1) Flexible packaging (film) got a clearer “how we actually scale this” roadmap

Two major reports (U.S. Plastics Pact + Alliance to End Plastic Waste) focused on what’s needed to improve recycling outcomes for film/flexibles—a long-time weak point in circular materials systems.

2) “Recycled content” claims are moving toward tighter verification

U.S. legislators introduced the Recycled Materials Attribution Act, aiming to clarify/standardize how recycled content claims are attributed (and to reduce greenwashing risk).

3) PET packaging got “design-for-recycling” upgrades before problems lock in

APR and industry partners published proactive guidance for PET caps—the kind of upstream design coordination that prevents downstream contamination and yield losses.

4) Collection access expanded for hard-to-recycle plastics (real-world system change)

In Canada, Recycle BC debuted curbside collection for flexible plastics (and non-deposit glass) in Vancouver, with expansion plans to other districts. This is a concrete upgrade in collection infrastructure.

5) Textile circularity accelerated: “don’t destroy unsold goods” becomes enforceable policy

The European Commission adopted implementing rules under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) to ban destruction of unsold apparel/footwear for large companies starting July 19, 2026, plus standardized reporting. This shifts textiles from “waste by default” toward reuse/resale/recycling systems.

6) Chemical/textile recycling capacity planning advanced

Resource Recycling industry announcements noted Reju (Technip Energies) selecting sites for industrial-scale polyester depolymerization plants (including Rochester, NY).

7) Circularity measurement is tightening (less marketing, more comparability)

A Feb 13 analysis highlighted the push for clearer definitions and standards to measure circular performance, which is key for procurement, reporting, and finance.

Impacts (why this matters)

• Higher-quality recycled feedstock (and fewer failures at the plant): PET cap guidance + more consistent claims standards can reduce contamination, improve yields, and make “recycled content” procurement less risky.
• More material captured at the curb (less landfill/incineration): expanding flexible plastics collection addresses one of the biggest leakage points in consumer packaging.
• Textiles shift from linear clearance → circular recovery: the EU’s unsold-goods rules force brands to build resale, donation, repair, remanufacture, and fiber-to-fiber pathways instead of destruction.
• Markets start rewarding “proof,” not promises: better circularity measurement and recycled-content attribution makes it easier to compare suppliers and harder to launder claims.

What’s next (next 7–14 days)

• Policy + compliance implementation work ramps up: expect more state/provincial packaging EPR process steps (hearings, guidance, prr reporting expectations) and more brand-side compliance planning.
• Film/flexibles pilots → scaling pressure: the big question is whether pilots move into stable end-markets (contracts, bale specs, offtake) rather than “collection without demand.”
• Textiles: inventory strategy rewrites: brands will accelerate systems for returns reduction, resale channels, and verified downstream handling ahead of July 19, 2026.

What people can do where they are now (practical, local)

If you’re a household / community organizer

• Stop “wish-cycling.” Use your city’s accepted-items list and focus on clean, dry, correctly sorted materials—contamination is a top yield-killer.
• Organize a “flexibles reality check.” If your area doesn’t accept film, push for (1) store drop-off access + (2) proof of end-market, so collection isn’t just optics. (Vancouver’s curbside flexibles rollout is the model to cite.)
• Launch a repair + reuse week (schools, libraries, maker spaces): textiles + electronics are huge waste streams; extending life is often the fastest circularity win. (Momentum is rising in repair policy and practice.)

If you run a business (brand, retailer, venue, local manufacturer)

• Audit your packaging “recycled” claims and ensure you can document attribution and chain-of-custody—standards are tightening.
• Design-for-recycling check: for PET packaging, align caps/labels/components with APR-style guidance to protect recyclability and value.
• Textiles: build a no-destruction pathway now—resale partners, donation standards, repair/refurb workflows, and (where available) fiber recycling pilots—because the policy direction is clear.

If you’re a policymaker / city staff

• Prioritize end-markets, not just collection. Any flexibles expansion should include minimum performance standards (capture, contamination, verified processing).
• Require measurement that can be compared. Circularity metrics need standard definitions so procurement and reporting can drive real outcomes, not storytelling.