SUNSHINE RecycleFlash Weekly: October 5-9, 2026

October 09, 2026

Gold Set to End Week Little Changed

Gold steadied near $4,150 an ounce on Friday and was on track to finish the week little changed, as investors assessed developments in the Middle East and the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy. Oil prices eased after President Donald Trump said the US was engaged in “productive discussions” with Iran and would refrain from attacking the country before the midterm elections. His comments came even as Iran intensified attacks on tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz this week. A hurricane also disrupted US offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, markets are currently pricing in an approximately 82% probability that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged this month, while the odds of a rate hike in December stand at around 81%. On Thursday, St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem indicated that rates may need to rise over the next six to nine months to bring inflation back toward the central bank’s 2% target. (Source: Trading Economics)

Silver Rises as Oil Prices and Bond Yields Retreat

Silver rose above $60 an ounce on Friday, rebounding from two-month lows as falling oil prices and bond yields eased pressure on non-yielding metals. Oil prices declined after President Donald Trump said the US was engaged in “productive discussions” with Iran and would refrain from attacking the country before the midterm elections. His remarks came even as Iran intensified attacks on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz this week, while a hurricane disrupted offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Meanwhile, US Treasury yields retreated from 24-year highs following strong demand at a 30-year bond auction, indicating that investors remained willing to buy long-dated government debt despite the recent selloff. On the monetary policy front, markets are pricing in roughly an 82% chance that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged this month, while the probability of a rate hike in December stands at around 81%. (Source: Trading Economics)

Copper Rises Amid Supply Disruptions

Copper futures climbed toward $6.60 per pound on Thursday, recovering from the previous session’s losses as supply disruptions in top producer Chile lent support to prices. Two unions at Antofagasta’s Centinela project launched industrial action on Wednesday, warning that the strike could begin affecting production within about two weeks, although the company maintained its output guidance. Chile also recently reported that copper production fell in August to its lowest level since February 2011. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has yet to decide whether to impose potential tariffs on refined copper. Earlier threats of US duties prompted traders to redirect shipments to American warehouses, contributing to the recent rally in prices. On the demand side, copper activity in top consumer China remains subdued following a weeklong national holiday, potentially creating room for restocking in the coming weeks. (Source: Trading Economics)

Yamaha Motor to Adopt Recycled Aluminum for DiASil Cylinders

Yamaha Motor will progressively replace virgin aluminum with recycled aluminum alloy in its proprietary all-aluminum DiASil Cylinders, with the transition across all applicable products targeted for 2030. The company estimates the switch could cut CO₂ emissions by about 47,000 metric tons annually. The DiASil Cylinder, introduced in 2002, uses an all-aluminum design without an iron sleeve or plating. It offers wear and seizure resistance, heat dissipation, weight reduction and improved recyclability. Yamaha developed a recycled alloy with properties comparable to virgin aluminum after material design, bench testing and vehicle evaluations. The alloy meets the performance requirements for the cylinder and can be processed using existing manufacturing methods. The transition will begin with commuter models produced in Indonesia, followed by a planned global rollout. Yamaha aims to use sustainable alternatives for 100% of aluminum raw materials at its major production bases by 2030 as part of its goal to achieve supply-chain carbon neutrality by 2050. (Source: Yamaha Motor)

Nth Cycle, Glencore Sign Term Sheet for $1 Billion Critical Minerals Partnership

Nth Cycle has signed a binding term sheet with Glencore for a strategic partnership projected to generate more than $1 billion in offtake value over 10 years, based on second-quarter 2026 price forecasts. The agreement covers Nth Cycle’s planned Project SHIELD battery materials refinery. Glencore would supply 100% of the facility’s black mass feedstock through its commercial network and U.S. shredding operations, and purchase its mixed hydroxide product (MHP) and battery-grade lithium carbonate. The companies will also assess an existing Glencore site in the United States to accelerate development. The partnership includes exploring deployment of Nth Cycle’s OYSTER refining technology in Europe and opportunities for rare earth and copper recovery globally. Nth Cycle said existing binding term sheets now cover all projected feedstock and offtake needs for Project SHIELD. The companies aim to finalize definitive agreements by the end of 2026. (Source: Nth Cycle)

MacroCycle, Meta Sign Agreement to Support U.S. Recycled PET Production

MacroCycle Technologies has signed a multi-year agreement for Meta to purchase environmental attribute certificates (EACs) tied to recycled PET production at MacroCycle’s first commercial plant in the southeastern United States. The planned facility is expected to produce 5,000 metric tons of recycled PET annually. It will use MacroCycle’s SolvoGenesis™ solvent-based process, which dissolves and purifies PET while preserving its polymer chain, allowing the company to process mixed and contaminated plastic waste that can be difficult to recycle mechanically. Meta’s EAC purchases are intended to address emissions associated with plastics in its supply chain and provide long-term demand to support plant financing. MacroCycle said the project would also create U.S. jobs and divert PET and polyester waste from landfills and incinerators. The companies said the agreement supports domestic recycled PET production as the United States continues to rely on imports for both virgin and recycled material. (Source: MacroCycle Technologies)

Greif to Exit Coated Recycled Paperboard Business, Close Georgia Mill

Greif will exit the coated recycled paperboard (CRB) market and close its Sweetwater paperboard mill in Austell, Georgia, by the end of 2026, the company announced. The closure will eliminate approximately 120,000 tons of annual production capacity and affect about 90 employees. Sweetwater produces CRB, uncoated recycled paperboard (URB), and gypsum facing and backing paper. Greif said the mill’s operating configuration, limited integration within its network and cost position have prevented it from achieving a sustainable competitive position. Greif will work with affected URB customers to transition supply to its broader North American URB mill network. The company said the closure will allow it to focus investment on URB assets positioned to support customer demand and profitable growth. Greif CEO Ole Rosgaard said the company recognized the impact on employees, their families and the surrounding community, and will provide severance benefits and career transition support. (Source: GlobeNewswire)

