safety, mill reliability, energy and raw material efficiency.
- Hivest intends selective add-on acquisitions in North America; deal terms were not disclosed.
Sofidel has finished a modernisation of the paper machine at its Roanne plant in France, including a new Yankee system and upgrades to winding, spinning and drying sections. The company says the project improves operational efficiency, reliability and product quality at the site, though no investment figure or capacity change was disclosed.
Why this mattersUpgrading an existing tissue line rather than building new capacity signals incumbents are prioritising efficiency and reliability over expansion.
- Sofidel completed modernisation of the paper machine at its Roanne plant in France, now fully operational.
- The project installed a new Yankee system to improve machine performance and reliability.
- Winding system upgrades covered hydraulics, electric drives, steam control systems and SNCC components.
- Spinning and drying section upgrades are expected to raise production efficiency and support product quality consistency.
- No investment amount or production capacity figure was disclosed in the announcement.
An İzmir commercial court has granted Barem Ambalaj, a Turkish packaging group 30% listed on Borsa Istanbul, a one-year final concordato moratorium after it filed for protection in July 2026. The company will keep its İzmir, Gaziantep and Karaman packaging plants running and plans to open talks on selling its stalled paper mill project in Konya Ereğli, whose cost had risen to about EUR 200m before work was halted.
Why this mattersA listed Turkish converter pushed into court protection by an overrun paper mill project shows the financing risk of integrating backwards into paper production.
- İzmir 1st Commercial Court granted Barem Ambalaj a one-year final concordato moratorium on 22 October 2026.
- The company filed for concordato in July 2026 and had been operating under a three-month temporary moratorium.
- 30% of Barem Ambalaj's shares trade on Borsa Istanbul.
- The company will seek talks during the moratorium to sell its paper mill in Konya Ereğli.
- Investment cost for the halted Konya Ereğli paper mill rose to around EUR 200m (USD 224m).
- Packaging plants in İzmir, Gaziantep and Karaman will continue normal production and commercial activity.
Brookland Group & Partners, an investment firm operating from Dubai and Singapore, has completed a first investment in Vietnamese recycled paper and packaging producer Miza under a long-term agreement worth up to USD 5m. The shares were bought from an existing shareholder without new issuance, and neither the first-tranche amount nor the stake was disclosed. Brookland plans to raise its holding in stages and puts Miza's 2025 revenue at about USD 185m.
Why this mattersA staged entry by a Dubai and Singapore investor shows foreign capital turning to Vietnam's recycled packaging paper, where 2025 consumption of 7.77m tonnes outran domestic output.
- Brookland's first investment in Miza is part of a long-term agreement worth up to USD 5m.
- The shares were bought from an existing Miza shareholder; Miza issued no new shares.
- Neither the first-tranche amount nor the percentage stake has been disclosed.
- Brookland plans to increase its holding in further stages.
- Miza, founded in 2010 and listed as MZG, makes industrial packaging paper, cartons and paper bags from waste paper at its main plant in Nghi Son, Thanh Hoa Province.
- Brookland puts Miza's 2025 revenue at about USD 185m.
M.A.H.Y. Khoory Group has announced a new paper manufacturing line, PM4, at the Al Dhafra plant of its operating arm Union Paper Mills in Abu Dhabi, with investment exceeding AED 1 billion. The project will let Union Paper Mills diversify into premium containerboard grades and specialised paper for gypsum plasterboard, aligning with the UAE's Operation 300bn industrial strategy.
Why this mattersA new UAE containerboard line adds regional capacity and higher-value grades, sharpening competition for Gulf fibre packaging producers and importers.
- Investment in PM4 exceeds AED 1 billion
- PM4 will be built at Union Paper Mills' Al Dhafra plant in Abu Dhabi
- Project adds premium containerboard grades and specialised paper for gypsum plasterboard
- Announced 22 October 2026 by M.A.H.Y. Khoory Group chairman Salahaldin Sharafi and group CEO AbdelRhman Obaid
- Project is positioned under the UAE's Operation 300bn industrial strategy and Make it in the Emirates initiative
Tunisian kraft and corrugated paper producer SOTIPAPIER reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of TND 25.9m, up 23% year on year, driven by a 67% jump in testliner and fluting sales to TND 14.7m. Kraft paper sales declined 8% in the quarter, and nine-month revenue fell 8% to TND 70.1m as kraft and energy sales weakened. Net debt was reduced to TND 42.8m at end-September 2026 from TND 50.4m a year earlier.
