APR, ANIPAC sign agreement to advance recycling in Mexico

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the National Association of Plastics Industries in Mexico (ANIPAC) have signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen plastics recyclability, promote international design for recycling guidelines, and support the development of a stronger circular economy in Mexico.

This alliance seeks to establish a space for technical and strategic cooperation between both organizations to promote best practices across the entire plastics value chain. This ranges from packaging and product design to material recovery, recycling, and reintegration into the market.

APR, an international non-profit and the largest North American organization focused exclusively on improving plastics recycling, will contribute with technical tools, training programs, and design criteria focused on increasing packaging recyclability and strengthening markets for post-consumer recycled content.

ANIPAC, which has represented Mexico’s plastics industry since 1961, will contribute its reach and representation across the sector’s full supply chain. This includes raw material producers, recyclers, machinery manufacturers, distributors, and plastics converters. Meanwhile, they will promote the adoption of international standards that strengthen the competitiveness of the industry.

Regional harmonization

Steve Alexander, APR president and CEO, states that collaboration among North American organizations is essential to advancing greater regional harmonization in recyclability and the circular economy.

“Collaboration among organizations across North America is fundamental to strengthening recycling infrastructure, promoting common technical standards, and accelerating the transition toward more circular and sustainable models for plastics,” he says.

For his part, Benjamín del Arco, president of ANIPAC, adds, “This agreement represents a strategic step toward strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of Mexico’s plastics industry. The adoption of international design for recyclability guidelines allows us to advance toward more efficient solutions aligned with market needs and current environmental challenges while providing greater technical certainty to all stakeholders across the value chain.”

For ANIPAC, this collaboration also reinforces its role as a key coordinator of Mexico’s plastics value chain by promoting solutions based on innovation, technical evidence, and international cooperation. The association has consistently emphasized that progress toward a circular economy requires not only commitment, but also clear criteria, adequate infrastructure, and coordinated participation among industry, government, and society.

As part of this effort, both organizations will promote the exchange of technical and regulatory information, joint projects, specialized training, and design criteria that facilitate the recycling of plastic packaging and products in Mexico.

In the current context, where challenges related to waste management and regulation continue to gain importance, this agreement helps position Mexico within global recyclability trends by facilitating international alignment of criteria and strengthening the technical capabilities of the sector.