Success Stories

This initiative aims to test approaches for strengthening recovery systems for high-impact polystyrene containers across three regions in Central Mexico

April 16, 2026

Washington, D.C. – The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA), a leading North American coalition developing innovative polystyrene recycling solutions, announced a strategic collaboration with the Mexican Plastics Pact (PPMX) to create the conditions needed for collecting and recycling high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) dairy packaging throughout central Mexico.

This pioneering initiative represents a coordinated effort to establish economically viable circular systems for polystyrene materials, addressing post-consumer recovery gaps while demonstrating how HIPS, in particular, can be effectively integrated into aligned collection, processing, and end-market frameworks.

The partnership brings together leading consumer brands, including Danone, Lala, and Yakult, alongside specialized recycling networks, such as Ecolana and Grupo Mexico Recicla, to create an integrated value chain that transforms discarded dairy containers into high-quality recycled resin for new applications. Through targeted support from PSRA, the initiative will establish collection operations spanning Mexico City, the State of Mexico, Querétaro, and Puebla, channeling recovered HIPS through Resirene’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-compliant recycling processing facility.

What distinguishes this collaboration is its market-driven approach to understand and strengthen recovery systems. While HIPS is widely utilized in Mexican dairy packaging due to its adequate performance characteristics, recovery rates have been limited by fragmented infrastructure and unpredictable end-market demand. The partnership addresses these systemic challenges by promoting forward-looking commitments from participating brands, creating the economic certainty necessary for sustainable investment in collection and processing capacity.

“We want to thank the Mexican Plastics Pact for partnering with us on this important, circular initiative,” said Justin Riney, Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance. “Circularity depends on system alignment — not material substitution. When collection, processing, and market demand are coordinated, polystyrene can continue delivering value within a modern circular economy. The framework being established here offers insights that are relevant well beyond a single market.”

“Accelerating circularity requires the collaboration of all actors of the value chain to ensure that the materials complete the loop,” said Lisseth Cordero, Member of the PPMX and CEO of ECOLANA. “This partnership allows us to strengthen the system around high impact polystyrene—testing practical solutions, generating real-world insights, and demonstrating how collaboration across the value chain can advance broader circularity goals in Mexico.”

The Mexican Plastics Pact, operating as part of a global network of thirteen national initiatives focused on plastic pollution reduction, provides essential coordination among businesses, government agencies, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. This collaborative framework enables the development of comprehensive solutions that integrate technical innovation, logistical optimization, and market development to establish practical insights on improving recovery systems for currently challenging plastic packaging formats.

Over a 14-month implementation timeline, the partnership will validate collection methodologies, demonstrate processing capabilities, formalize brand agreements, and develop enhanced design guidelines to improve recyclability. The results will provide data-driven insights into recovery performance, processing economics, and value chain alignment that can inform broader regional packaging circularity strategies.

Together, PSRA and PPMX are establishing a scalable framework for strengthening high-impact polystyrene recovery systems – supporting durable, market-based circularity solutions across Latin America and informing broader North American efforts to integrate this material into sustainable packaging systems.

About the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA)
The Polystyrene Recycling Alliance (PSRA) unites the entire polystyrene (PS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) value chain to promote circularity for polystyrene products across North America. PSRA is a self-funded initiative of the PLASTICS Industry Association. Learn more at www.PSRecycling.org.

About the Mexican Plastics Pact (PPMX)
The Mexican Plastics Pact (PPMX) is part of a global network of 13 national pacts dedicated to tackling plastic pollution and accelerating the transition toward a circular economy.

The PPMX brings together businesses, government agencies, academia, and civil society to develop collaborative solutions for reducing plastic waste.

About Ecolana
Ecolana is a leading digital platform and operational partner enabling recycling in Mexico by connecting citizens, brands, and recyclers through verified collection networks. Through its nationwide infrastructure and data-driven approach, Ecolana facilitates material recovery, traceability, and consumer participation, supporting the development of scalable circular systems.”