Why this mattersSOTIPAPIER's shift from kraft to testliner and fluting points to firmer corrugated demand in Tunisia, while weaker kraft and energy sales weigh on nine-month revenue.
- Q3 2026 revenue reached TND 25.9m, up 23% from TND 21.0m a year earlier
- Corrugated paper (testliner and fluting) sales rose 67% to TND 14.7m from TND 8.8m
- Kraft paper sales fell 8% to TND 10.7m from TND 11.7m in Q3
- Nine-month cumulative revenue to 30 September 2026 was TND 70.1m, down 8% from TND 76.0m
- Net debt fell to TND 42.8m at 30 September 2026 from TND 50.4m a year earlier
- Nine-month capital spending was TND 4.2m, down 10% from TND 4.6m a year earlier
Foshan Jinghe Packaging Technology has secured a 26.4-mu industrial plot in the Sanshui district Shuidu food and beverage industrial park, Guangdong, for a new smart packaging production base. The project carries total investment of CNY 500m (USD 75m), including CNY 250m (USD 37.5m) in fixed assets, and is expected to generate annual output value of CNY 300m (USD 45m) once operational.
Why this mattersLocal food-packaging capacity inside a park hosting Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Red Bull and Carlsberg operations shortens packaging supply lines for beverage makers in the Greater Bay Area.
- Total project investment CNY 500m (USD 75m), of which CNY 250m (USD 37.5m) is fixed-asset investment
- Planned annual output value of CNY 300m (USD 45m) once the plant reaches capacity
- Plot of about 26.4 mu secured on 21 October 2026 in Sanshui district, Foshan, Guangdong
- Jinghe Packaging makes plastic, bamboo-pulp and kraft-paper food packaging, exported to Europe, the Middle East and other overseas markets
- Site is within the Shuidu food and beverage industrial park, home to over 300 food and beverage and related companies including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Red Bull and Carlsberg
- New plant will combine green smart packaging production, new-material R&D testing and custom packaging solutions
Shareholders of Arauco's Argentine subsidiary have approved a general authorisation to sell company assets, with no properties, buyers or prices disclosed. Local press reports suggest the sale could cover offices, land and forest holdings deemed non-strategic, as Arauco advances its USD 4,600m Sucuriu pulp project in Brazil.
Why this mattersSales of Argentine land and forests would reshape Arauco's regional footprint while it builds a USD 4.6bn Brazilian pulp mill, though no link between the two is documented.
- An extraordinary shareholders' meeting of Arauco Argentina, called for 19 October 2026, approved a general authorisation to transfer company assets, without naming properties, buyers or amounts.
- Diario Financiero reported the authorisation could cover offices, land and forest holdings considered non-strategic.
- Arauco's Sucuriu pulp project in Inocencia, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, carries a planned investment of USD 4,600m and capacity of 3.5m tonnes a year.
- Sucuriu's first stone was laid in April 2025, with start-up planned for late 2027.
- In August 2025 Arauco announced a financing package of about USD 2,200m for Sucuriu, with IDB Invest, the IFC and guarantees from Finland's Finnvera.
- ICI Forestal found no corporate document assigning proceeds from any specific Argentine sale to the Brazilian project.
Swedish pulp producer Rottneros reported third-quarter 2026 EBITDA of USD 3m (SEK 26m), against a loss of USD 2m (SEK 21m) a year earlier, as lower pulp wood prices cut variable costs by USD 5m (SEK 51m). Total pulp production rose 8.8% to 79,300 tonnes, led by higher CTMP output at the Rottneros Mill, while net turnover slipped to USD 57m (SEK 570m) from USD 58m (SEK 574m). The annual maintenance shutdown at the Vallvik sulphate mill began at the end of September and will weigh on fourth-quarter availability.
Why this mattersLower pulp wood prices in an oversupplied Swedish wood market are easing variable costs for pulp producers, as Rottneros' USD 5m (SEK 51m) saving shows.
- Q3 2026 EBITDA was USD 3m (SEK 26m) against a USD 2m (SEK 21m) loss in Q3 2025, an improvement of USD 5m (SEK 47m).
