The great recycling myth: what the plastic industry knew and hid

Sergio Schmidt Berguecio

Senior Management | Administration and Finance | Natural Resources

April 16, 2025

A recent report from the Center for Climate Integrity reveals that, for decades, major petrochemical companies have promoted plastic recycling as a viable solution, despite knowing its technical and economic limitations.

This misinformation strategy has contributed significantly to the global plastic waste crisis, diverting attention from the need to reduce the production of virgin plastics.

The report highlights that more than 90% of plastics produced between 1950 and 2015 ended up in landfills, incinerated or dispersed in the environment. Furthermore, it notes that only two types of plastics, PET and HDPE, have viable markets for recycling, but even these face significant challenges due to quality degradation during the recycling process.

Despite these facts, petrochemical companies have invested in marketing and public education campaigns to convince consumers and policymakers that recycling is an effective solution. These strategies have allowed the industry to expand production of virgin plastics, while avoiding stricter regulations.

This finding underscores the urgent need for global policies that address the production and consumption of plastics at their source, rather than relying on recycling solutions that have proven ineffective.

Source: Aura Reyna, "Petrochemical companies knew that plastic recycling did not work, but they promoted it for decades", Infobae, April 13, 2025.