With the establishment of Nova Circular Solutions, the new business line launched today by Nova Chemicals, the company is acting on its commitment to move towards a more sustainable polyethylene production and at the same time answering market demand for more recycled materials. Nova Circular Solutions, will focus on the development and sale of a portfolio of lower-emission, recycled polyethylene (rPE) solutions. These solutions will be sold under a new brand name: Syndigo, which for now will be available in North America.
“Plastic products play a critical role in our daily lives, and industry and consumers are placing higher value on products that contribute to the circular economy. They want products that can be recycled, reused, and reimagined,” said John Thayer, Nova Chemicals senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We are investing time, resources, and world-class technical knowledge into this new line of business and the Syndigo brand.”
Nova Circular Solutions and the Syndigo brand will be headquartered with Nova Chemicals’ head office in Calgary, AB, Canada. The Syndigo brand currently includes the following three products:
- EX-PCR-WR3 resin, mechanically recycled, sourced from polyethylene (PE) agricultural film of known origin; suitable for e-commerce mailers, can liners, carry-out bags, protective packaging, and shrink; all rLLDP stream, no LDPE content; no slip.
- EX-PCR-NC4 resin, mechanically recycled, sourced from back-of-store distribution center PE stretch film and front-of-store consumer drop off, and suitable for heavy-duty sacks, e-commerce mailers, stretch wrap, collation shrink, protective packaging, and industrial films; LL/LDPE blend.
- EX-PCR-HD5 resin, mechanically recycled, sourced from HDPE milk, water and juice jugs; suitable for flexible packaging, heavy-duty sacks and small-part blow moulding.
With the launch of the new business, Nova Chemicals is leveraging its expertise and network throughout the value chain to ‘drive recycled content adoption and demonstrate that plastics circularity is truly achievable’, said Greg DeKunder, Nova Chemicals vice president of polyethylene marketing & circular polymers.
Asked how Nova would be able to ensure a consistent supply of recyclate to produce the new products, he explained that the company is working with three recyclers across North America. “We plan to grow our footprint in recycling considerably over the next several years and will use a variety of business models that allow us to provide the highest performing products and value to our customers,” he said.
Nova, he added, has the capability today to provide to its customers 100MM lbs. of recycled polyethylene. “Currently, we are focusing on delivering these products by railcar to our customers in North America to incorporate recycled polyethylene into those finished products that enable brands to meet their circularity goals.”
Nova Circular Solutions is headed by Alan Schrob, recycling director, who has nearly 30 years of experience in plastics, manufacturing, health, safety, and the environment.
