Conference room:
Plenary
9:00– 9:45 a.m.
Progress of the circular economy of plastics in Latin American countries: market and regulations
The transition to circularity in plastics in Latin America is marked by regulatory changes, market dynamics, and a growing demand for recycled materials. In this context, understanding the evolution of these factors is key to strategic decision-making throughout the value chain.
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This conference will present the main advances in circularity regulations in the region, with an emphasis on Mexico and Brazil, as well as an updated analysis of the price dynamics and demand for recycled materials, including bales and pellets. Drawing on the experience and continuous market monitoring of the MaxiQuim Group, trends and perspectives toward 2026 will be shared, offering a comprehensive view of the factors shaping the development of plastics recycling in Latin America.
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TAUGHT BY:
Taís Marcon
Director of Chemicals and Specialties
MaxiQuim Chemical Business & Intelligence (Brazil)
As director of MaxiQuim Chemical Business & Intelligence, Taís Marcon coordinates and executes market intelligence projects throughout the entire chemical industry chain in Latin America.
These projects support clients in their strategic decisions by providing current scenarios and comprehensive market analyses, resulting in more assertive and knowledge-based decisions. Aspects such as supply and demand, pricing, logistics, market share, competition, and regulation are some of the topics addressed in each project. In the area of ​​the circular economy, Taís has developed the Mexico chapter of the monthly publication MMR Recycled Resins LATAM by MXQ Insight—a MaxiQuim Group company—focusing on the Latin American recycled resins market and pricing trends.
9:45 – 10:30 a.m.
What comes with the new Circular Economy Law
This conversation will address the key implications of the new circular economy legislation and its impact on industry, public policy, and waste management in Mexico. From various perspectives, it will analyze the changes it introduces to production and consumption models, as well as the new responsibilities for actors across the value chain.
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The panel will provide a forum to understand the main implementation challenges, identify opportunities, and anticipate the adjustments that will shape the sector in the coming years. More than just a trend, the circular economy is emerging as a strategic pillar in the transformation of the country's production system.
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TAUGHT BY:
Mayra Hernández
Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs, ECOCE
She is a lawyer, a graduate of Anáhuac University, with extensive experience in top-level multinational companies, as well as in public organizations, in matters related to communication, legal affairs, government and public relations.
She was PR, Marketing and Communications Manager at Stericycle between 2017 and 2018.
She also served as a consultant on Administrative Responsibilities at the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City between 2016 and 2017. She worked as a Government Relations Attorney at The Pepsi Bottling Group between 2007 and 2012. Since 2018, she has served as Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at ECOCE AC.
Dr. Germán Ruíz Méndez
Director General of Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance, SEMARNAT
Dr. Germán Ruiz Méndez holds a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master's degree in Government and Public Affairs, and a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Public Administration. He has a solid track record in public policy formulation, especially at the municipal and federal levels, having collaborated with institutions such as the National Institute for Federalism and Municipal Development, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT).
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He was awarded 3rd place in the 2017 INAP Prize for his doctoral research on local development models, and has been a speaker and lecturer both in Mexico and abroad. He also actively participates in academic networks such as IGLOM, INAP, SOMECE, and REMINEO.
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His current work focuses on the implementation of the National Waste Policy and the Circular Economy, leading the General Directorate for Sustainable Urban Environmental Development and Performance at SEMARNAT (the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources). Under his leadership, key integrated waste management programs have been promoted, positioning him as a key voice in the transition to more sustainable systems in Mexico.
12:40 - 1:40 p.m.
Is your packaging recyclable? Design guidelines as a key tool for regulatory compliance
As countries in North America, Latin America, and other regions move forward with implementing new recycling and sustainability regulations, brand-owning companies face a growing challenge: designing packaging that meets different requirements in multiple markets.
This session will address how the APR Design Guidelines have become an essential tool for assessing the recyclability of packaging and facilitating compliance with regulations such as California's SB 343 and SB 54 laws, as well as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes on a global scale.
With over three decades of development, this guide enables brands to ensure their packaging is compatible with existing recycling systems. In this panel, representatives from leading companies such as Colgate, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Avery Dennison will share how they use this tool to align regulatory compliance, technical performance, and consumer expectations.
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MODERATOR:
María Natalia Ortega Leyva
Editorial Director
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MODERATOR:
Tehicú Valenzuela Marín
LATAM Sustainability Innovation, Colgate-Palmolive
A professional in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Americas Puebla, he has a Master's degree in Business Administration and a specialization in energy efficiency and renewable energies from the University of Wismar, Germany.
