Businesscoot archives
Listen to or watch the original content Sébastien heads Reborn, formerly Excelrise, a manufacturer specializing in flexible plastic packaging and…
Archived publication. This text reflects the information available when it was written; figures and offers may have changed. Last update of the original page: .
Listen to or watch the original content
Sébastien heads Reborn, formerly Excelrise, a manufacturer specializing in flexible plastic packaging and plastic recycling.
According to Sébastien, until a few years ago, the plastic packaging sector was a sector enjoying continuous growth, driven by growth in its various markets. Environmental awareness, sparked by films, programmes and documentaries and originating among consumers, led four years ago to a reversal of this trend. Sébastien moved into this recycling segment because it lagged so far behind other materials such as metal and glass.
Many players are entering this field with the aim of helping to make the plastics economy circular. Work within this economy is becoming collaborative, an essential transformation for keeping up with innovations and creating solutions. Regulation is also a very strong constraint in this field, as it is constantly evolving, with changes every month.
The plastic packaging market is worth 500 billion dollars, compared with 30 billion for recycled plastic, but the most optimistic estimates predict that recycled plastic will overtake plastic within around thirty years. This is a fast-growing market, although Sébastien believes this growth will be captured by environmentally responsible packaging such as bioplastics, cardboard, etc. Brands nevertheless still prefer recycled plastic for its carbon impact. Sébastien also anticipates a change in distribution methods that will affect plastic packaging, as it will become reusable, meaning washable.
The market consists of large groups that develop and adapt their production methods, as well as many small players such as start-ups, which develop new types of packaging made from bamboo or wax, for example. At the same time, we are seeing a blurring of boundaries and the integration of petrochemical groups and waste management companies into the downstream production process.