Ethylene producer Ineos Olefins & Polymers Europe (Ineos O&P) collaborated with Saica Natur, the recycling and waste management business unit of Saica Group, to expand its range of Recycl-IN products to include flexible packaging materials with more than 60% recycled content.
Both companies will work in a supply agreement for recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and low-low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) to meet the growing demand for recycled products in sustainable, virgin-quality flexible packaging
Rob Ingram, CEO of Ineos O&P North Europe, commented, “We are very pleased to add these new flexible packaging products to our Recycl-IN range. Saica is an expert in recycling post-consumer plastic film. Ineos has the polymer science expertise to improve the quality, specification, and performance of the finished product.”
Victor Sanz, director-general of Saica Natur, says, “With this agreement, we are moving towards a circular economy model through the use of resources in a more sustainable and efficient way. Waste is transformed into a secondary raw material that will be then incorporated into new high-quality products.”
The polyethylene (PE) Recycl-IN resins to be produced will serve the requirements of converters, brand owners, and retailers. They will use more than 60% recycled plastics in very demanding applications such as stretch and lamination films normally used in flexible pouches for detergent and personal care products.
According to the company, Recycl-IN materials combine the recycled plastic with what Ineos O&P calls highly engineered virgin polymers. The resulting materials have properties equivalent to virgin materials.
