The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) has expressed disappointment after New Jersey legislators postponed the implementation of post-consumer recycled (PCR) content mandates for food packaging. The exemption, which was originally scheduled to expire in 2027, has now been extended to late 2029.
This delay underscores a systemic issue plaguing the global plastics transition: the severe shortage of food-grade recycled polymers. Packaging converters face technical and regulatory hurdles in sourcing PCR that meets strict food-contact safety standards. By pushing back the deadline, US policymakers have acknowledged that the local supply chain is currently unable to support these targets without risking food safety or packaging supply disruptions.
For UK waste companies, packaging converters, and Turkish recyclers, this US delay serves as a highly relevant market signal. The UK’s Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) and the EU’s upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) both demand high levels of recycled content, including in food-contact applications. Turkish recyclers exporting to the UK and EU must note that while some jurisdictions are blinking in the face of supply shortages, Europe’s regulatory trajectory remains firm. This divergence could create a two-tier global market, where high-quality, food-grade rPET and rPP flow preferentially to European buyers willing to pay a premium to meet strict statutory deadlines.
The practical takeaway for the UK-Türkiye supply chain is clear: do not expect a softening of European targets despite overseas delays. Instead, converters and recyclers must double down on investing in advanced sorting and decontamination technologies to secure reliable, food-grade PCR streams that comply with EFSA and UK regulations, positioning themselves ahead of competitors who rely on regulatory reprieves.
