Nova Chemicals debuts three PCR grades for film applications

Nova Chemicals Corp., Calgary, Alberta, has announced the availability of the first three grades of 100 percent postconsumer polyethylene resins that are suitable for a range of flexible film applications:

• Natural recycled linear/low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE/LDPE) is collected from distribution centers and is suited for collation shrink, stretch wrap and e-commerce applications.
• Natural rLLDPE/LDPE is a recycled agricultural film that is ideal for reuse in agricultural films, heavy-duty shipping sacks, collation shrink and for e-commerce applications.
• White rLLDPE is manufactured from closed-loop agricultural and irrigation film recyclate and is suitable for use in agricultural film, heavy-duty shipping sacks, collation shrink, trash bags and liners and e-commerce applications.

Nova’s Greg DeKunder, vice president, polyethylene marketing, says these new product offerings are backed by industry-leading technical support, designed to help film producers, converters and brand owners incorporate more postconsumer resin (PCR) into packaging applications without sacrificing performance. “We have a dedicated team with extensive applications and additive expertise helping customers accelerate their applications development work,” DeKunder says. “Our goal is for Nova Chemicals to be a one-stop resource, providing the products and technical resources companies need to achieve their sustainability goals.”

Nova Chemicals recently announced supply agreements with Canada-based Merlin Plastics and Arkansas-based Revolution. Merlin will supply Nova Chemicals with U.S. Food and Drug Administration LNO (letter of non-objection) high-density polyethylene PCR for use in consumer packaging, while Revolution is supplying Nova Chemicals with LLDPE/LDPE PCR for use in a range of packaging applications.

Many of the world’s leading consumer brands have pledged to increase the amount of PCR used in their plastic packaging to an average of 25 percent by 2025. Anna Rajkovic, circular economy market manager at Nova Chemicals, says the introduction of these products will help brands meet their goals.

“We’ve made remarkable progress in just the past few months,” she says. “We’re continuing to expand our PCR business and collaborate throughout the value chain to help the industry meet its sustainability commitments and advance the plastics circular economy.”

Nova Chemicals says these three resins are the first in a portfolio of PCR grades that the company will bring to market.