• SMX published an industry analysis arguing that recycled plastics are moving closer to virgin plastics on cost as war-driven disruption, oil volatility, tariffs, tighter regulation, and resource pressure reshape materials markets.
• The analysis cited an April 2026 IDNFinancials report that linked Middle East instability to domestic plastic price increases of as much as 100%, highlighting exposure of virgin resin to feedstock and energy costs.
• It framed verification and certification as a key barrier that has historically left recycled plastics at a 20% to 40% premium, with compliance demands shifting verification from paperwork toward embedded traceability.
• The report pointed to World Bank estimates that about 29% of global plastic waste, or roughly 93 million tonnes a year, is mismanaged, supporting the case for verifiable chain-of-custody in recycling supply.
• SMX positioned molecular marking tied to digital records as a way to reduce fraud risk, support compliance, lower verification costs, improve usable yield, and cushion manufacturers from oil-price shocks.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. SMX (Security Matters) plc published the original content used to generate this news brief via ACCESS Newswire (Ref. ID: 202605170700ACCESSWRNAPR_____1167344) on May 17, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.