APR Expands Efforts In Mexico And Latin America

This year, the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), an international organization that brings together hundreds of companies worldwide across the plastics recycling value chain, will expand its efforts in Mexico and Latin America at a crucial time for the recycling industry. While Mexico has already demonstrated leadership in PET collection, it faces challenges in designing plastic packaging and products that are compatible with the recycling system and developing markets for post-consumer resin (PCR).

Widely recognized across the globe as the authority on plastics packaging design for recyclability, APR’s programs and tools improve the efficiency and productivity of recycling plastics, reduce contamination of recycled materials, and lower costs throughout the supply chain. Recycling and using recycled material benefits manufacturers, consumers, and the planet. It drives industrial efficiency, energy savings, and reduces emissions, with measurable environmental, economic, and social impacts.

“Improving design is one of the most effective ways to ensure more plastic packaging is recycled,” said Steve Alexander, CEO and President of APR. “As we work to strengthen plastic recycling and align plastic design for recyclability worldwide, expanding our efforts in Mexico and Latin America is a critical next step.”

”We must stop designing plastic packaging for shelf space and start designing for recycling,” added Martha Ricardi, APR’s Director of Latin American Strategy. “The government has made a great effort, and public policies must be supported by the plastic recycling industry and consumers to incentivize the use of recycled resins that lead to a true circular model.”

APR tools and programs provide technical certainty and third-party validation that plastic packaging is compatible with recycling, which is necessary to build and develop stable markets for PCR. APR’s efforts provide the opportunity for Mexico to demonstrate the leadership required to make recycling an environmental, economic and social engine.