- Total pulp production rose 8.8% to 79,300 tonnes from 72,900 tonnes.
- CTMP output at the Rottneros Mill rose to 21,200 tonnes from 15,400 tonnes.
- Sulphate pulp output at the Vallvik Mill was stable at 58,100 tonnes.
- Variable costs fell by USD 5m (SEK 51m) on lower pulp wood prices, as wood supply rose and demand softened.
- The annual maintenance shutdown at Vallvik began at the end of September, affecting Q4 availability.
A USD 76m project to build a glass container plant using processed quartz in Uzbekistan's Navoi region has been considered, with China's Qingdao Rongtai Glass Products as partner. The plan foresees three stages, the first starting within a year and full capacity within five years, with output for the domestic market and neighbouring countries. Investors are still assessing local market capacity and demand for glass products.
Why this mattersA greenfield glass container plant would add Central Asian capacity and give a Chinese glass maker an export-facing production base near new markets.
- A USD 76m glass container plant project in Navoi region, Uzbekistan, using processed quartz raw material, has been considered.
- The partner is Qingdao Rongtai Glass Products of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
- Qingdao Rongtai has annual capacity of 1.1 million tonnes, about 2.3 billion units, of green, clear and brown glass containers.
- The project is planned in three stages, the first to start within a year and full capacity within five years.
- Investors are still assessing local market capacity and demand for glass products.
- Output would go partly to the domestic market and partly to neighbouring countries.
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Industry and Construction and Aktobe Steklo signed an investment agreement on 22 October 2026 to build a glass container plant in Aktobe, worth approximately USD 150m. The plant is planned to produce around 256 million glass containers a year, with output to cover domestic demand and exports to neighbouring countries.
Why this mattersA 256m-unit glass container plant adds domestic capacity in Kazakhstan, and its planned exports to neighbouring countries put it in competition with regional glass suppliers.
- Investment agreement signed 22 October 2026 at the KGIR-2026 roundtable in Shymkent
- Total project investment is approximately USD 150m
- Planned annual capacity is around 256 million glass containers
- Plant will include sorting systems and secondary raw material recycling technology
- Agreement provides for at least 500 construction jobs and about 300 jobs after commissioning
- Output will serve the domestic Kazakh market and be exported to neighbouring countries
Private equity manager Nextalia Investment Management, investing on behalf of its Nextalia Capitale Rilancio fund, has agreed a strategic partnership with Italian rigid food packaging maker Plastic Legno and the Sunino family group. The deal carves a dedicated food-packaging perimeter out of Sunino Group, combining Plastic Legno with Sunino's Resaplast unit, to build a European-scale player through organic growth and acquisitions in a fragmented market. The Sunino family keeps a strategic stake, with Paolo Sunino remaining chief executive; completion is expected by the end of 2026.
Why this mattersThe deal signals private equity-led consolidation of Italy's fragmented rigid food packaging sector, creating a platform positioned for further buy-and-build acquisitions.
- Private equity manager Nextalia Investment Management, acting for the Nextalia Capitale Rilancio fund, is to invest in a new corporate perimeter combining Plastic Legno and Resaplast
- The new entity will pursue organic growth and targeted acquisitions in a still fragmented rigid food packaging market
- The Sunino family's non-packaging businesses, promotional items and sportswear, stay outside the new perimeter and remain family-owned
- The Sunino family keeps a strategic stake and Paolo Sunino continues as chief executive of the new group
- Plastic Legno makes rigid plastic containers for dairy and confectionery at its Castellamonte plant, with IML and mono-material recyclable technology
- Resaplast makes rigid food packaging at its Conversano plant; together the two companies serve more than 100 customers
Portuguese flexible plastics packaging maker Vizelpas is investing EUR 30m (USD 34m) in a new factory in Felgueiras, near its base in Santo Tirso. The company, which makes flexible plastic films for food products and surgical medical material, expects revenue to rise from EUR 75m (USD 84m) to EUR 100m (USD 112m) within two years.
Why this mattersA mid-sized converter commits sizeable capital to new flexible-film capacity, a sign of continued investment in food and medical film packaging in southern Europe.
- Vizelpas is investing EUR 30m (USD 34m) in a new factory in Felgueiras, Portugal.
- The company makes flexible plastic films for food products and surgical medical material.
