The global packaging industry is entering a new era of mandatory recycling requirements, putting pressure on businesses to rethink packaging design, recycled materials and waste management.
Against this backdrop, Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited is using Sustainability Expo 2026 (SX2026) in Bangkok to spotlight the growing importance of PET circularity and Thailand’s potential to become a stronger force in the recycling economy.
The global sustainable chemical company is showcasing its PET recycling capabilities at the event, running from November 6–15 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, while using a media briefing to highlight how regulatory changes across major markets could reshape the packaging and recycling landscape.
At its booth in Hall 2, Better Living Zone, G Floor, visitors can explore the journey of used PET bottles into recycled raw materials through an interactive exhibition. The display also features the RECO Collective, showcasing fashion created by Thai brands CHANA, KH EDITIONS and APPEAL Summerwear, demonstrating how recycled PET can be transformed into desirable clothing through textile expertise and creative design.
The exhibition also highlights Indorama Ventures’ global recycling operations, innovation and industry partnerships. The company describes itself as the world’s largest recycler of PET beverage bottles.
Speaking at the media briefing, Anthony M. Watanabe, Chief Sustainability Officer of Indorama Ventures, said circular packaging was moving beyond voluntary corporate commitments, with governments increasingly introducing legally binding requirements.
Among the major regulatory shifts are collection targets, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), deposit return systems, recycled-content mandates and Design for Recycling requirements.
The European Union is already driving the transition. Its Single-Use Plastics Directive, adopted in 2019, requires PET beverage bottles to contain at least 25% recycled plastic from 2025. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which began applying in August 2026, builds on this framework, with broader packaging recyclability and recycled-content requirements scheduled from 2030.
Thailand is also moving towards a more structured regulatory framework. The proposed Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act seeks to introduce an EPR-based approach to packaging waste management, while authorities and industry stakeholders are working on PET Design for Recycling guidelines.
For Thai manufacturers and exporters, the implications are significant. Businesses will need to prepare for different regulatory requirements across destination markets, reassess packaging designs and strengthen collaboration with suppliers to ensure recycled materials meet quality and traceability standards.
“Thailand has an opportunity to build on its existing recycling expertise and collection networks. By bringing governments, producers, collectors, recyclers and consumers together, we can keep more valuable materials in use and build a stronger foundation for investment” said Watanabe.
With regulatory pressure mounting and demand for sustainable packaging growing, Thailand has an opportunity to build on its established recycling capabilities and attract further investment in circular materials.
Indorama Ventures says its global operations, comprising 20 recycling sites across multiple markets, have recycled more than 180 billion post-consumer PET bottles since 2011.
The company is positioning this experience as part of the broader effort to turn circular economy ambitions into commercially viable solutions, connecting discarded PET bottles with valuable new applications.
However, unlocking the full potential of recycling will require more than corporate investment. Clear, consistent and practical policy frameworks will be critical to strengthening collection systems, improving recycling infrastructure and giving businesses the confidence to invest.
Indorama Ventures is also contributing technical expertise to government and industry discussions on Thailand's EPR readiness and packaging design.
Through the Federation of Thai Industries' TIPMSE, the company has provided input on draft PET Design for Recycling guidelines, focusing on how packaging material choices influence recycling compatibility and the quality of recovered PET.
Its international engagement includes collaboration with organisations such as the Association of Plastic Recyclers in the United States and Plastics Recyclers Europe, helping connect regulatory discussions with practical experience from the recycling industry.
As governments tighten packaging rules and businesses face growing expectations to incorporate recycled materials, the challenge is increasingly about building systems that work across the entire value chain.
For Thailand, the convergence of policy reform, established collection networks, recycling expertise and potential investment could create new opportunities to strengthen its position in the regional circular economy. Indorama Ventures' presence at SX2026 underscores the growing role of PET recycling in that transition.
