The story of recyclable packaging doesn’t end at the bin. Retaining material value across the product lifecycle, securing supply chains against resource volatility, and meeting tightening compliance requirements all have a common denominator: functioning end markets for the recyclate. Yet for many materials and formats, those markets remain underdeveloped, and regulators aren’t waiting. Building solid end markets for secondary materials calls for proactivity in how different parts of the value chain – brands, MRFs, reclaimers, converters, and policymakers – find their role and work in concert.
The pressure is real, but so is the opportunity: the carton sector shows what’s possible when industry invests collectively in infrastructure and end markets, with household access to carton recycling growing from around 18% in 2009 to 63% today (Waste Dive, 2026). Metal cans manufacturers and their value chain offer another proof point of material circularity at work, and PET has been working to build capacity in that direction too. How can these examples inform the development of sustainable end markets for other packaging materials? Who needs to do what, and where does the right expertise lie in the value chain? There’s no single blueprint, but there are building blocks. This panel brings together perspectives from different materials value chains to discuss:
- The infrastructure gap: What does the business case for funding waste management and recycling infrastructure actually look like, and what are effective ways to invest?
- Supply chain resilience: How do businesses make the link between circular material flows and a more stable, less import-dependent supply chain?
What to expect from this type of session...
Main stage sessions, but not as you know them. Because we’re off-the-record, leading experts can speak candidly about their experience with what works, and what doesn’t. At least half the session is dedicated to audience insights and questions to ensure we tackle the big issues head on.