- Vizelpas is based in Santo Tirso, Portugal, and was started 30 years ago by Modesto Araújo.
- The company targets revenue growth from EUR 75m (USD 84m) to EUR 100m (USD 112m) within two years.
SRF's board has approved a USD 63.2m (INR 600 crore) aluminium foil plant at its Jetapur site in Madhya Pradesh, with about 12,000 tonnes a year of capacity for lithium-ion and sodium-ion battery foil and high-end packaging foil. Subsidiary SRF Altech will build it in two phases of USD 31.6m (INR 300 crore) each, due by 30 September 2028 and 30 September 2030, and the mill can supply aseptic and other high-value packaging grades while battery-grade qualification, expected to take close to two years, proceeds. On its 21 October 2026 Q2 FY27 earnings call, management guided chemicals growth to the top of its 15-20% range.
Why this mattersThe dual-use mill lets SRF sell into established high-value packaging foil grades while battery-grade qualification, a multi-year process, runs in parallel.
- The board approved USD 63.2m (INR 600 crore) for an aluminium foil plant at Jetapur, Madhya Pradesh, with about 12,000 tonnes a year of capacity.
- Wholly owned subsidiary SRF Altech will build the plant in two phases of USD 31.6m (INR 300 crore) each.
- Phase 1 is due by 30 September 2028 and Phase 2 by 30 September 2030.
- The mill can make both battery-grade and high-end packaging foil, so output can go to aseptic and other high-value grades while battery qualification continues.
- Management expects battery foil qualification to take close to two years.
- SRF cited India's ACCPLI battery manufacturing incentive scheme as a demand driver.
Garware Hi-Tech Films reported consolidated revenue of USD 73.3m (INR 696 crore) for the quarter to 30 September 2026, up 22% year on year, with consolidated EBITDA up 42% to USD 19.9m (INR 189 crore) and margin at 27.2%. The board, which approved the results on 22 October 2026, raised FY27 EBITDA margin guidance by 200 basis points to 27% plus or minus 2% and reaffirmed a full-year revenue target above USD 263m (INR 2,500 crore).
Why this mattersRaised margin guidance, driven by operating leverage and product mix, shows Garware's speciality films absorbing higher raw material and logistics costs while TPU and SCF capacity comes on.
- Consolidated revenue rose 22% year on year to USD 73.3m (INR 696 crore) in Q2 FY27.
- Consolidated EBITDA rose 42% to USD 19.9m (INR 189 crore), with margin up 377 basis points to 27.2%.
- Standalone net profit fell to USD 14.7m (INR 140 crore) from USD 16.9m (INR 160 crore) year on year.
- FY27 EBITDA margin guidance was raised 200 basis points to 27% plus or minus 2%.
- A TPU line is on track to start in Q3 FY27, and a USD 20.1m (INR 191 crore) SCF line with robotics is due to begin commercial production in H1 FY28.
- The company signed an MoU with Lubrizol to develop TPU-based film solutions in India.
UK cup maker Printed Cup Company has installed a high-speed dry offset printing machine at its Clitheroe, Lancashire factory, a six-figure investment that entered production in September 2026. The machine prints up to six colours on recyclable plastic cups and lifts output from about 280 to up to 3,000 printed cups per hour. It follows entrepreneur Oliver Alcock's acquisition of the business in July 2025.
Why this mattersAutomated six-colour printing lets a small UK cup converter handle larger and more urgent bespoke orders in-house.
- New dry offset printing machine installed at Printed Cup Company's Clitheroe, Lancashire factory.
- The machine entered production in September 2026.
- The investment is described as six figures.
- Output rises to up to 3,000 cups per hour from about 280 cups per hour previously.
- It prints up to six colours directly onto recyclable plastic cups for cold drinks and ice cream.
- The investment follows Oliver Alcock's acquisition of the company in July 2025.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has forfeited an INR 25 lakh (USD 26,000) bank guarantee furnished by Garware Hi-Tech Films, citing alleged non-compliance with consent conditions found during a site hearing. The company says it had completed the required compliance steps and told the board before the forfeiture, and reports no material impact on operations.
Why this mattersThe financial exposure is limited to INR 25 lakh, but the forfeiture puts Garware's consent compliance in Maharashtra on the regulator's record.
- MPCB forfeited an INR 25 lakh (USD 26,000) bank guarantee from Garware Hi-Tech Films.
