Recent developments
Polyolefin design shifts
Recent product launches targeted mono-material packaging with higher performance. Borealis introduced its Borstar Nextension PE technology using single-site catalysts to improve toughness and sealing and enable replacement of multimaterial films with recyclable PE mono-structures, complementing its PP platform. Dow released DOWSIL 5-1050 Polymer Processing Aid, a non-fluoropolymer PPA for blown and stretch films, mitigating melt fracture while meeting EU and US food-contact rules. These developments address PPWR-aligned design-for-recycling while sustaining line efficiency.
Recycling capacity upgrades
In mechanical recycling, Borealis is converting Integra Plastics’ Bulgaria site from rLDPE to premium rPP using Borcycle M mechanical recycling technology, with output planned above 20,000 t/y starting October 2025. The shift targets applications in packaging, mobility, and appliances, and supports compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and End‑of‑Life Vehicle Directive.
Food-contact circularity
For contact-sensitive formats, Dow, Zermatt, and Nature’s Variety launched a recyclable pet-food pouch using a PE mono-material film with 10% mass-balance recycled content, designed to align with CEN recyclability guidance and PPWR 2030 targets. The partners plan to showcase the pack at K 2025 and target 30% recycled content by 2030.
Bio-based polyester scale-up
Brand–supplier collaboration advanced bio-based polymers. Avantium, Tereos, and LVMH GAÏA agreed to form a consortium to build the first industrial-scale facility for FDCA and PEF, leveraging Avantium’s proprietary YXY Technology. The initiative aims to expand supply of 100% renewable PEF (releaf) for packaging, support green-chemistry value chains, and enable licensing of the process.
Strategy and financing
Producers and financiers aligned on transition plans. At the Gazometro in Rome, Versalis: from polymers to markets convened supply‑chain actors around a €2 billion program spanning circular recycling, compostables via Novamont, and specialty elastomers and foams, and resulted in the Bio & Circular Plastics Pact with consumer groups. Separately, the European Investment Bank (EIB) approved €25 million to Tecnocap for energy‑efficiency upgrades and on‑site photovoltaics in Italy and the Czech Republic, aligned with the Clean Industrial Deal and REPowerEU.