LG Chem, Volkswagen Group Explore Sustainable Automotive Materials

LG Chem and Volkswagen Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore next-generation materials for future vehicles, including lightweight plastics, composites and recycled materials. The companies plan to assess joint development of materials using LG Chem’s acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and engineering plastics (EP), with a focus on reducing vehicle weight and improving performance. They will also examine broader use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials and cost-efficient solutions in interior and exterior components across Volkswagen Group brands. The collaboration will include feasibility studies for specific applications and exchanges on technology trends and global market developments. LG Chem said it has an annual ABS production capacity of 2.35 million metric tons and has continued to expand its PCR materials portfolio for automotive applications. The agreement was signed in Seoul on September 28, 2026, as both companies explore material solutions for future mobility. (Source: LG Chem)

ACE Laboratories, Abdallah Consulting Launch Recovered Carbon Black Certification

ACE Laboratories and Abdallah Consulting have launched Vericarb℠, an independent certification program designed to verify that recovered carbon black (rCB) meets defined material criteria. Produced by pyrolyzing end-of-life tires, rCB is used as an alternative to virgin carbon black in rubber and polymer applications. The companies said the market has lacked consistent standards and independent performance data to help buyers assess material quality. Vericarb certification combines independent material characterization with rubber performance testing, providing data that producers can use in product development and customer approval processes. For compounders and manufacturers, the program is intended to support supplier evaluation, material qualification and quality assurance planning. ACE Laboratories CEO Erick Sharp said uncertainty over quality and consistency has constrained market growth. Abdallah Consulting founder Dave Abdallah said the program presents verified rCB performance in application-relevant terms, alongside third-party analysis and reporting. (Source: Tire Technology International)

Six FMCG Giants Launch Consortium to Develop Paper-Based Flexible Packaging

Nestlé, PepsiCo and four other major consumer goods companies have joined the PaperFlex Consortium to accelerate development of paper-based alternatives to flexible plastic packaging. Convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and operated by (RE)SET, the consortium also includes Colgate-Palmolive, Mars, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. The initiative will focus on markets where flexible plastics are widely used but collection and recycling infrastructure is limited. Members aim to develop solutions that can be recycled as collection systems improve and biodegrade if they enter the environment unintentionally. Research will explore biodegradable coatings and other materials designed to provide product protection, shelf life and production-line performance. The consortium said current paper-based alternatives still face challenges in performance, scalability and cost. The initiative comes as FMCG companies seek to reduce reliance on flexible plastics, which remain widely used in confectionery, snacks and personal-care packaging. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

Hydro, CHANEL Partner to Develop Lower-Carbon Aluminum for Beauty Packaging

Hydro and CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty have signed a strategic partnership to develop lower-carbon aluminum for fragrance, makeup and skincare packaging under a joint roadmap running from 2026 to 2030. The companies aim to develop packaging materials with a carbon footprint approaching 3.0 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kg of aluminum by 2030 while maintaining required quality, performance and design standards. The work will initially use Hydro REDUXA primary aluminum sheet ingot produced in Norway with renewable energy, with a certified footprint of no more than 4.0 kg CO₂e/kg. The partners will also explore batch-specific aluminum production, enhanced material traceability and greater use of recycled aluminum recovered from end-of-life products. Hydro said the collaboration is intended to further reduce the material’s carbon footprint while supporting circularity in beauty packaging. The partnership reflects growing efforts across the cosmetics sector to develop lower-carbon and more traceable aluminum supply chains. (Source: Hydro)

U.S. Senator Introduces Bill to Standardize Recycled-Content Claims

U.S. Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) has introduced the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (S. 5674), legislation intended to establish national standards for recycled-content marketing claims. The bill is a Senate companion to House legislation H.R. 7502, led by Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.). The proposal would direct the Federal Trade Commission to update its Green Guides on environmental marketing claims and recognize third-party-certified mass balance accounting as a method for tracking recycled materials through manufacturing, including advanced recycling processes. America’s Plastic Makers, a plastics industry group, welcomed the bill, saying clearer rules could strengthen consumer confidence and encourage investment in recycling infrastructure. The group cited a survey in which 93% of respondents considered producing new plastic through advanced recycling to be recycling, while 79% viewed mass balance as appropriate for recycled-content labeling. The legislation has bipartisan support in the House and backing from several industry organizations. Its passage through Congress remains pending. (Source: American Chemistry Council)

Aluminum Association Launches Campaign to Boost U.S. Production and Recycling

The Aluminum Association has launched “America Needs Aluminum,” a public awareness and advocacy campaign urging policies to expand U.S. aluminum production, recycling and manufacturing. The initiative builds on the association’s strategy to increase both primary and recycled aluminum supply, improve energy availability and address unfair trade. The campaign calls for reliable, competitively priced energy, greater domestic recovery of aluminum scrap, continued manufacturing investment and targeted trade enforcement. Association President and CEO Charles Johnson said the United States needs to expand its entire aluminum value chain to meet rising demand. Global aluminum demand is projected to grow about 80% by 2050, according to the International Aluminum Institute. The United States currently produces less than 20% of the primary aluminum it consumes, while recycled aluminum accounts for about 85% of domestic aluminum production. The industry has invested more than $11 billion over the past decade, largely in downstream manufacturing and recycling. Running through the fall, the campaign targets policymakers through digital, video, audio and other advertising, with an initial reach target of 4 million to 5 million impressions. (Source: The Aluminum Association)