- The company received the notice on 21 October 2026 in a letter dated 19 October 2026.
- MPCB cited alleged non-compliance with consent conditions found at a site hearing.
- Garware says it had already completed the compliance steps and informed MPCB before the forfeiture.
- The company says the financial impact is limited to the guarantee's encashment value, with no material effect on operations.
- The disclosure was made under Regulation 30 of SEBI's Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements.
Czech petrochemicals producer Orlen Unipetrol has declared force majeure on polypropylene deliveries from its Litvinov plant following a fire. The company expects the outage to halt production until at least July, disrupting resin supply to packaging converters that depend on the site.
Why this mattersA multi-month stoppage at a major Czech PP source tightens regional resin supply and pressures converters reliant on Litvinov material.
- Orlen Unipetrol declared force majeure on polypropylene from its Litvinov plant after a fire.
- Production at the site is expected to remain halted until at least July.
- Litvinov is Orlen Unipetrol's domestic Czech production site.
- The disruption affects polypropylene supply to downstream converters.
Indorama has completed the acquisition of Cilegon-based Polypet Karyapersada, an Indonesian PET producer, after signing the deal in March 2026. The new capacity will be co-located with Indorama's existing PET and PTA facilities in the country.
Why this mattersAdds PET resin capacity in Southeast Asia for Indorama, a key upstream supplier to beverage and packaging converters in the region.
- Indorama announced in March 2026 that it had signed an agreement to acquire Polypet Karyapersada.
- Polypet is based in Ciwandan, Cilegon, Indonesia.
- The acquisition has now been completed.
- The acquired capacity is co-located with Indorama's existing PET and PTA facilities in Indonesia.
The European Commission has opened a formal antitrust investigation into Swiss minerals group Omya over alleged abuse of a dominant position in the supply of calcium carbonate to paper manufacturers. The Commission suspects Omya required paper-industry customers to source all or most of their calcium carbonate from it, potentially shutting out rival suppliers in Europe. Omya did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why this mattersA finding against Omya could lower calcium carbonate procurement costs for European paper and board makers and open the field to rival mineral suppliers.
- European Commission announced the investigation on 23 October 2026.
- The probe targets Omya, a Swiss supplier of calcium carbonate.
- The Commission alleges Omya may have required paper-industry customers to buy all or most of their calcium carbonate needs from it.
- Calcium carbonate is used in papermaking to cut production costs and improve brightness, opacity, smoothness and printability.
- The Commission says Omya's practices may have limited rival suppliers' ability to compete for customers in Europe.
Wankai New Materials has published an environmental impact assessment for a 5,000 tonne/year pilot plant to produce bio-based polyethylene furanoate (PEF), a furandicarboxylic-acid polyester aimed at film and container applications. The CNY 59.945m (USD 8.99m) project will be built at the company's existing Haining, Zhejiang site using its own process package, with engineering design by Zhonghe Huawei Engineering Design and Research.
Why this mattersA 5,000 tonne a year pilot meant to supply design data for industrial plants moves bio-based PEF a step closer to commercial use in packaging film and containers.
- Total investment in the pilot project is CNY 59.945m (USD 8.99m).
- Planned capacity is 5,000 tonnes a year of bio-based PEF.
- A new 1,900 square metre plant building will be built at Wankai's existing Haining, Zhejiang site.
- Equipment includes domestically sourced slurry preparation, esterification and polycondensation systems.
- Wankai developed the process package itself; Zhonghe Huawei Engineering Design and Research provides engineering design.
- The aim is a thousand-tonne-scale demonstration of bio-based furandicarboxylic polyester for film and container applications.
LyondellBasell stopped its PP2 polypropylene unit at Brindisi, Italy, on 17 October 2026, ten weeks before the closure deadline set in June 2026. The line was the last polypropylene unit at the site and was fed with propylene shipped by sea from Priolo in Sicily, which now loses that outlet. The stoppage was announced by a regional union official, not by LyondellBasell.
Why this mattersThe closure cuts European polypropylene capacity and leaves Priolo's propylene without its established downstream buyer, pressuring the feedstock chain.
