TAGS: Sustainability and Bioplastics
NOVA Chemicals Corporation ("NOVA Chemicals") announced it has received a Letter of Non-Objection (LNO) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This confirms that its mechanical recycling process in Connersville, Indiana, can produce post-consumer recycled linear, low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE) material suitable for broad food-contact applications.
rLLDPE with Up to 100% Recycled Content
The rLLDPE will be sold under the brand name
SYNDIGO™ and will become NOVA’s second food-compliant recycled polyethylene (rPE). rPE enables converters and brand owners to incorporate recycled materials into food and non-food packaging products.
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This is a significant milestone on our journey to circularity and lays the foundation for NOVA Circular Solutions to be the first to market with broad food-contact compliant rLLDPE made from consumer and retail plastic film in 2025,” said Greg DeKunder, vice president, NOVA Circular Solutions. “
We are committed to building a state-of-the-art mechanical recycling business. We have the product development and engineering skills to produce recycled plastic resins for the most demanding and premium food contact applications.”
Customers will be able to use NOVA’s rLLDPE at up to 100 percent recycled content for the manufacture of food packaging intended to contact all food types under Conditions of Use (COU) B through H.
Common Food Packaging Polymer
rLLDPE is one of the most commonly used materials for flexible food packaging. It can be used for the full scope of applications including pantry staples, refrigerator items, and freezer packaging. There is high interest from converters, retailers, and brand owners for rPE. McKinsey estimates that the demand for post-consumer recycled plastic will triple by 2030 to about 90 million tons.
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Meeting the rigorous standards of the FDA for the broadest food contact applications is a testament to the innovative design of our mechanical recycling facility as well as the diligence we take regarding chain of custody of the plastic film feedstock,” said Alan Schrob, director of mechanical recycling, NOVA Circular Solutions. “
We are leveraging NOVA Chemicals’ nearly 50 years of product stewardship expertise and applying that same capability to our recycled SYNDIGO products and manufacturing. This is a key differentiator for NOVA Circular Solutions.”
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We welcome the opportunity to work with the industry to collect retail and distribution center plastic film and recycle it at our centrally located Indiana facility. By working across the value chain, we are creating a circular system where we collect flexible plastics and, in return, provide rPE for your food and non-food contact packaging,” said DeKunder.
Mechanical Recycling Facility in Indiana to Begin in 2025
NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions is focused on recycled solutions that will help to reshape plastics for a better, more sustainable world. NOVA Circular Solutions is home to the SYNDIGO brand, the company’s portfolio of recycled polyethylene (rPE) products. NOVA delivered
SYNDIGO™ rPE-0860-FC, its first commercialized FDA-compliant high-density recycled polyethylene (rHDPE), to market in March 2023.
NOVA Chemicals invested in its first mechanical recycling facility in Indiana to increase the supply of high-quality, recycled polyethylene resins. Construction is underway and operations are expected to begin in early 2025. Once fully operational in early 2026, the NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions facility will produce more than 100 M lbs. of SYNDIGO™ rPE for non-food and broad use food contact.
Source: NOVA Chemicals
