Packager PCR Goals: Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Companies Mentioned: Berry Global, Cedo, Coca-Cola, Republic Services, Blue Polymers, PureCycle, Waste Management, Dow Chemical, Nova, Borealis, Mura Technology, Shell, BASF, TotalEnergies, RWE, ExxonMobil, Energy Transfer, Chevron, GE Vernova, AEP, Transource, ABB, Charbone, Adani, Sungrow Hydrogen, Res Integra, Meta, BP, Elliott Management, Follow This
Commodities Mentioned: Resin, Plastic Waste, Bioplastics, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Naphtha, Natural Gas, Coal, Renewable Power, Hydrogen, Ammonia, Methanol, Aluminum

1st Topic of the Week: Recycled plastic content targets for many packaging companies look increasingly out of reach as resin recyclers face rising challenges and downstream consumers battle trade risks and weak demand.
2nd Topic of the Week: RWE raises its return hurdles and slows growth plans as policy uncertainty and rising costs cloud its investment landscape, which we use to discuss the broad slowdown in Western green ambitions.
Otherwise – We discuss why grid expansion delays in the US are a plus for natural gas-based power generation relative to renewables, using green hydrogen to decarbonize select chemical processes, and RGGI auction results.

Exhibit 1: Berry Global touts circular resin gains in its 2024 sustainability report — the pride before the fall?