LATAM EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
PRESENTED BY TECNOLOGÍA DEL PLÁSTICO

Economic Trends Shaping the LATAM Plastics Industry

Presented by Dr. Perc Pineda, Chief Economist, Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)

As the opening session of the Sesiones Educativas LATAM program, Dr. Perc Pineda will provide a market and economic outlook for the plastics industry in Latin America. Examining the economic, trade, policy, and industrial forces shaping the region, the session will explore the trends influencing regional competitiveness, investment, and growth across the plastics value chain. Attendees will gain valuable market intelligence and economic perspective from an industry-leading economist, providing context for the opportunities and challenges explored throughout the day's sessions, including advanced manufacturing, workforce development, circularity, supply chain competitiveness, and innovation.

This session will explore:

• Economic, trade, and policy trends shaping the plastics industry across Latin America
• How investment, workforce development, and expanding manufacturing capacity are strengthening regional competitiveness and supply chain resilience
• How emerging demand drivers, including AI infrastructure, data centers, and advanced manufacturing, are influencing materials production and investment
• Opportunities and challenges surrounding recycling, PCR supply, and the development of circular economy systems across the region

Digitalization in Plastics Manufacturing: 5 Trends to Watch

Presented by Laura Flórez, CEO, PM TEC Engineering

Across Latin America, plastics manufacturers are shifting from a product-first mindset, setting up a machine and hoping for the right output, to a data-first one, where quality targets drive how machines are configured. This session breaks down five trends driving that shift: retrofitting legacy machinery with sensors instead of buying new equipment; monitoring and correlating energy consumption across processes to understand what's driving variation; using process data to catch quality deviations in real time; applying digital twins to test changes before they hit the shop floor; and using AI for material formulation, including closing performance gaps in PCR-based materials. Drawing on lessons from a newly launched regional digital transformation initiative, attendees will leave with a practical view of where to start, even without a major capital investment.

Recyclable in Theory, Viable in Practice? EPR and Economics

Presented by Juliana Montoya, Sustainable Packaging & Recycling Consultant / Content Director, Plastics Engineering Magazine (SPE)

Recyclability promises look good on paper, but do they hold up once a package moves through a real supply chain and regulatory system? This session examines the gap between eco-design theory and its execution on the ground, increasingly shaped by extended producer responsibility (EPR), single-use plastics restrictions, and food-contact safety requirements. The talk looks at how local validation, material selection, and regulatory classification affect a package's real-world recyclability, and how a material's market value shifts based on eco-design. Drawing on case studies and an analysis of Colombia's recycling and processing system, attendees will come away understanding why a technically recyclable package won't necessarily be effectively recycled.

Scaling PCR: Lessons from a Real Post-Consumer Resin Supply Chain

Presented by Ricardo Estrada, VP Global Sustainability & Sourcing, Grupo Plastilene

Producing recycled resin that performs like virgin material is far more complex than it sounds. This session goes beyond the sustainability pitch to explore what it actually takes for a processor to scale post-consumer recycled (PCR) content in demanding applications like shrink film. Drawing on a real production case study that scaled PCR content from 10% to 30% in a high-performance package, built on a network of more than 100 post-consumer material suppliers, the session covers the operational hurdles processors face: inconsistent feedstock quality, line efficiency losses during the transition, and the technical work required to match virgin-resin performance. Attendees will also hear how market perception of PCR is evolving, and what it takes to convince buyers that recycled doesn't mean lower quality.