The North America recycled plastics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.20% during the period 2025-2034.
The North America Recycled Plastics Market Likely to be Driven by Consumer Pressure, and Government Regulations
Government regulations and rising consumer pressure to adopt sustainable business activities is forcing firms to take up environmentally friendly alternatives. Consumers are increasingly displaying sensitivity towards how plastic products negatively affect the environment, and taking into consideration plastic recyclability and the possibility of the plastic item ending up in a landfill.
Packaging, in particular, has come to become a significant factor affecting purchase decisions of socially aware consumers. Indeed, companies neglecting consumer sentiment towards eco-friendly packaging might see a negative effect on their margins. The government also is making efforts to encourage plastic recycling. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced to fund twelve projects to support the advancement advanced plastics recycling technologies. The expenditure towards funding amounted to over UDS $27 million. Thus, a combination of consumer pressure and government regulations is likely to drive the North America recycled plastics market during the period 2025-2034. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is extensively used in the manufacture of soft drink plastic bottles, and food and liquid containers. PET is also used for extrusion of sutures, implantable textiles and tubing for angioplasty balloons. Thus, the PET segment is expected to lead the North America recycled plastics market.
In 2021, the Consortium of Carbios, L’Oréal, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, announced the successful manufacture of the world’s first food-grade PET plastic bottles made completely from enzymatically recycled plastic. Each Consortium firm has produced, successfully, sample bottles on the basis of Carbios’ enzymatic PET recycling technology for a few of their key products including Biotherm, Perrier, Pepsi Max and Orangina. Carbios created a new process using an enzyme that naturally occurs in compost heaps and normally breaks down leaf membranes of dead plants. Carbios optimized this enzyme through technology, and made possible the breaking down of any type of PET plastic into its components, which can be refashioned into like-new virgin-quality plastic.
In 2016, a group of trade associations and non-profits announced the formation of the North American Plastics Recycling Alliance (NAPRA) to significantly grow plastics recycling in the United States and Canada.
In recent years, several leading companies have displayed commitment towards adoption of recycled plastics. For example, Coca-Cola claims that nearly 88% of its packaging products were made of recycled plastics in 2019, and aims to take the figure to100% by 2025.
Walmart has also increased the PCR (post-consumer resin) percentage employed in its private label packaging in North America from nearly 7% in 2019 to almost 9% in 2020 (Walmart includes Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in its North America calculations), and aims to achieve 20% PCR in North America and 17% globally by 2025.
In 2021, Coca-Cola Trademark brands (Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola Flavors) announced the introduction of a 13.2-oz. bottle made of 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic in USA to encourage recycling and the creation of a circular economy. More than 94% of the company’s North American packaging is currently recyclable.
Clearly, major companies are striving towards increased use of recycled plastic.
The North America Recycled Plastics Market Likely to be Driven by Consumer Pressure, and Government Regulations
Government regulations and rising consumer pressure to adopt sustainable business activities is forcing firms to take up environmentally friendly alternatives. Consumers are increasingly displaying sensitivity towards how plastic products negatively affect the environment, and taking into consideration plastic recyclability and the possibility of the plastic item ending up in a landfill.
Packaging, in particular, has come to become a significant factor affecting purchase decisions of socially aware consumers. Indeed, companies neglecting consumer sentiment towards eco-friendly packaging might see a negative effect on their margins. The government also is making efforts to encourage plastic recycling. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced to fund twelve projects to support the advancement advanced plastics recycling technologies. The expenditure towards funding amounted to over UDS $27 million. Thus, a combination of consumer pressure and government regulations is likely to drive the North America recycled plastics market during the period 2025-2034. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is extensively used in the manufacture of soft drink plastic bottles, and food and liquid containers. PET is also used for extrusion of sutures, implantable textiles and tubing for angioplasty balloons. Thus, the PET segment is expected to lead the North America recycled plastics market.
In 2021, the Consortium of Carbios, L’Oréal, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe, announced the successful manufacture of the world’s first food-grade PET plastic bottles made completely from enzymatically recycled plastic. Each Consortium firm has produced, successfully, sample bottles on the basis of Carbios’ enzymatic PET recycling technology for a few of their key products including Biotherm, Perrier, Pepsi Max and Orangina. Carbios created a new process using an enzyme that naturally occurs in compost heaps and normally breaks down leaf membranes of dead plants. Carbios optimized this enzyme through technology, and made possible the breaking down of any type of PET plastic into its components, which can be refashioned into like-new virgin-quality plastic.
In 2016, a group of trade associations and non-profits announced the formation of the North American Plastics Recycling Alliance (NAPRA) to significantly grow plastics recycling in the United States and Canada.
In recent years, several leading companies have displayed commitment towards adoption of recycled plastics. For example, Coca-Cola claims that nearly 88% of its packaging products were made of recycled plastics in 2019, and aims to take the figure to100% by 2025.
Walmart has also increased the PCR (post-consumer resin) percentage employed in its private label packaging in North America from nearly 7% in 2019 to almost 9% in 2020 (Walmart includes Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in its North America calculations), and aims to achieve 20% PCR in North America and 17% globally by 2025.
In 2021, Coca-Cola Trademark brands (Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Coca-Cola Flavors) announced the introduction of a 13.2-oz. bottle made of 100% recycled PET (rPET) plastic in USA to encourage recycling and the creation of a circular economy. More than 94% of the company’s North American packaging is currently recyclable.
Clearly, major companies are striving towards increased use of recycled plastic.
North America Recycled Plastics Market Segmentation
North America Recycled Plastics Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034 offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:By type, the market is segmented into:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Low-density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Others
By raw-material, the market is classified into:
- Plastic Bottles
- Plastic Films
- Rigid Plastic and Foams
- Fibres
- Others
By application, the market is segmented into:
- Food Contact Packaging
- Packaging
- Construction
- Automotive
- Others
By region, the market is classified into:
- United States
- Canada
Key Industry Players in the North America Recycled Plastics Market
The report presents a detailed analysis of the following key players in the market, looking into their capacity, and latest developments like capacity expansions, plant turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions:- GFL Environmental Inc.
- KW Plastics
- MBA Polymers Inc.
- UltrePET, LLC
- Brightmark LLC
- Seraphim Plastics
- Others
Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Overview and Stakeholder Insights
3 Economic Summary
4 Country Risk Profiles
5 North America Recycled Plastics Market Analysis
6 Regional Analysis
7 Market Dynamics
9 Competitive Landscape
Companies Mentioned
- GFL Environmental Inc.
- KW Plastics
- MBA Polymers Inc.
- UltrePET, LLC
- Brightmark LLC
- Seraphim Plastics
