Plastic resin emerges as tiniest example of enduring COVID-19 supply chain crunch

Plastic resins -- tiny plastic pellets used to make everything from bread bags to milk containers -- are undergoing a triple whammy of high demand, tight supply and soaring prices.

The raw ingredient that forms the base of all things plastic is emerging as the tiniest example of how COVID-19 is causing enduring supply chain turmoil.

Industry experts say the ongoing shortage of the ubiquitous material is unlikely to be resolved quickly, and that plastic resin price hikes are trickling down to consumer goods and adding to inflation.

"The conditions are very, very challenging," said Bob Masterson, president and CEO of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, which represents the plastics industry. "These are prices the market has never seen."

It started at the outset of the pandemic with a massive spike in demand for personal protective equipment like masks, face shields, gloves and gowns -- much of which is made of single-use plastics.