SABIC Collaboration Recovers Potentially Ocean Bound Plastics to Make Flexible Packaging Materials

Mar 06, 2023

To prevent valuable post-consumer plastics from polluting the environment in areas in and around our waterways, there is a need for circular solutions to recover and reuse plastics materials.

SABIC has partnered with Polivouga, a manufacturer of flexible film products, and Nueva Pescanova Group, a Spanish seafood brand, to launch TRUCIRCLETM, a new, innovative project resulting in the world's first frozen food packaging solution using SABIC's certified circular polyethylene from feedstock sourced from discarded, potentially ocean bound plastics.

SABIC's certified circular polyolefins made from plastics recovered by collaborator Malaysian recycler, HHI, demonstrate how discarded plastics can be brought back into a circular material stream to be converted into high quality food packaging.

SABIC, a leading petrochemical manufacturer, has leveraged its ties with Polivouga, a manufacturer of flexible film products, to launch a new, innovative TRUCIRCLETM project designed to reuse post-consumer plastic waste recovered from areas up to 50 kilometers inland from waterways.

The collaboration between SABIC and Polivouga with the Nueva Pescanova Group, a Spanish brand owner specializing in the fishing, farming, processing, and marketing of fresh, chilled and frozen seafood products, has resulted in the development of the world's first frozen food packaging solution using SABIC's certified circular polyethylene from feedstock sourced from ocean bound plastic.

The plastic materials are converted using advanced recycling technologies to manufacture an alternative feedstock that SABIC uses to produce certified circular polymers – SABIC® LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) – which are then processed by Polivouga to make flexible packaging film. Then, Nueva Pescanova packages its frozen seafood in bags made from this film.

The solution uses two different certification systems:1) The ocean bound plastic feedstock is certified under the Zero Plastic Oceans program. 2) The certified circular material is certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS chain of custody, which means that the material flow is controlled and tracked from the ocean bound plastic to the final packaging following a set of predefined, transparent rules.

SABIC's certified circular polymers form part of the company's TRUCIRCLETM portfolio and services for circular solutions. The offering also includes design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock and closed loop initiatives to recycle plastic back into high quality applications and help prevent valuable used plastics from becoming waste.

The success of this initial project was followed up by a new collaboration with manufacturer Scientex to develop material for the world's first flexible premium brand noodles packaging made based on advanced recycled OBP, using SABIC® certified circular polypropylene (PP).

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the multibillion-dollar business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products, technologies and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health, safety and security performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy addressing major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. ACC members and chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development, and are advancing products, processes and technologies to address climate change, enhance air and water quality, and progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.

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