Mexico’s Plastics Industry Pushes Toward Circular Economy

The National Chemical Industry Association (ANIQ), through the Plastics Industry Commission for Responsibility and Sustainable Development (CIPRES), held the Twenty-Eighth Annual Forum of the Plastic Resins Industry. Representatives of the plastics industry joined forces to promote a circular economy through cooperation, improved design optimization, and more sustainable production and consumption models.

Miguel Delgado, President, CIPRES, announced that resin production reached 3.5Mt in 2024, with imports totaling 5.7Mt and exports 1.5Mt. He also noted that, according to the OECD, global plastic production is expected to quadruple, reiterating the need to adopt better production and consumption practices.

“Our industry not only supplies raw materials; it also shapes the country’s sustainable development. We have the power to build partnerships, drive innovation, and lead the transition toward a circular economy,” Delgado said.

Mariela Vargas, Representative, Ministry of Economy, emphasized that the plastics industry plays a strategic role as a cross-cutting sector in nearly all areas of the economy. It has vast innovation potential and a significant capacity to accelerate circularity in Mexico. “A circular economy is built through collective action. It requires responsible investment, technological innovation, environmental education, and coherent public policies,” she said.

Meanwhile, during the webinar, Industry in Action: Plastic Waste Management Plans and Their Impact, the National Association of Plastic Industries (ANIPAC) reiterated the importance of strengthening plastic waste management plans as a key route toward a circular economy and toward increasing collection rates in Mexico.

Raúl Mendoza, Director General, ANIPAC, stressed that waste management plans represent an opportunity to consolidate a more responsible and efficient industry. “With innovation and commitment, plastics can be allies in sustainability, promoting resource savings, emission reductions, and improved waste management,” he said.

Mendoza stated that the challenge is not to eliminate plastic but to use it responsibly. “Plastic is not the enemy, waste is. Every bottle, bag, or container that ends up in the trash is a missed opportunity to transform it,” he added.

The Plastics Industry in Mexico

In Mexico, the plastics industry is one of the largest in Latin America, with more than 7,000 companies using plastics in their production processes. Around 45% of plastic produced in the country is used for packaging materials, while the rest goes into construction, automotive, electronics, agriculture, and durable goods. However, recycling plastics in these latter categories remains a major challenge due to the complexity of handling and processing them.

Manuel Bárcenas, Marketing Manager, Dow Química, noted that approximately 7Mt of plastic are generated annually in Mexico. He explained that Dow Química aims to promote the design of packaging materials that are recyclable from the outset and that incorporate post-consumer recycled plastic. “We have identified that 80% of environmental impact can be mitigated at the design stage,” Bárcenas said.

He also pointed out that one of the main barriers to achieving a circular economy in the plastics sector is the price gap, as virgin raw materials are often much cheaper than recycled materials. Finally, he stressed the importance of strengthening strategic alliances, supporting authorities in creating a useful regulatory framework, and ensuring that the sector,  including industry, government, and consumers, works together on waste management.