Mexico circular economy law puts plastics packaging under pressure

Centre for Management Technology will bring industry, government and brand leaders to Mexico City on Oct. 28-29 for a conference focused on how Latin America can move circular packaging from policy to practice. The event comes as Mexico’s Circular Economy law, recycled-content targets and recycling investment reshape decisions on packaging design, supply and traceability.

Why it matters: - Mexico’s Circular Economy legislation is pushing packaging, recycling and brand decisions toward measurable compliance instead of broad sustainability pledges. - The conference will focus on the bottlenecks that determine whether circular packaging can scale in Latin America: regulation, recycled-material supply, infrastructure, traceability and technology. - The discussion has direct implications for producer responsibility, recyclability requirements, recycled-content availability and the strength of regional circular value chains.

What happened: - Centre for Management Technology will hold the 22nd LAPET Series – Circular Plastics Packaging LATAM on 28-29 October 2026 at the Mexico City Marriott Reforma Hotel. - The event theme is “Regulation to Reality: Delivering Circular Packaging Across Latin America.” - The conference is taking place in Mexico City as circular economy regulations and recycling investments reshape packaging markets across the region. - Alpek Polyester Mexico is the Gold & Networking Reception Sponsor. - EREMA Group and Avient are Associate Sponsors. - ExxonMobil Signature Polymers is the Coffee Break Reception Sponsor. - Alpek Polyester Mexico and Avient are also listed as exhibitors.

The details: - The opening discussion will examine Mexico’s Circular Economy Law and the readiness of the country’s plastics, packaging and recycling markets. - Mayra Hernandez Navarro of ECOCE A.C., Luz Elena Aristizábal Alviar of Essity, Dr. German Ruiz Mendez of SEMARNAT, and Eduardo Solano of NSM Ecosistemas Circulares will discuss implementation, extended producer responsibility obligations, recycled-content compliance, collection readiness and investment needs. - Isabel Bena of Wood Mackenzie will present an update on global polyolefins and PET market outlook, including virgin and recycled capacity in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, plus anticipated challenges through 2027-2028. - Eduardo Ragasol of NIQ Mexico will address how sustainability, convenience, functionality and trust in packaging claims shape consumer decisions. - Ksenia Portnova of Walmart de México y Centroamérica will discuss collaboration with brands, suppliers and recyclers and the factors affecting circular packaging adoption. - Fernando Rosas Garcia of Alpek Polyester Mexico will focus on RPET availability, competition for recovered PET and the operating model needed to support Mexico’s transition to a circular PET economy. - Brand owners from Mars Mexico, Coca-Cola FEMSA, Danone and Mondelez International will discuss how regulation, packaging design, procurement priorities and market expectations are reshaping packaging portfolios. - Juan Galvan of Recypack will present R&D work on thermoformed PET trays. - Alexander Schramm of EREMA Group will examine food-grade recycling of PET thermoforming waste. - Marcio Amazonas of NEXTLOOPP Americas will address food-grade recycled polyolefins in the Americas. - Fernando Carrillo of Bericap México will discuss caps and closures and their role in circular PET packaging toward 2030. - The second day will expand into alternative materials and industrial integration. - Ricardo Cuzziol of UBQ Materials will present packaging applications that convert everyday waste into new materials. - José Canga of T.EN Zimmer will examine industrial integration of bio-polyesters through asset optimization. - Liliana Morales Mejia of Avient Corporation will present on design based on circularity. - John Henry Villamizar Gaviria of SMI PERU will discuss what must change to scale circular PET beyond individual projects and will share lessons from Ecuador and Guatemala. - Sina Tischbierek of ISCC System will cover certification and traceability from feedstock to finished packaging, including physical segregation, controlled blending, mass-balance chain-of-custody models and verified recycled-content claims. - The conference will end with an optional, separately bookable site visit to the Azcapotzalco Transfer Station and Sorting Plant. - The site visit will highlight three strategies: sales of recyclable materials, production of refuse-derived fuel and organic waste management. - The 22nd LAPET Series is being held back-to-back with CMT’s 3rd Sustainable Flexible Packaging LATAM Conference on 27-28 October 2026 at the same hotel. - Delegates registering for both events can inquire about a bundle discount or visit more details. - Registration inquiries for Latin American companies go to tanya@cmtconference.com or +52 55 3655 0760. - Registration inquiries for companies outside Latin America go to huiyan@cmtconference.com or +65 6346 9113.

Between the lines: - The agenda shows the circular packaging market moving from high-level commitments to operational questions about feedstock, certification and infrastructure. - The mix of regulators, brand owners, recyclers, technology providers and certifiers suggests the industry still needs alignment before circular packaging can scale consistently across markets. - The emphasis on traceability, mass-balance systems and verified claims signals that recycled-content credibility is becoming as important as recycled-content volumes.

What's next: - The October conference will test how much alignment exists across policy, supply chains and technology for circular plastics in Latin America. - The optional plant visit may offer a practical view of sorting, recyclable-material sales and waste-to-energy handling in Mexico City. - The back-to-back scheduling with the flexible packaging conference will extend the discussion across three days and connect circular plastics with broader packaging design and infrastructure debates.

The bottom line: - Latin America’s circular packaging push is entering the implementation phase, and Mexico is becoming a key test case for whether regulation, recycling capacity and certification can keep pace with brand commitments.