This article originally appeared in Packaging Technology Today on January 2, 2025.
As featured in Packaging Technology Today magazine on January 2, 2025, John Thayer writes, “Regulations surrounding the composition, manufacture and disposal of plastic packaging are changing rapidly. Amidst growing concerns about consumer and environmental health, governments around the world are adopting a variety of tactics to combat unmanaged plastic waste. Many efforts are focused on creating a circular economy for plastics, in which plastic packaging is designed to be recyclable and can be collected and reprocessed into new products. Recycling regulations and available infrastructure vary greatly by region, however, with different countries, states and even cities taking different approaches to recycling system design.Many legislative efforts are exploring options that shift the responsibility for recycling management to producers, and brand owners are faced with challenging requirements as different models and mandates attempt to fundamentally alter the way plastic packaging products are created. In this transformative period, as the world attempts to move toward a more circular model of production and consumption, collaboration across the value chain is more important than ever. Resin suppliers, converters, recyclers, and brand owners must work together to adapt to the ever-changing regulatory environment and develop innovative products and processes that enable recycled and recyclable packaging solutions.”
Read the full article here on Packaging Technology Today.
John Thayer is the senior vice president of sales and marketing for NOVA Chemicals. In this role, he drives market leadership and sales strategies for NOVA’s Polyethylene and Ethylene businesses and owns NOVA’s enterprise-wide customer-centric strategy and initiatives.