NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 7, 2026 / As geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts continue to unsettle global energy markets, the cost of everyday essentials-ranging from food and apparel to packaging

<p><strong id="dateline">NEW YORK CITY, NY / <a href='https://www.accessnewswire.com/'>ACCESS Newswire</a> / May 7, 2026 / </strong>As geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts continue to unsettle global energy markets, the cost of everyday essentials-ranging from food and apparel to packaging and household goods-is climbing. SMX (Security Matters) PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMX">SMX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMXWW">SMXWW</a>) is positioning its technology as a practical response to these inflationary pressures, enabling industries to rely on verified recycled plastics to stabilize-and potentially reduce-production costs.</p><p>The link between energy and plastics is fundamental. Because plastic production depends heavily on oil and gas, fluctuations in energy markets directly affect manufacturing costs. When geopolitical instability drives energy prices higher, the cost of virgin plastic increases as well, pushing up expenses across entire supply chains. Packaging becomes pricier, synthetic textiles cost more to produce, and consumer goods-from electronics to everyday household items-reflect these increases.</p><p>This shift is not short-term-it represents a deeper structural change.</p><p>Historically, virgin plastic held a pricing advantage due to efficient large-scale production and inexpensive fossil fuel inputs. However, that advantage is eroding as energy volatility persists, supply chains face disruption, and global regulations tighten. As highlighted in <i>"The Great Repricing of Plastic,"</i> the cost dynamics are evolving quickly, with recycled materials narrowing the gap-and in some cases, undercutting-virgin plastic.</p><p>SMX is tackling this transition at its foundation.</p><p>Using its molecular marking technology, the company embeds an invisible, permanent identifier into plastic materials. Each batch is tied to a secure digital record, allowing for instant and precise verification. This ensures recycled plastics can deliver the same reliability, consistency, and performance traditionally associated with virgin materials-removing a major obstacle to broader adoption.</p><p>The benefits are immediate:</p><ul><li><p>Recycled plastic can be deployed at industrial scale</p></li><li><p>Verification processes become more efficient and less costly</p></li><li><p>Supply chain risks and uncertainties are significantly reduced</p></li></ul><p>In an environment where energy-driven inflation is pushing input costs upward, this creates a strong alternative-enabling manufacturers to adopt lower-cost recycled materials without compromising quality.</p><p>SMX extends this advantage even further.</p><p>Through its blockchain-enabled platform, recycled plastic is transformed into a fully traceable, data-rich asset. Once marked and tracked, each unit carries a permanent digital record detailing its origin, composition, and lifecycle.</p><p>This infrastructure supports the creation of Plastic Cycle Tokens (PCTs), a new type of digital asset directly tied to verified recycling activity. Unlike traditional environmental credits that often depend on estimates, PCTs are backed by real, measurable industrial output.</p><p>The outcome is a twofold economic benefit:</p><p><strong>Cost control.</strong><br/>As energy prices rise, companies can reduce dependence on costly virgin plastic by shifting to verified recycled alternatives.</p><p><strong>Value generation.</strong><br/>Recycling evolves from a cost burden into a source of revenue, with each verified unit of recycled material capable of producing a tradable digital asset.</p><p>This fundamentally alters the equation.</p><p>Where recycling was once primarily driven by sustainability goals and regulatory requirements, it now becomes a financially attractive strategy-one that can directly counter inflation while unlocking new economic opportunities.</p><p>As global instability continues to reshape energy markets and supply chains, the implications reach far beyond plastics. The ability to authenticate, monitor, and monetize materials at the molecular level introduces a new framework for managing cost, risk, and value across industries.</p><p>The takeaway is straightforward:</p><p>Rising energy costs are increasing the price of everyday goods.<br/>SMX provides a way to mitigate those increases.<br/>In doing so, it reframes plastic as a tracked, verifiable, and economically optimized resource rather than a liability.</p><p><strong>PR Contact:</strong><br/>Billy White<br/><a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:billywhitepr@gmail.com">billywhitepr@gmail.com</a></p><p><strong>SOURCE</strong>: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited</p><br/><br/>View the original <a href='https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/a-new-plastics-economy-how-smx-turns-recycling-into-savings-1164809'>press release</a> on ACCESS Newswire<br/><br/>
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A New Plastics Economy: How SMX Turns Recycling Into Savings

SMX Capitalizes on Rising Energy Costs Through Recycled Plastics Technology

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / May 7, 2026 / As geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts continue to unsettle global energy markets, the cost of everyday essentials-ranging from food and apparel to packaging</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>As geopolitical tensions elevate energy prices, SMX&#039;s technology provides a cost-effective solution by promoting verified recycled plastics. This positioning not only supports manufacturers in curtailing production costs but also opens up new revenue streams through the development of blockchain-based assets tied to recycling. As the economic landscape shifts, SMX is primed to benefit significantly from these trends.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Geopolitical tensions drive energy costs higher, impacting plastic prices.</li><li>SMX’s technology promotes recycled plastics as cost-effective alternatives.</li><li>Energy volatility is eroding virgin plastic&#039;s historical pricing advantage.</li><li>SMX enables efficient verification of recycled materials, enhancing their appeal.</li><li>Blockchain technology transforms recycled plastics into traceable, monetizable assets.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>SMX (Security Matters) PLC (SMX)</strong>: SMX is positioned to benefit from increased demand for cost-effective recycled plastics.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Corporate Developments</h3>
    <p>This article falls under &#039;Corporate Developments&#039; as it highlights SMX&#039;s strategic response to changes in market dynamics. It positions the company as a key player in an evolving economy, emphasizing the transition towards sustainability while maintaining profitability.</p>
  </section>

