Borealis has announced the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared its HDPE and PP Borcycle post-consumer recycled plastics to be used in food-grade packaging.
The grades belong to the Borcycle M line of mechanically recycled polymers. The FDA issued two Letters of No Objection (LNOs) that allow Borcycle M PCR HDPE and PP to be used up to 100% in certain dry food contact applications. Additionally, these recycled materials can constitute up to 10% of packaging for dry foods with surface oil and moist bakery products. The FDA’s LNOs are effective from January 2024 for recycled HDPE, and from February 2024 for recycled PP.
“Our customers will be able to expand the use of value-added, recycled plastics within their portfolios,” said Jonatas Melo, Borealis Vice President for Performance Materials. “Combined with all of Borealis’ other sustainable offerings, this FDA clearance of selected grades of our Borcycle M portfolio for food-grade applications will help them achieve their sustainability targets and bring us all closer to a fully circular economy for plastics.”
Borealis said in a statement it will now start developing food packaging applications using the approved grades. It expects the FDA clearance will ‘facilitate conversations’ in the European Union on the use of the materials in high-end, contact-sensitive applications such as cosmetics and personal care packaging.
In an interview with Sustainable Plastics last year, Borealis revealed that it is ultimate goal is to achieve food-contact quality from its Borcycle M technology also in Europe.
The company is currently building a new plant that will have capacity to produce over 60 kt/a of mechanical recycled polyolefins and compounds per year, in Schwechat, Austria, that is due to go into operation late in 2025. It already operates a demonstration plant in Lahnstein, Germany, together with sorting systems expert Tomra and waste management company Zimmerman.