When the first plastics recycling mill opened in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania in 1972, there must have been a tangible sense of optimism in the air; a feeling that humans were starting to come down from the highs of industrial revolution and remember their duty as tenants of the earth. If you were to transport a worker from this mill to our modern world of self-driving cars and AI-produced pop songs, they might assume that littered bottles and landfills were a thing of the past. Unfortunately, the problem of plastic waste still remains an epoch defining challenge.

The persistence of this issue, however, is not due to a lack of effort but more due to the incredible complexity and scale of the task. In reflection of this, the world of plastics recycling is an ever shifting frontier of technology, policy, and social engagement, and with new developments happening almost every day, it is now more important than ever for stakeholders to stay informed about the innovations and strategies shaping it’s future.

AMI’s Plastics Recycling World 2025 will be a true showcase of the capabilities of the North American plastics recycling industry, and as such is the perfect place to stay engaged with the field. Not only does the event feature an extensive exhibition area in which leading companies can display their latest offerings, but many of these innovations will also be explored in more detail on stage through regular industry presentations. These talks will not only cover new technologies, but also the collaborations and strategies that could reshape the lifecycle of plastics altogether.

One key challenge for recyclers has always been finding valuable end-uses for their recyclate, and packaging remains an important target. Looking at the legislative picture across the US and Canada, you may think that with state-wide EPR roll outs and minimum PCR content mandates, it’s simply a matter of time before regionally recycled plastics end up on our grocery store shelves. However, Arjun Krishnan, Sales & Closed Loop Programs Manager at EFS plastics argues that, from a processors perspective, the picture is more nuanced. His talk “A processor’s perspective: mixed signals in PCR adoption across North America” will examine the disconnect between recent technological advances and actual PCR adoption. He observes that while technology has allowed PCR to meet the technical demands of packaging, there remain many economic, logistical, and political factors preventing its use from becoming widespread.

The importance of collaboration and innovation is further explored by Adam Wozniak, Director of Sustainability at Ravago North America. Drawing on the insight gained from Ravago’s international operations, diverse business activities and plethora of subsidiary companies, he will provide a picture of the past, present and future of plastics recycling in North America. In his talk titled “One Large Step for Mankind: From the Stars of Yesterday to the Circular Future of Tomorrow”, Adam will examine the seismic shift currently occurring in the plastics circularity space. He will highlight the impact of strategic collaboration and underscore the company’s commitment to advancing circularity and sustainable material solutions.

While packaging might represent a large and visible stream of plastic waste, other sources must not be ignored. Industrial materials, such as pipes, profiles, or cable jackets, are designed to be used for far longer than a plastic film but do eventually reach their end-of-life and need to be dealt with responsibly. To discuss the recycling of this lesser talked about waste stream, Manfred Dobersberger, the CEO of Pure Loop, will take to the stage to share how Pure Loop technology can be used to recycle a number of specialised industrial plastics. From soft and rigid PVC, to high glass and carbon fibre reinforced materials, to PEEK, this presentation will look at the technical advances allowing these materials to be recycled and, ultimately, the impact this has on the circularity efforts of a number of industries.

Beyond the actual act of recycling, the re-incorporation of recyclate into new products is not as straightforward as it can seem. Often, recycled plastics have less favourable properties than their virgin counterparts, making true closed loop circularity a challenge. One company investigating methods for upgrading the properties of recycled polymers is Thermo Fisher Scientific and on day two of the show, one of their Senior Application Scientists, Lucivan Barros, joins us in the recycling theatre to share their developments in this space. He will share their investigation into the upcycling or rPP by blending it with polar co-polymers, both with and without compatibilizers. By sharing the results of both rheological and chemical analysis conducted during processing he aims to demonstrate that compatibilization can enhance the

The diverse perspectives and exciting innovations to be explored by the above speakers demonstrate that the plastics recycling industry is working hard to improve the quality and quantity of their output. However, without public buy-in, the plastics recycling system falls apart. Plastics recycling has become increasingly maligned by the press in recent years as putting a band-aid on a bullet hole and trust in the recycling system is starting to faulter. To explore this topic, David Eldridge, Editor-in-Chief of AMI Magazines, chairs the panel “Public perception of plastics recycling – are we doing enough?”. Brian King, EVP of Product Management and Marketing for Advanced Drainage Systems, Rick Filiault, Director of Business Development for Revolution, and Kurt Kurzawa, Senior Director of Sustainability and Packaging for Plastics Industry Association will join David on stage to discuss the role the public plays in the plastics recycling market and the strategies that industry leaders can take to build trust. This 45-minute panel discussion will feature back and forth discussion between the panellists and chair as they attempt to understand the crux of public distrust, and look forward to a future of public-private collaboration to address the issue of plastic waste.

AMI’s Plastics Recycling World Expo is a free to attend event that attracts thousands of professionals from across the plastics recycling supply chain for two days of discussion, discovery, and networking. To benefit from all of the talks at the event and the extensive opportunities to connect with colleagues, customers, and clients, please register for your free ticket today!

Article written by Peter Hannan-Young, Expo Content Manager, AMI