The escalation of tensions in the Middle East has put pressure on the global oil market and had direct effects on the plastics industry. With the rise in the price of a barrel, which went from around US$60 to levels close to US$100, the cost of virgin resin increased and opened up space for recycled materials to gain competitiveness.
With the appreciation of the commodity, agribusiness companies began to look for alternatives that were less dependent on fossil inputs. In this scenario, recycled resin is no longer just an environmental choice and also has an advantage from an economic point of view.
The specialist in solid waste management, through its recycling unit, observes a change in market behavior. According to Thuany Taves, director of Ambiental, the international scenario has accelerated this transition.
“The increase in oil prices directly impacts the economy. As a result, recycled resin becomes more competitive and more attractive to the industry, not only from an environmental aspect, but also from an economic perspective”, he states.
The change reduces historical barriers to the adoption of recycled material. Companies that previously resisted due to technical issues or price differences are beginning to review their strategies in light of the new cost scenario.
“There is a clear movement towards greater market opening. Many companies that still had doubts or did not see economic viability are now considering recycled materials as a real alternative within their production processes”, says Taves.
In addition to the impact on prices, it also brings uncertainty about the supply of virgin raw materials. The dependence on global chains and commodities subject to volatility reinforces the search for more predictable solutions.
“Recycled resin has an important advantage in this context, because it is based on a local chain. We are talking about raw material that is already available on the domestic market, which reduces exposure to external fluctuations and increases security of supply”, he explains.
Another factor that contributes to the advancement of recycled material is the diversification of demand. Sectors such as civil construction, the food industry and consumer goods are expanding the use of this type of resin, strengthening the scale of production and competitiveness.
For the director, the current moment represents a turning point in the sector. “The combination of cost pressure with the sustainability agenda creates a unique opportunity. Recycled materials no longer depend solely on incentives and start to compete more evenly with virgin resin”, he states.
The tendency is for this movement to continue as long as international tensions and oil volatility persist.
