31 Mar 2026 // Simpler Recycling Begins, Energy Price Surges, and Manufacturing Strategy

In today’s brief:♻️ Simpler Recycling: New nationwide rules come into effect today for households in England, mandating consistent collection of plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays to end the postcode lottery and boost domestic circularity.🛢️ Energy Volatility: Brent crude climbs above $115 a barrel as Middle East tensions enter a fifth week, sparking concerns over rising operational costs and supply chain inflation for UK processors.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Welsh Manufacturing: Industry leaders call on the next Senedd government to "back the makers," highlighting the sector's £12 billion contribution and the urgent need for planning reform and skills investment.🛠️ Tooling & Production: RP Technologies expands its moulding capacity up to 600 tonnes to support projects from prototype to full-scale production, while Tekniplaz highlights the benefits of a hybrid procurement model for tool sourcing.For the full stories, visit plastikmedia.co.uk.