Indorama Ventures Showcases PET Recycling at SX2026

Indorama Ventures highlighted the potential of PET plastic recycling at the Sustainability Expo 2026 (SX2026), underscoring policy changes and opportunities that will define the future of recycling. Interactive exhibits and fashion from recycled materials made the circular economy tangible, while Chief Sustainability Officer Anthony Em Watanabe provided perspectives on regulatory shifts, Thailand's preparedness, and regional investment prospects.

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a world-leading sustainable chemical producer, presented PET plastic recycling capabilities at the Sustainability Expo 2026 (SX2026), held from November 6–15 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok. The company also hosted a media event to exchange views on regulatory changes that are redirecting packaging management and recycling, including impacts on the Thai business sector.

At the Indorama Ventures booth in Hall 2, Better Living Zone, Ground Floor, visitors could learn the process of turning used PET bottles back into recycled raw materials through an interactive exhibit that encouraged participation. The booth also displayed fashion pieces from the RECO Collective project by three Thai fashion brands: CHANA, KH EDITIONS, and APPEAL Summerwear, showcasing the integration of recycled PET, textile expertise, and creative design to develop distinctive garments that meet consumer demands. Additionally, the booth presented the company's business operations, global recycling network, innovations, and partnerships aimed at preserving material value and enabling continuous reuse.

Linking policy, collection systems, and investment in a concluding address, Dr. Anthony Em Watanabe, Indorama Ventures' Chief Sustainability Officer, explained that circular packaging is shifting from voluntary action to legally binding requirements. Key trends include collection targets for used packaging, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principles, Deposit Return Systems, recycled content mandates, and Design for Recycling standards.

The European Union's Single-Use Plastics Directive, adopted in 2019, requires PET beverage bottles to contain at least 25% recycled plastic from 2025 onward. Building on this framework, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force in August 2026, setting broader requirements on packaging recyclability and recycled content from 2030 onward. Meanwhile, Thailand is developing a draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act, which proposes packaging waste management under EPR principles alongside the development of PET Design for Recycling guidelines.

Dr. Watanabe noted that for the Thai business sector, particularly exporters, these changes make early preparation essential.