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With over 20 years of experience at Colgate-Palmolive in Mexico and Germany, she has held positions in manufacturing, plant engineering, logistics, and product innovation. For the past 17 years, she has led sustainability initiatives at the company and is currently responsible for Innovation and Sustainable Packaging for Latin America.
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She actively participates as a speaker on topics of eco-innovation, life cycle analysis, circular economy and sustainability, collaborating with companies, universities and organizations to promote responsible production and consumption models.
Karla Maciel Moguel
Business Development Manager, Avery Dennison
With over ten years of experience forging strategic alliances to define efficient and functional packaging specifications, Karla Maciel, an Industrial Engineer specializing in Management and Technological Innovation at Avery Dennison, has integrated sustainability as a fundamental pillar of her approach. Her experience has led her to explore the synergy between essential label performance and the potential of integrated packaging technology to connect the physical world with digital experiences, improving traceability, security, and consumer engagement, while simultaneously advancing toward more circular and environmentally responsible packaging.
Teo Medellín
Director Corporate Packaging Sustainability, Procter & Gamble
Teo Medellin has developed packaging for P&G brands for over 30 years, including Head & Shoulders, Pantene, Olay, Secret, Old Spice, Crest, Oral-B, Bounty and Charmin.
She is currently responsible for P&G's global packaging sustainability and circularity program, and collaborates daily with business teams across all brands and regions to achieve the company's voluntary goals, as well as compliance with extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs, and is one of the leaders of industry efforts in the United States to recycle flexible packaging at scale.
Gabriela Burgos
Senior Manager of Research and Development in Sustainability, PepsiCo Global Foods
The Dr. Gabriela Burgos is a chemical engineer with a doctorate from the University of Notre Dame and Fulbright Fellow. He has more than 24 years of international experience in the packaging, plastics, paper and coatings industries, with a history in DuPont, Bemis, Amcor and PepsiCo.
​In his current role, he leads the development of sustainable packaging solutions for North America and Latin America, with a focus on recyclability and compostability. Actively participates in industrial coalitions such as the US Plastic Pact, the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and PCPA — Polycoated Paper Alliance. She was recently selected as a member of the Post-Consumer Recycling Market Development Committee at APR.
Conference room:
Recycling
11:00 – 11:30 p.m.
Recycling under pressure: engineering solutions for highly contaminated polymer streams
This presentation examines how the design of melt and pellet filtration systems influences the quality and efficiency of plastics recycling. Using real-world recycling applications, it demonstrates how a stable melt flow, effective contaminant removal, and controlled pelleting contribute to maintaining consistent recycled material quality.
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Key topics include the BKG® HiCon™ K SWE HD/RS recycling filter for blown film recycling, filtration concepts jointly developed by Nordson and FIMIC for handling contaminated polyolefin streams, and the BKG® HiCon™ V Type 3G melt filter with FlexDisc™ technology. The session will conclude with the BKG® CrystallCut® pelletizing process, using PET/rPET as an example. Attendees will gain practical knowledge for improving process stability, operational efficiency, and material quality in modern plastics recycling lines.
TAUGHT BY:
Pedro Montoya
Director de cuentas para América Latina - Nordson
Pedro has more than seven years of experience at Nordson Polymer Processing Systems, where he leads the business activity for Latin America. In its role, it works closely with customers in the region to address technical challenges in different areas of polymer processing, especially in applications related to recycling and process efficiency. It is committed to driving solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future for the plastics industry.
11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Post-consumer recycling of PET and polyolefins:
New super-cleaning and odor control technologies
Alejandro Andrade
Founder and Head of Business Strategy at Innovateck
Founder and Head of Commercial Strategy at Innovateck, a Mexican company that has been offering consulting, technical support and solutions for plastic transformation and recycling for 23 years.
A chemical engineer specializing in polymers, he has developed his career in the evaluation and implementation of technologies, with training in recycling and extrusion in Europe. He has been a representative for Starlinger for 25 years. At Innovateck, he promotes a solutions-oriented, consultative approach, supporting industry in adopting manufacturing process improvements, valorization, and the implementation of recycled materials.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Closing the loop: high-performance recycling and smart water management
Recycling plants are increasingly facing mixed and variable material streams. To meet this challenge, Krones has developed solutions capable of maintaining reliable performance regardless of the composition of the incoming stream.
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Within this portfolio, the MetaPure Compact washing line represents a key advancement. It is designed to efficiently process PET bottles and trays, as well as HDPE, PP, and PS, demonstrating particularly strong performance with PET and polypropylene trays. Its gentle, low-friction washing process protects the material, reduces fines generation, and minimizes material loss.
