Mexico Turns Plastic Recovery Into a Circular Economy Push

However, the relatively small scale of the initiative underscores the size of Mexico’s wider challenge. The country generates around 5.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, yet less than 3% is recycled, according to Sistema B Mexico. Between 38% and 58% of plastic waste is estimated to be improperly managed, increasing the risk of leakage into ecosystems.

The pressure for change is also moving upstream. As Mexico participates in negotiations for the UN Global Plastics Treaty, businesses could face stronger expectations around extended producer responsibility and the full lifecycle of packaging.

Meanwhile, consumer demand appears to be ahead of market supply: 76.7% of Mexican consumers say they would pay more for sustainable packaging, while only 19.4% currently make purchasing decisions based on that factor.

The message for businesses is becoming clearer: tackling plastic pollution will require more than better recycling. Redesigning products, packaging and business models around reuse, recovery and reduced material consumption could become central to Mexico’s transition toward circular production and consumption.

National plastic-recovery drives are the entry point for formal EPR obligations across Latin America, and consumer-goods brands should be planning around this trajectory. Our circular-economy and sustainability-due-diligence teams help clients evaluate plastic-EPR exposure and align packaging strategy with emerging Latin American frameworks.