Episode 1236: PODCAST: Positive CPG volumes, growing petchem involvement in recycling shared in latest corporate earnings results

Recycled Plastics analyst Corbin Olson and US Recycled Plastics senior editor Emily Friedman discuss the main takeaways from the latest round of corporate quarterly earnings calls, as they relate to the US recycled plastics industry.

Key takeaways included:

• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) companies largely showed positive North American sales volumes, though some continue to see negative volumes due to the current inflationary environment.
• Durables markets, such as pipe and composite decking which use recycled plastic as a raw material, showed moderate progress, with weakness in agricultural and residential end markets. Broader economic softness in construction, automotive and housing continues to exert downwards pressure.
• Waste management companies largely saw strong earnings, with several investing in recycling collection and sortation infrastructure, but also in downstream in plastics recycling capacity. Republic Services notes progress on their Polymer Centers.
• Virgin petrochemical players continue to integrate with recycling operations
  • Dow aquires Circulus
  • LyondellBasell pending FID on Houston chemical recycling unit
  • ExxonMobil pledes increased chemical recycling capacity in 2025
  • Eastman shows progress on operation of Kingsport methanolysis facility, lowers earnings guidance
• PET sales volumes increase, amid weaker market pricing; R-PET forecasts remain strong for future demand

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