Press Releases

INEOS world first with recyclable flexible packaging film made from more than 50% recycled plastic waste

  • INEOS announces a world first, producing ultra-thin, rigid film used for recyclable flexible packaging products made from more than 50% recycled plastic
  • Achieved by processing INEOS Recycl-IN hybrid resins, which compound recycled plastic waste with highly engineered new resins, using state of the art machine-direction orientation (MDO) technology to make polyethylene film used to manufacture recyclable single polymer flexible packaging products
  • Demonstrates that Recycl-IN can be applied to demanding film extrusion applications such as MDO polyethylene – and opens the door to exploring the application of Recycl-IN and MDO technology to other flexible packaging products
  • Enables INEOS to make a unique contribution to the development of a circular economy for products that play a valuable role in daily life

INEOS has today announced a world first as it has produced ultra-thin, rigid film used for recyclable flexible packaging products made from more than 50% recycled plastic. It is the first time such a high proportion of recycled waste plastic has been used in packaging products.

INEOS’ polymer know-how and Hosakawa Alpine’s state of the art Machine-Direction Orientation (MDO) technology have come together to process Recycl-IN resins containing more than 50% recycled plastic to make polyethylene film. This new film will be used to manufacture recyclable single polymer flexible packaging products that replace difficult-to-recycle multimaterial packaging products.

The INEOS Recycl-IN product range compounds recycled plastic waste with highly engineered new resins. It helps converters and brand owners retain the high quality of their products while increasing recycled content.

The announcement follows INEOS’ investment in a new Hosakawa Alpine MDO film line to develop flexible packaging films made from a single polymer family. This approach increases the recyclability of plastic packaging.

Products such as stand-up pouches already provide a convenient, low carbon solution for transporting every-day goods. This further development will ensure that packaging can be manufactured from raw materials containing a high percentage of recycled plastic waste and be recyclable in the future.

The success of this demonstration shows that Recycl-IN can be applied to demanding film extrusion applications such as MDO polyethylene. It enables advanced technical film applications to use mechanically recycled polyethylene. The combination of Recycl-IN resins and this leading technology will enable INEOS to make a unique contribution to the development of a circular economy for these products.

Recycl-IN resins are also certified as providing a reduction in carbon emissions of between 25 and 50 per cent(1) when compared to the use of virgin feedstocks.

Rob Ingram, Chief Executive, INEOS O&P Europe North, said: “We share people’s concerns about plastic waste, showing we can help produce more recyclable end products using large quantities of recycled materials shows our commitment to creating a more sustainable future.”

“Now that we’ve proved the concept, we open the door to exploring the application of Recycl-IN and MDO technology to other flexible packaging products where we can make a real difference.”

 

1) independently verified by third parties

More information

 

ENDS.

Media Contacts

Richard Longden (INEOS)                 +41 799 626 123
Andrew McLachlan (Media Zoo)         07931 377162
Alex Williams (Media Zoo)                  07793 207325

Notes to Editors:

 

More of the action INEOS O&P Europe is taking to create a more sustainable future:

 

  • Investing €4 billion building Project One, the most environmentally sustainable cracker in Europe and largest investment in the European chemical sector in a generation
  • Conducting a feasibility study into the construction of a 100-megawatt water electrolysis plant for producing green hydrogen at our site in Cologne, which could cut CO2 by more than 100,000 tonnes per year
  • The Recycl-IN polymer range, which compounds post-consumer recycled plastic with new highly engineered virgin polymers to meet the demand for recycled products that meet high performance specifications
  • Signing an agreement with Plastic Energy to produce 100,000 tonnes per annum of recycled raw materials from plastic waste, the largest use of the technology on the market
  • Recycling investments that will drive up recycling levels and produce food-grade certified recycled content


This is just a small sample of the action being taken across INEOS to deliver net zero emissions and develop a circular economy in which valuable materials stay in use. Go to https://www.ineos.com/sustainability/ for more.  

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