A look back and a look forward to 2026

Yonas Kebede reflects on Heartland’s success in 2025 and shares his optimism for the year ahead.

As we approach the end of 2025 and I reflect on the year we’ve had, I’m happy to say that 2025 has met and even exceeded my expectations. Our quality and consistent product, reliable delivery and leading customer service have all played a part in growing our market share over the year. We secured more contracted customers in 2025 than the year prior – even punching way over our weight in a few markets – and are expecting to further increase our contracted customers in 2026. Exceeding expectations is at the very core of our business strategy, and we like to deliver. That’s what our commitment to better is all about.

The uncertainty of tariffs in 2025 was a curveball no one had anticipated, but we remained agile and effectively managed it. The situation further highlighted the advantages of Heartland Polymers to the Canadian market. Our competitive advantages beyond our location expanded our position in Canada, helping us meet our long-term goal to be a preferred provider in the country while continuing to provide a reliable, high-quality option for our valued partners in other markets.

Leading processes and products

On the production side, we entered 2025 very optimistic for a solid year of production. We faced some early challenges but have been running our plants at steady rates throughout the year.

Our product quality continues to excel in all the markets. In the spirit of always striving for better, we continue to refine our random copolymers, working alongside our customers to ensure we deliver the high-quality products we’re known for. 

Customer service above the rest

We take great pride in our ability to serve our customers and meet their needs. We welcomed several of our customers to our Heartland Petrochemical Complex this year to see our operations come to life. Those who visit our facility see firsthand the passion our people have for what they do and the products they provide. We always welcome customers to come and take a look, as we’re very proud of our facility, and look forward to sharing our spirit for the work we do. Reach out to the Heartland sales team to connect and learn more.

We had a great debut as a first-time exhibitor at NPE last year following the cancellation of the event three years prior due to COVID. We followed that momentum up this year with our participation at IDEA 2025, the premier event for the nonwovens industry. We had a great time connecting with industry experts and exchanging insights on the future of nonwoven polypropylene applications. The team was excited to most recently attend K Show 2025 in Germany, welcoming another chance to create meaningful connections and build on existing relationships. We look forward to seeking more opportunities to connect with customers in 2026.

Sustainability

Everything at Heartland Polymers is built around a belief in better, and that includes our approach to sustainable solutions and actions. We were proud to be recently recognized with three Responsible Care Awards by the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), including Excellence in Partnership; Operation Clean Sweep Company of the Year; and the Women in Chemistry award, which was presented to Heartland’s own Kimberly Benedict, Vice President of Operations. The Responsible Care awards are the benchmark for excellence in the chemistry and plastics sector and are a testament to the exemplary work our team dedicates to enriching our communities and protecting our environment. Read more about the awards and our demonstration of the Responsible Care principles year-round.

Looking ahead to 2026

The Heartland team is quite optimistic about what’s ahead in the new year.

Our team has been excitedly introducing our random copolymers into the marketplace in 2025 through initial sales and product qualifications. We are further refining our random copolymer products and look forward to continuing to expand our offering in the marketplace in 2026. We expect our random copolymers to be hallmarked by consistency of clarity and quality, ideal for the packaging industry. Watch for updates in the new year or reach out to the Heartland sales team today to learn more.

We believe in better

As we look ahead to 2026, we are dialed in our priorities and will focus on continuing to grow our contracted sales and maintain stable operations to deliver ‘better’ in everything we do. We are grateful for the progress we have made together with you and look forward to the journey ahead.

Yonas