Disparate Forces Shape PCR Packaging BY SMITHERS MARKET INTELLIGENCE
FTA Forum Reports Record Turnout
The Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association’s (FTA) 2026 FORUM INFOFLEX, held at Milwaukee’s Baird Center, April 25–29, saw printer participation reach a six-year high. Roughly 1,100 flexo professionals joined the FTA for the event, including 310 attend- ees representing printer and converter com- panies across 27 U.S. states and six countries and nearly 140 exhibitors showcasing the lat- est equipment, technologies, and solutions shaping the future of flexographic printing.
Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastics are materials that have been collected after consumer use, sorted, processed and reintroduced as a raw material for new packaging. Using PCR reduces the need to man- ufacture virgin polymer, cuts reliance on petrochemical feedstocks and diverts plastic from landfill and incineration.
According to OECD data, global plastic waste more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, yet only 9 percent of that waste was actually recycled. PCR packaging is one of the most scalable responses the industry has to that problem. However, market growth has underperformed earlier forecasts in the near term: year-on-year growth slowed to an estimated 3.4 per- cent in 2025 and 2.9 percent in 2026, driven by poor economics for recyclates that triggered closures of recycling plants and materials re- covery facilities (MRFs) across Europe and the United States between 2023 and 2026. A return to stronger growth is expected from 2028 onwards, as leg- islation such as the PPWR comes into full enforcement and eco-mod- ulation of EPR fees begins to reward producers that have successfully incorporated PCR into their packaging. The central tension in the PCR market is a pricing one. Recycled polymer currently costs more to produce than its virgin equivalent, partly because collection and processing infrastructure has not kept
The show saw a 20 percent growth in printer/ converter participation. Optimizing Workflow 2026 FORUM INFOFLEX delivered a pro- gram focused on workflow optimization, da- ta-driven decision-making, hybrid and digital printing integration, artificial intelligence, sus- tainability, and workforce development. Educational sessions reflected the evolving needs of flexographic businesses, addressing both technical challenges and broader opera- tional and leadership considerations. From creative presentations like “Plates in the Afterlife,” to discussions on quantifying plate screening, and fresh perspectives from global brands on improving packaging speed
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