Schwarz Group, Europe’s largest retail store operator has embarked on a pilot project for the use of transparent film bags made from certified circular polyethylene (PE) in vegetable packaging.
The project will include various different PE technologies from Sabic’s Trucircle portfolio.
Schwarz Group will launch the project with the introduction between October and December 2020 of 1 kg bags for organic carrots, made of flexible film using Sabic’s certified circular polyethylene, at selected Lidl and Kaufland stores in Germany.
The PE films will be made from materials produced via feedstock recycling of mixed and used plastic and include both low-density and linear low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and SUPEER metallocene polyethylene resins.
“Our certified circular polymers are produced as part of our TRUCIRCLE portfolio that includes a wide range of polyethylene and polypropylene material grades, that can be drop-in solutions for applications in a variety of industries, including the food packaging industry,” said Stephan Eltink, director Polyethylene Europe at Sabic.
Using an advanced recycling process, mixed and used previously ‘unrecyclable’ plastic waste is converted into an oil, which is then input into the production chain in the same way as fossil-based feedstock, thus allowing the material value of the plastic to be recovered. From this feedstock, new materials are produced with no compromise on quality
GreenCycle, the waste management and recycling service provider for Schwarz Group and other companies aims to close material cycles and save resources.
“Our comprehensive strategy is to make all Lidl and Kaufland brand plastic packaging as recyclable as possible by 2025, thereby reducing overall plastic consumption by 20 percent,” said Green cycle’s managing director Dietmar Böhm.