Mexico’s plastics association and IPN use the “Plastics in Your Life” fair to introduce students to recycling, material processing and circular-economy opportunities.
The National Association of Plastics Industries (ANIPAC) and Mexico’s National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) have strengthened their collaboration to introduce engineering students to the plastics industry’s technologies, applications and growing circular-economy opportunities. The initiative reflects the industry’s need for technically skilled professionals capable of supporting future advances in plastics processing, recovery and recycling.
The partnership was highlighted through the 11th edition of the “Plastics in Your Life” fair, organised by ANIPAC and IPN’s Interdisciplinary Professional Unit for Biotechnology (UPIBI). The event was held as part of the ninth edition of UPIBI’s Environmental Forum and was designed to give students a practical understanding of plastics and their end-of-life management.
Students were introduced to areas including waste separation, recycling additives and plastics processing. Practical activities were used to demonstrate how plastic materials move through different stages, from waste collection and sorting to processing and conversion into new products.
The programme is particularly relevant as the plastics industry increasingly incorporates circular-economy principles into product design, consumption, recovery and material reuse. Developing professionals with knowledge of recycling and polymer-processing technologies is becoming increasingly important as manufacturers seek to improve resource efficiency and material recovery.
Industry participation was also a major component of the event. Companies including BYK Additives, Contenedores y Rotomoldeo Wintech, PolyRafia, Inboplast and Plan Bolsa contributed to the fair, giving students exposure to different areas of the plastics value chain and real-world industrial applications.
ANIPAC President Benjamín del Arco emphasised the importance of stronger links between industry and universities. According to ANIPAC, these interactions allow students to exchange ideas, understand industry requirements and explore how their technical disciplines can contribute to more responsible use of plastic materials.
The collaboration also envisions an outreach model in which plastics companies can share their production processes and technical requirements directly with students who will eventually enter the workforce. This creates a connection between industrial needs and engineering education while helping develop talent for plastics processing and recycling.
For Mexico’s plastics and polymer industry, the initiative highlights the importance of talent development alongside investment in recycling and processing infrastructure. Engineers with practical knowledge of materials, additives, processing and circular systems can help companies improve production efficiency and develop better pathways for reuse and recycling.
The ANIPAC-IPN partnership therefore represents a long-term investment in the next generation of plastics professionals, combining industrial knowledge with academic training to support a more technologically capable and circular plastics industry.