Mexico Firms Surpass 2025 Plastic Recovery, Recycling Goals

Mexican corporations representing more than half of the country’s plastic packaging market have exceeded several 2025 recycling and recovery goals, according to the Fifth Annual Report of the National Agreement for the New Plastic Economy.

The report covers 77 companies accounting for 51% of the plastics packaging market. Collectively, they recovered 34% of plastic packaging in 2024, surpassing the 30% target set for 2025. In addition, 24% of new packaging was manufactured with post-consumer recycled content, exceeding the 20% goal.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) showed the strongest progress, with signatories reporting a 41% recovery rate. Combined with efforts from other businesses, Mexico’s national PET recycling rate reached 64%—the highest in the Americas.

Industry participants also eliminated 35,000 tons of unnecessary plastics through packaging redesign, increased recycled content, and alternative materials. The 2022 ban on intentionally added microplastics in cleaning and exfoliating products has also been maintained.

To support these efforts, private-sector organizations invested MX$1.2 billion (US$64.4 million) in recycling and recovery infrastructure, alongside MX$30 million for education initiatives and programs to integrate informal waste collectors into formal systems.

SEMARNAT Minister Alicia Bárcena called the progress a demonstration of corporate commitment to the circular economy. “These advances show that circular economy principles are achievable when industry, government, and society work together.” She also highlighted the urgency of passing the national circular economy bill, now under Senate review, which would require companies to ensure their waste is recycled or reused.

Senator Jorge Carlos Ramírez Marín welcomed the findings, noting that federal plastics regulation is being approached with “seriousness” and crediting SEMARNAT’s leadership with positioning Mexico as a potential global model in plastics management.

According to José Ramón Ardavín, executive director, CESPEDES, the results underscore the impact of voluntary commitments: “This is proof that vision and responsibility in the private sector can deliver concrete environmental outcomes.”

Mexico’s PET recycling rate of 64% places it ahead of global peers: the EU averaged 61% in 2022, while the United States reached 29%, according to industry data.

These achievements come as Mexico prepares to update its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and considers new legislation to accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon, circular economy.