- LyondellBasell's PP2 polypropylene line at Brindisi stopped on the morning of Saturday, 17 October 2026
- The shutdown came ten weeks before the deadline set in June 2026
- The line was the last polypropylene unit running at the Brindisi site
- Propylene feedstock for the line had been supplied by sea from Priolo, Sicily
- The closure was disclosed by Antonio Frattini, general secretary of Filctem CGIL Puglia, not by LyondellBasell
EQUATE Petrochemical Company has agreed a one-year renewal contract for Kuwait's Metal and Recycling Company (MRC) to collect and recycle plastic waste from its industrial operations, MRC said on 21 October 2026. MRC will install 20 dedicated containers at EQUATE's facilities and transport the waste to its own sites for sorting, processing and recycling. The contract value was not disclosed, as pricing depends on international raw plastic prices and the quantity to be collected is unknown.
Why this mattersPetrochemical producers outsourcing industrial plastic scrap to specialist recyclers signals growing demand for traceable feedstock recovery in the Gulf.
- EQUATE Petrochemical Company and MRC signed a one-year renewal term plastics waste deal, announced 21 October 2026.
- MRC will place 20 dedicated containers inside EQUATE's facilities to collect plastic scrap.
- Boursa Kuwait-listed MRC disclosed the deal on 20 October 2026, with a correction filed 21 October.
- Contract value was not specified; pricing is tied to international raw plastic material prices.
- MRC said the financial effect cannot be estimated as the quantity of plastic to be bought is unknown.
- MRC's Vice Chairman and CEO Tarek Ibrahim Al-Mousa said the deal supports EQUATE's industrial plastic waste management.
Zhejiang COMY Environmental Technology started a pilot plant on 16 October 2026 in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China, applying its patented Plastic-to-Propylene chemical recycling technology to mixed plastic waste. The facility, at the Yanzhao Green Chemistry Laboratory, tests a distributed-plus-central ('N+1') process model and is intended as a step toward commercial-scale deployment.
Why this mattersA working chemical-recycling route to high-purity propylene could supply recycled feedstock for polypropylene packaging as recycled-content mandates such as PPWR tighten from 2030.
- Pilot plant launched 16 October 2026 in Cangzhou, Hebei Province, China.
- Technology uses selective catalytic cracking and olefin recombination to convert mixed, contaminated plastic waste into high-purity propylene.
- Process avoids intensive washing required by mechanical recycling.
- N+1 model pairs distributed pre-treatment plants (pyrolysis to intermediate oils) with a central processing plant producing propylene.
- COMY plans to verify commercial-scale performance before expanding capacity and the model to other markets.
- EU PPWR sets minimum recycled-content requirements for plastic packaging from 2030; UK plastic packaging tax applies below 30% recycled content, with mass-balance chemical recycling allowed from April 2027.
Shantou Haixun Environmental Protection Technology has received environmental approval from local authorities in Shantou, China, for a waste PET bottle washing and crushing plant with annual capacity of 31,350 tonnes of PET flake. The CNY 12m (USD 1.8m) project, on a 7,494 square metre site in Sima Pu town, adds front-end recycled-PET processing capacity in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province.
Why this mattersAdds pre-processing capacity feeding regional recycled-PET chains, as chemical and physical recycling projects in the same cluster expand in parallel.
- The Chaonan branch of Shantou's environment bureau approved the project on 14 October 2026, after public notice in September.
- Planned capacity is 31,350 tonnes a year of PET flake from washed waste bottles.
- Total investment is CNY 12m (USD 1.8m) on a 7,494 square metre site in Sima Pu town, Chaonan district.
- Process wastewater will be partly reused in washing and crushing, with the rest sent to the municipal sewage network.
- The plant will include a 100 cubic metre emergency containment pond for accident wastewater.
- The project adds to regional recycled-PET capacity alongside a textile recycling project and a 100,000 tonne chemical recycling project in the Chaoshan area.
Quebec Beverage Container Recycling Association (QBCRA), branded Consignaction, has rebutted criticism from existing glass processors over its plan to build a new plant to package glass collected under the province's deposit-refund scheme. QBCRA says a Deloitte study found insufficient existing industrial capacity to meet producers' extended producer responsibility obligations, and it has pledged to preserve current volumes handled by incumbent processor 2M Ressources.
Why this mattersThe dispute shows how EPR-driven infrastructure build-out can clash with incumbent recyclers' commercial interests as deposit schemes expand glass collection volumes.
