The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) held its Autumn Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, from October 27 to 28, 2025. At the Plastic Division on 27 October, Henk Alssema, Divisional President and CEO of INVIPLAST (Netherlands), outlined the continuing challenges facing plastics recyclers across nearly all regions. Despite these headwinds, he also delivered a message of optimism or the industry’s future.
He noted that in the United States and the Middle East, tightening regulations on single-use plastics and growing investment in circular economy initiatives are fueling expectations for expansion in the recycling market. In Europe, around one million tons of recycling capacity is already in operation as of 2025, with notable growth in medical plastics and polymers. However, the prolonged slump in crude oil prices has eroded the competitiveness of recycled materials, leaving cost challenges unresolved.
By contrast, the Asian market remains marked by volatility, with recycled materials often priced higher than virgin resins—an imbalance that discourages corporate adoption. Policy approaches also diverge widely across regions: Europe plans to introduce financial incentives for companies using recycled materials from 2026, while India has postponed enforcement of its minimum reuse rate legislation.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Alssema stated, “The situation in plastic recycling is the same everywhere. Virgin resins are cheap, and margins for recycled materials are under pressure. Many believe this industry has no future—but I think the opposite is true. When things fall apart, that’s when new ideas emerge.” He underscored that a circular economy cannot exist without a resilient recycling industry.
The next presentation was delivered by Patcharin Thamasirianunt from Union J. Plus (Thailand), a company specializing in the sorting and pelletizing of waste plastics. Union J. Plus handles a wide range of materials—including HDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, PP, HIPS, and ABS—and operates an ISO-certified facility equipped with a quality control laboratory, solar power systems, and wastewater recycling, ensuring sustainable plant operations.
The company currently operates three production lines with an annual output of approximately 20,000 tons. Approximately 60 % of this volume is supplied to the domestic market, while the remainder is exported to Europe and other parts of Asia. In the household goods segment, recycled materials now account for 25–30 percent of total production.
Thamasirianunt noted that ensuring a stable supply of high-quality recycled materials and maintaining cost competitiveness remain key challenges ahead. She also underscored the importance of raising awareness among consumers and brands, concluding that further progress in plastic recycling will depend on sustained support from both policymakers and market participants.
Following the presentation by Union J. Plus, a panel discussion took place among the speakers and panelists. At the outset,Max Craipeau, CEO of Greencore Resources Limited (Hong Kong), noted it would be “an understatement” to describe the current market as merely “depressed or bad.”
He argued that the one million tons of plastics recycling capacity reportedly lost in Europe over two years had, in fact, occurredwithin a single year when combining shutdowns across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
He also pointed out that most of these closures involved polymers such as PP and PE rather than PET.
The global recycling market is currently experiencing a severe downturn, driven by low virgin resin prices and slowing economic growth.
Craipeau noted that, when the shutdowns in Europe, Asia, and the United States are combined, the loss in recycling capacity could reach one million tons within a single year.
He added that the impact has been felt most acutely not in PET, but in polymers such as PP and PE.
Mr. Craipeau identified cheap oil as the major culprit behind the sector’s loss of recycling capacity. He rejected the notion that imports of recycled materials from Asia, North Africa, and South America into Europe were responsible for recent shutdowns.
He explained that the low price of oil has driven down the cost of virgin materials, allowing manufacturers to abandon their commitments to using recycled content in favor of much cheaper virgin polymers.
When asked how lost recycling capacity could be restored, Olivier Francois, President of Recycling Europe, said that reversing the current situation would be “very difficult” and would need to be driven by stronger demand, most likely resulting from new regulatory measures. He stressed that for investment to return, there must be both a legal obligation to recycle and market demand for recycled materials.
Mr. Craipeau added that ensuring compliance with existing legislation is equally important, noting that “these days, enforcement is lacking.”In the European Union, policymakers have introduced plans to strengthen support for recycling operators, with France set to launch an economic incentive program in January 2026 to encourage the use of recycled materials—an initiative that could become a model for other nations.
In the Middle East, market growth is expected to be driven by bans on single-use plastics and broader efforts to advance a circular economy.
At the same time, several developing nations, including India, are preparing to adopt minimum recycled-content requirements, reflecting a wider global shift toward stricter regulation.
Bianca Mannini, Trade and Environment Director at the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), provided an update on ongoing negotiations for the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty.
Although the August session in Geneva ended without an agreement, momentum is building around the need for urgent action on plastic pollution.
However, a clear divide remains between countries pushing for a legally binding treaty that covers the entire plastics lifecycle and those favoring a voluntary framework limited to waste management.
The next round of negotiations is scheduled for December in Nairobi, Kenya, where expectations are growing for a stronger and more comprehensive global accord.
The IRuniverse editorial team conducted an on-site interview during the lunch break on the second day of the convention with Patcharin Thamasirianunt, a presenter from Thailand’s Union J Limited, to learn more about the country’s plastic recycling landscape.
Q: Does Thailand have any legislation governing plastic separation or recycling?
A: There is currently no specific law in place. However, efforts are underway to reduce plastic waste and strengthen resource circulation. Our company purchases post-consumer plastic waste that has been sorted from general waste streams and uses it as recycled raw material.
Q: Who is responsible for waste separation?
A: The responsibility lies with local municipalities. At the national level, there are ongoing initiatives to build recycling systems through collaboration between local governments and private companies. By 2027, Thailand aims to implement measures to reduce single-use plastics and introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework. This is expected to foster a circular recycling system led by the private sector.
Walking through Bangkok, separate bins for general and recyclable waste could be seen throughout the city, showing that residents are becoming more conscious of waste segregation. However, cans and PET bottles were still often mixed together, underscoring the importance of post-collection sorting processes.
While the global plastic recycling market remains under pressure, Thailand’s growing policy support and corporate initiatives are steadily shaping a path toward a circular economy. Despite challenges such as raw material costs and profitability, the industry’s continued commitment amid headwinds offers a sense of optimism. With the convergence of regulation, policy, and technological innovation, the recycling sector holds strong potential for transformation.
(IRuniverse Midori Fushimi)
