In the first week of January 2026, market participants gradually returned to activity after the long Christmas and New Year break. The period was marked by waiting for the first price offers and by analysis of the current market situation.
Amcor has joined the three-year CRISP project, coordinated by the Danish Technological Institute, aimed at developing full-scale circular recycling of rigid PE and PP food packaging from household waste.
Borealis launches the global rollout of the Borstar Digital Twin program, based on artificial intelligence and virtual replication of polyethylene and polypropylene production processes.
Cafés Méo is replacing multi-material PET/Alu/PE packs with recyclable polyethylene design for recycling flowpacks from adapa, anticipating PPWR 2030 requirements while maintaining product quality.
Alpla and NTCP have launched a four-year pilot project in the Netherlands to validate a patented solvent-based process for producing food-grade recycled HDPE, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth.
In line with earlier ChemCourier forecasts, the December ethylene contract price in Europe remained unchanged. In the first weeks of the month, HDPE suppliers will attempt price increases in an effort to improve margins before year-end.
Elm-plastic, in collaboration with Biovox and Ultrapolymers Deutschland, has introduced the first commercially available bioplastic pipette for pharmaceutical and medical applications. The product uses MedEco compounds based on PLA or bio-based PE and meets common regulatory requirements.
Amcor has expanded its deodorant packaging range with Shadow, a lightweight roll-on offering branding flexibility and recycle-ready PE and PP components that can include up to 60% PCR content.
In the final weeks of October, several incidents at Central European petrochemical producers could tighten polyethylene supply in the region.
Colines ran live blown and cast film extrusion alongside a stretch film converting unit at K 2025, attracting more than 1,000 visitors. Demonstrations highlighted a 9-layer PE barrier pouch film with less than 5% EVOH and cast stretch films with 35% PCR.
Coveris received four distinctions at the UK Packaging Awards 2025, including Packaging Company of the Year. The jury also recognised its MonoFlex PaperFeel developments and Amberley Labels' work for Aureus Vita.
TotalEnergies and Windmöller & Hölscher developed a recyclable PE/PA pouch for oil and lubricants with 35% mechanically recycled polyethylene. The 170 μm film, produced on Aquarex water-quenching technology, cuts material use by 83% versus a typical 1-liter HDPE container and will debut at K 2025.