- QBCRA/Consignaction confirmed on 23 October 2026 it will proceed with a new glass processing plant for deposit-refund glass in Quebec.
- A Deloitte study commissioned by QBCRA's board found no sufficient existing industrial capacity to package deposit-refund glass and meet regulatory compliance.
- QBCRA has committed to maintaining current glass volumes handled by incumbent processor 2M Ressources, which also sends glass for remelting.
- Bellemare Group, which has not previously packaged deposit-refund glass, has been offered negotiations to secure volumes including possible financial concessions.
- Vision Environnement Group currently lacks the packaging facilities and environmental permits needed for the activity, according to QBCRA.
- QBCRA president and CEO Normand Bisson said refusal to acknowledge its volume commitment to existing packagers amounts to bad faith.
Reiling Glasrecycling has told Danish collective packaging scheme Vana that it will soon stop accepting glass waste, leaving Vana with large volumes of glass packaging and no outlet. Vana is seeking rapid solutions and political assistance to manage the surplus.
Why this mattersA loss of downstream capacity for glass cullet threatens to disrupt Danish glass packaging recycling flows and compliance obligations.
- Reiling Glasrecycling has announced an imminent stop to receiving glass waste from Vana.
- Vana is a Danish collective packaging compliance scheme.
- Vana says it holds large volumes of glass packaging waste with no current outlet.
- Vana is seeking quick solutions and political help, according to its director.
The US Department of Commerce opened an antidumping investigation on 20 October 2026 into corrugated paperboard pizza boxes imported from China, Malaysia and Turkey, following a petition from a US industry association. Commerce also launched a parallel countervailing duty investigation into the Turkish imports.
Why this mattersExporters of corrugated pizza boxes to the US face potential duties and must reassess sourcing and customer exposure ahead of a preliminary ruling.
- US Department of Commerce initiated the antidumping investigation on 20 October 2026 following a petition by a US industry association
- A parallel countervailing duty investigation was launched specifically against Turkish-origin product
- 2025 US import value from China for the product was about USD 8.37m
- 2025 US import value from Malaysia was about USD 5.94m
- 2025 US import value from Turkey was about USD 3.52m
US shipments of packaging and special packaging paper rose 2% year on year in September 2026, while printing and writing paper shipments fell 9%, according to the American Forest & Paper Association. Packaging paper shipments were up 4% in the first nine months of 2026, and unbleached packaging paper capacity utilisation reached 90.9% in September. Packaging paper imports rose almost 10% over the nine months, with unbleached bag, sack and multiwall imports up 24.2% and shipments of those grades from Canada up almost 30%.
Why this mattersPackaging paper demand holds while printing grades shrink, and 90.9% unbleached utilisation alongside rising Canadian imports adds competitive pressure on US domestic producers.
- US packaging and special packaging paper shipments rose 2% year on year in September 2026.
- Packaging paper shipments in the first nine months of 2026 were 4% above the same period of 2025.
- Unbleached packaging paper capacity utilisation was 90.9% in September 2026.
- Printing and writing paper shipments fell 9% year on year in September, with inventories down 6% from August.
- US packaging paper imports rose almost 10% in the first nine months of 2026.
- Imports of unbleached bag, sack and multiwall paper rose 24.2%, with shipments from Canada up almost 30%.
The US Department of Commerce published a preliminary finding on 14 October 2026 in its administrative review of antidumping duties on paper shopping bags imported from Vietnam, covering the period 3 January 2024 to 30 June 2025. The sole mandatory respondent received a preliminary margin of 28.52%, while Vietnamese exporters without a separate rate face the country-wide rate of 92.34%. A final determination is expected around 11 February 2027.
Why this mattersThe wide gap between the company-specific and country-wide rates will push US importers to seek supply from exporters with individual margins or alternative sourcing.
- DOC published the preliminary result in the Federal Register (Vol. 91, No. 197) on 14 October 2026
- Review period runs from 3 January 2024 to 30 June 2025 under case number A-552-836
- The sole mandatory respondent, chosen after four of five applicants withdrew, received a preliminary margin of 28.52%
- Vietnam-wide entities without an individual rate face 92.34%
- Review was initiated on 22 August 2025 and delayed by a US federal government shutdown
- Final determination is expected around 11 February 2027, 120 days after the preliminary notice