During the presentation, two new pieces of equipment will also be introduced that expand the capabilities of the line, as well as an intelligent water management system that continuously regulates the flow, pollution levels and reuse cycles.
The result: lower resource consumption, greater process stability, and more consistent output quality.
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TAUGHT BY:
Nader Khalid
Sales Director for the Americas at Krones Recycling
Korbinian Reiner is Head of Sales Americas at Krones Recycling, where he has led commercial operations in the region for the past three years, providing support to customers in North America, South America, and Latin America. He has a strong background in the machinery manufacturing and recycling technology industries, having held roles in both sales and project management.
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He is an industrial engineer (2014) and holds a master's degree in Systems Engineering (2015), training that he complements with extensive practical experience in the development and implementation of advanced solutions for recycling.
Conference room:
Trending Topics
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
A look at chemical recycling
Chemical recycling is positioned as one of the emerging routes to expand the circularity of plastics, but it still raises key questions in the industry.
This presentation will offer a clear and objective view of what chemical recycling is, its current level of technological development and its relationship with mechanical recycling, analyzing whether both models compete or complement each other.
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Furthermore, the main opportunities and challenges of this technology will be explored, as well as its current state of implementation globally, including examples of operating plants and their applications. Finally, its relevance for Latin America will be addressed, in a context of increasing regulatory pressure and demand for sustainable solutions. All of this will be presented from an open, brand- and technology-neutral perspective, aimed at facilitating informed decision-making within the industry.
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TAUGHT BY:
Thomas Blocher
Manager of the chemical recycling business unit
at BUSS ChemTech
Thomas Blocher is the Chemical Recycling Business Manager at BUSS ChemTech (BCT) and has over 35 years of experience in the field of chemical process technology. Throughout his career, he has held technical, commercial, and corporate leadership roles both in the United States and internationally.
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Since joining BCT in 2013, she has led key initiatives, including the 2024 launch of a new technology platform focused on the chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. Her work centers on bringing these innovative solutions to market and promoting the acceptance of chemical recycling as a fundamental component in addressing the global challenge of plastic waste.
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A chemical engineer from Clarkson University, he actively participates as a lecturer, panelist and communicator in the industry on a global scale.
11:30 – 12:00 p.m.
Infrared technology in rPET processing
The transformation of post-consumer PET flakes into food-grade material involves a sequence of carefully controlled thermal and decontamination processes. This presentation examines the role of infrared technology in integrating drying, crystallization, and conditioning of the material within recycling lines.
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Technical considerations will be presented to optimize process efficiency, improve rPET quality, and ensure production consistency. Solutions applied to polyolefin recycling will also be explored, particularly odor mitigation, as a key factor in expanding its high-value applications.
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TAUGHT BY:
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Vincent Hubert
Technical Sales Engineer, Kreyenborg
Vincent Hubert is a mechanical engineer. He joined Kreyenborg in 2018 in the area of engineering and design, where he developed knowledge in infrared technology applied to plastics recycling. It has spent four years in the area of international sales for plastics, with experience in the recycling markets of Europe and Latin America.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.
Advanced sorting: keys to producing high-quality rPET
Producing rPET with properties close to those of virgin material remains one of the main challenges in recycling, due to contamination, degradation, and the variability of post-consumer waste. In this context, the flake sorting stage plays a crucial role in the final quality of the material.
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This presentation analyzes the impact of advanced separation technologies, such as laser spectroscopy and artificial intelligence-based systems, on contaminant removal and improved consistency of rPET. Critical parameters such as intrinsic viscosity (IV), colorimetry, and impurity levels will be evaluated, demonstrating how optimized classification enables high-value applications, including food-grade packaging.
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TAUGHT BY:
Dennis Lautenschläger
Technical Sales Specialist, Unisensor
Dennis Lautenschläger is a technical sales specialist at Unisensor, where he has spent over 20 years, gaining experience in various departments. In recent years, he has focused on technical sales, developing a comprehensive understanding of sorting solutions for recycling.
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It acts as a liaison between clients, development, and service, ensuring that operational requirements translate into viable and efficient solutions, especially in PET sorting applications. Its focus is on implementing reliable technologies that generate tangible value in its clients' daily operations.
A MARKET IN TRANSFORMATION
Plastics recycling in Latin America is evolving under regulatory pressures, mandatory recycled content targets, technological innovation, and increased sustainability demands from global brands. Plastics Recycling LATAM offers a comprehensive analysis to anticipate these changes and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
