Aduro Clean Technologies, ECOCE launch flexible plastic waste initiative in Mexico

MEXICO – Aduro Clean Technologies has entered a strategic collaboration with Mexican industry association ECOCE to assess the viability of Hydrochemolytic Technology (HCT) for processing post-consumer flexible and mixed plastic packaging—one of the country’s most persistent waste challenges.

Ofer Vicus, CEO of Aduro, emphasized the significance of this partnership within Mexico’s packaging value chain.

“ECOCE sits at the center of Mexico’s packaging value chain, with international members that also have a global presence, and Aduro is focused on developing HCT as a new chemical recycling route for different applications and segments of waste streams,” he said.

“By working with real Mexican waste, we aim to study and explore a clear, shared vision of where HCT can add value, how it might complement existing systems, and what that could mean for future recycling solutions for ECOCE’s members and Mexico.”

ECOCE, which administers the national private collective packaging management plan for materials such as PET, HDPE, and aluminum, operates under an extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework.

Member companies finance collection and recycling initiatives, while ECOCE coordinates nationwide education and take-back programs.

The collaboration with Aduro aims to broaden these efforts to include flexible plastics, which are notoriously difficult to recycle due to their multilayer structures and polymer combinations.

Adrián Velasco, ECOCE’s director of Flexible Plastic Packaging, noted the importance of finding new solutions tailored to local conditions.

“Our collaboration with Aduro allows us to jointly evaluate an additional chemical recycling route tailored to Mexican conditions,” he said.

“Our objective is to generate the information and partnerships needed to transform flexible and multilayer packaging from a difficult waste stream into a resource that contributes to the circular economy, benefits local communities, and strengthens the commitments of the brands that support ECOCE.”

Mexico generates an estimated 6–7 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, about 60 kg per capita, with flexible plastics accounting for roughly 1.5 million metric tons.

This fraction alone exceeds PET beverage container waste by 60%, according to Circulate Capital.

Flexible packaging’s thin structure, inks, adhesives, and mixed polymers make it incompatible with conventional mechanical recycling systems.

Aduro’s HCT platform seeks to address this gap by breaking down complex hydrocarbon structures at moderate temperatures using specialized catalysts.

The resulting liquid hydrocarbons can then be upgraded into feedstocks suitable for petrochemical processes, including steam cracking.

The company reports that independent pilot-scale tests show Hydrochemolytic Oil performs comparably to fossil-based inputs for producing new plastics.

The partners will now explore business models, value pathways for member companies, and opportunities for waste collectors and downstream offtake partners.

In recent months, Mexico has intensified its focus on circularity. PetStar, one of the world’s largest food-grade PET recycling plants, announced expansions to boost bottle-to-bottle processing capacity.

Meanwhile, Alpla and Coca-Cola FEMSA have jointly invested in strengthening local collection systems for PET and HDPE.

These developments signal growing industry momentum toward integrated recycling ecosystems, with chemical recycling solutions like HCT poised to complement mechanical systems as demand for higher recovery rates increases.

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