NOVA Chemicals Corporation ("NOVA Chemicals") announced today that it has been issued a Letter of Non Objection (LNO) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This confirms the capability of its mechanical recycling process in Connersville, Ind., to produce post-consumer recycled linear low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE) material suitable for various food-contact applications.

The rLLDPE, branded as SYNDIGO™, marks NOVA's second food-compliant recycled polyethylene (rPE). This material empowers converters and brand owners to integrate recycled content into both food and non-food packaging solutions.

"This marks a major achievement in our circularity efforts and sets the stage for NOVA Circular Solutions to lead as the first to market with extensive food-contact compliant rLLDPE derived from consumer and retail plastic film by 2025," stated Greg DeKunder, Vice President of NOVA Circular Solutions. "We are dedicated to developing a cutting-edge mechanical recycling enterprise, equipped with the expertise in product development and engineering to produce recycled plastic resins suitable for the most rigorous and high-quality food contact applications."

Customers can utilize NOVA's rLLDPE with up to 100 percent recycled content to produce food packaging suitable for contact with all food types under Conditions of Use (COU) B through H. rLLDPE is extensively employed in flexible food packaging, covering applications from pantry essentials to refrigerator and freezer packaging. Converters, retailers, and brand owners show significant interest in rPE. McKinsey projects a tripling in demand for post-consumer recycled plastic to approximately 90 million tons by 2030.

Alan Schrob, Director of Mechanical Recycling at NOVA Circular Solutions, commented, "Achieving FDA standards for extensive food contact applications underscores the innovative design of our mechanical recycling facility and our meticulous approach to managing the chain of custody for plastic film feedstock. Leveraging nearly 50 years of product stewardship expertise at NOVA Chemicals, we apply the same rigorous standards to our recycled SYNDIGO products and manufacturing processes, which sets NOVA Circular Solutions apart in the industry."

"We are eager to collaborate with the industry to collect plastic film from retail and distribution centers and recycle it at our Indiana facility," said DeKunder. "Through this partnership across the value chain, we establish a circular system where we collect flexible plastics and, in turn, supply rPE for both food and non-food contact packaging."

NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions is dedicated to recycled innovations that aim to transform plastics for a more sustainable future. Under NOVA Circular Solutions lies the SYNDIGO brand, encompassing the company’s lineup of recycled polyethylene (rPE) products. In March 2023, NOVA launched SYNDIGO rPE-0860-FC, its inaugural FDA-compliant high-density recycled polyethylene (rHDPE), into the market.

NOVA Chemicals has committed to its inaugural mechanical recycling facility in Indiana to bolster the production of premium recycled polyethylene resins. Construction is currently in progress with operations slated to commence in early 2025. Upon reaching full operational capacity by early 2026, the NOVA Chemicals’ Circular Solutions facility will generate over 100 million pounds of SYNDIGO rPE suitable for non-food and extensive food contact applications.