  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Rising energy costs are likely to increase demand for SMX&#039;s recycled plastic solutions.</li><li>Increased adoption of SMX&#039;s technology can lead to higher revenues and profits.</li><li>Global efforts to regulate plastic use may accelerate the shift towards recycled alternatives.</li><li>New digital asset markets may evolve from SMX&#039;s Plastic Cycle Tokens, enhancing valuation.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>SMX PLC trades under the symbol SMX on NASDAQ.</li><li>Energy price fluctuations directly impact production costs of virgin plastics.</li><li>Recycled materials are starting to undercut virgin plastic prices.</li><li>SMX’s technology improves verification and tracking of recycled plastics.</li><li>Plastic Cycle Tokens (PCTs) are based on verified recycling activities.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Consider buying SMX shares in anticipation of increased adoption of its recycling technologies within six months.</p>
  </section>
</section>


<p><strong id="dateline">NEW YORK CITY, NY / <a href='https://www.accessnewswire.com/'>ACCESS Newswire</a> / May 7, 2026 / </strong>As geopolitical tensions and ongoing conflicts continue to unsettle global energy markets, the cost of everyday essentials-ranging from food and apparel to packaging and household goods-is climbing. SMX (Security Matters) PLC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMX">SMX</a>)(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SMXWW">SMXWW</a>) is positioning its technology as a practical response to these inflationary pressures, enabling industries to rely on verified recycled plastics to stabilize-and potentially reduce-production costs.</p><p>The link between energy and plastics is fundamental. Because plastic production depends heavily on oil and gas, fluctuations in energy markets directly affect manufacturing costs. When geopolitical instability drives energy prices higher, the cost of virgin plastic increases as well, pushing up expenses across entire supply chains. Packaging becomes pricier, synthetic textiles cost more to produce, and consumer goods-from electronics to everyday household items-reflect these increases.</p><p>This shift is not short-term-it represents a deeper structural change.</p><p>Historically, virgin plastic held a pricing advantage due to efficient large-scale production and inexpensive fossil fuel inputs. However, that advantage is eroding as energy volatility persists, supply chains face disruption, and global regulations tighten. As highlighted in <i>"The Great Repricing of Plastic,"</i> the cost dynamics are evolving quickly, with recycled materials narrowing the gap-and in some cases, undercutting-virgin plastic.</p><p>SMX is tackling this transition at its foundation.</p><p>Using its molecular marking technology, the company embeds an invisible, permanent identifier into plastic materials. Each batch is tied to a secure digital record, allowing for instant and precise verification. This ensures recycled plastics can deliver the same reliability, consistency, and performance traditionally associated with virgin materials-removing a major obstacle to broader adoption.</p><p>The benefits are immediate:</p><ul><li><p>Recycled plastic can be deployed at industrial scale</p></li><li><p>Verification processes become more efficient and less costly</p></li><li><p>Supply chain risks and uncertainties are significantly reduced</p></li></ul><p>In an environment where energy-driven inflation is pushing input costs upward, this creates a strong alternative-enabling manufacturers to adopt lower-cost recycled materials without compromising quality.</p><p>SMX extends this advantage even further.</p><p>Through its blockchain-enabled platform, recycled plastic is transformed into a fully traceable, data-rich asset. Once marked and tracked, each unit carries a permanent digital record detailing its origin, composition, and lifecycle.</p><p>This infrastructure supports the creation of Plastic Cycle Tokens (PCTs), a new type of digital asset directly tied to verified recycling activity. Unlike traditional environmental credits that often depend on estimates, PCTs are backed by real, measurable industrial output.</p><p>The outcome is a twofold economic benefit:</p><p><strong>Cost control.</strong><br/>As energy prices rise, companies can reduce dependence on costly virgin plastic by shifting to verified recycled alternatives.</p><p><strong>Value generation.</strong><br/>Recycling evolves from a cost burden into a source of revenue, with each verified unit of recycled material capable of producing a tradable digital asset.</p><p>This fundamentally alters the equation.</p><p>Where recycling was once primarily driven by sustainability goals and regulatory requirements, it now becomes a financially attractive strategy-one that can directly counter inflation while unlocking new economic opportunities.</p><p>As global instability continues to reshape energy markets and supply chains, the implications reach far beyond plastics. The ability to authenticate, monitor, and monetize materials at the molecular level introduces a new framework for managing cost, risk, and value across industries.</p><p>The takeaway is straightforward:</p><p>Rising energy costs are increasing the price of everyday goods.<br/>SMX provides a way to mitigate those increases.<br/>In doing so, it reframes plastic as a tracked, verifiable, and economically optimized resource rather than a liability.</p><p><strong>PR Contact:</strong><br/>Billy White<br/><a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:billywhitepr@gmail.com">billywhitepr@gmail.com</a></p><p><strong>SOURCE</strong>: SMX (Security Matters) Public Limited</p><br/><br/>View the original <a href='https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/a-new-plastics-economy-how-smx-turns-recycling-into-savings-1164809'>press release</a> on ACCESS Newswire<br/><br/>
      <img src="https://app.accessnewswire.com/img.ashx?id=1164809" width="0" height="0"/>

As geopolitical tensions elevate energy prices, SMX's technology provides a cost-effective solution by promoting verified recycled plastics. This positioning not only supports manufacturers in curtailing production costs but also opens up new revenue streams through the development of blockchain-based assets tied to recycling. As the economic landscape shifts, SMX is primed to benefit significantly from these trends.

A New Plastics Economy: How SMX Turns Recycling Into Savings

AI Summary

Sentiment Rationale

Trading Thesis

Market-Moving

Key Facts

Companies Mentioned

Corporate Developments

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