Global Scans · Plastics · Weekly Summary

• [New] At Suntory Beverage & Food Europe we are working toward 100% sustainable plastic packaging by 2030. WhatTheyThink
• [New] Suppliers are struggling to meet demand for recycled plastic, with a potential 30% to 40% gap in supply and demand for certain resins by 2030. Food Dive
• [New] There would be a dramatic increase in plastic waste, with the cumulative cost to the environment projected to exceed $32 billion by 2050, while imported virgin plastics continue to increase. ProPack
• [New] Without regulatory reform, the analysis forecast that utilization of existing Australian plastic recycling facilities could fall to just 32% within the next five years, resulting in facility closures, job losses and a stalling of investment in the circular economy. ProPack
• [New] Malaysia's Mandatory EPR Implementation (2026): Building on its Plastic Sustainability Roadmap, Malaysia plans to transition its currently voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility scheme to a mandatory requirement for all producers by 2026. Yahoo Finance
• [New] By 2032, all regulated packaging must be recyclable or compostable, plastic use must decline by 25%, and recycling rates must reach 65%. National Law Review
• [New] In line with its environmental commitments, Dubai will implement a complete ban on single-use plastic food containers. Gulf Good News
• [New] Ending exports of unprocessed plastic packaging waste by 2030 would allow the UK to take control of its environmental responsibilities and seize a clear economic opportunity. Impakter
• [New] The UK government has said it will introduce a mass balance approach to account for chemically recycled plastic (in which total inputs and outputs are tracked, rather than requiring a complete chain-of-custody for recycled materials), under the Plastics Packaging Tax. Chemistry World
• [New] Analysis by Hybrid Economics, carried out for waste management group Biffa, suggests the UK could eventually process all its recyclable plastic packaging waste. Chemistry World
• [New] ExxonMobil's $200 Million Expansion: ExxonMobil is investing in expanding its advanced recycling facilities in Baytown and Beaumont, Texas, aiming to process over 500,000 tons of plastic waste annually by 2027 to create certified circular polymers. GlobeNewswire
• [New] Plastic degradation is an invisible threat to the environment and human health. Scientific American
• [New] Water-walking robots might collect a million tons of ocean plastic by 2040. International Defense Security & Technology
• [New] The use of plastic recycling facilities could fall to just 32% within 5 years, causing facility closures and job losses. MRA Consulting Group
• [New] SB 1053 builds on broader state efforts to reduce single-use plastics, including SB 54, a 2022 law requiring packaging producers to cut plastic use by 25% by 2032. KFMB
• [New] A new California law, effective now, will make single-use plastic carryout bags a thing of the past. KFMB
• [New] The European Commission plans legal changes in early 2026 to tighten documentation, customs tracking, and audits of recycled plastic imports. ESG News
• [New] There are two key tools to decrease pollution from plastic packaging by 97% by 2040. The Guardian
• [New] Combined with bans on certain polymers and substituting plastic for other materials, plastic pollution could be cut by 97% in the next 15 years, the research found. The Guardian
• [New] Packaging used more plastic than any other industry in 2025 and will continue to do so in 2040. The Guardian

Last updated: 19 January 2026