Nova Chemicals Attains FDA Letter for Mechanically Recycled LLDPE

Nova Chemicals announced the receipt of a Letter of No Objection (LNO) from the FDA regarding the use of LLDPE from recycling operations at the company’s Connersville, Indiana, facility in food contact applications.

The rLLDPE will be sold under the brand name Syndigo and will become Nova’s second food-compliant recycled polyethylene. The rPE enables converters and brand owners to incorporate recycled materials into food and non-food packaging products.

“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,” says 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% recycled content for the manufacture of food packaging intended to contact all food types under Conditions of Use B through H. The rLLDPE is one of the most commonly used materials for flexible food packaging and can be used for the full scope of applications, including pantry staples, refrigerator items and freezer packaging.

“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,” says Alan Schrob, director of mechanical recycling, Nova Circular Solutions.

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.