SABIC, a prominent manufacturer in the chemical industry, is collaborating with Scientex to provide manufacturers with an eco-friendly package solution that incorporates advanced recycled OBP derived from SABIC-certified circular polypropylene (PP). The material is utilized in premium brand noodles packaging in Malaysia.

“We are proud to offer our customers circular solutions to reduce plastic waste that could otherwise end up in our rivers and oceans,” says Abdullah Al Otaibi, General Manager Engineering Thermoplastic & Market Solutions Business Unit for Petrochemicals at SABIC. “This flexible food packaging containing OBP connects with our TRUCIRCLE™ program of circular solutions designed to help protect our planet.”

Abandoned plastic waste is an issue of concern found in coastal areas up to 50km from bodies of water. It may eventually be washed into the ocean by rainfall, rivers, and tides.
Thanks to our collaboration with SABIC, we are proud to announce that the world’s first commercially viable advanced recycled flexible PP food packaging is finally on its way into Asian markets. Utilizing circular OBP technology, Paul Ng Kok Leong, Head of the BOPP Film Division at Scientex Group, remarked upon this accomplishment during his recent interview.

“This successful initiative demonstrates the feasibility of tackling the plastic waste issue through dedicated value chain collaborations and sets a milestone in shaping a circular plastics economy in Malaysia and across South East Asia.”

The OBP utilized in the project is reutilized and processed into pyrolysis oil through a state-of-the-art recycling technique. SABIC utilizations this material as an alternative feeding source for manufacturing certified circular PP polymer before being transformed into BOPP film.

Scientex then crafts and disseminates the noodle packs from this film. Throughout the entire process – from managing OBP to finalizing packaging – it is verified and accredited successfully under established accreditation programs.

With the mass balance accounted for, an OBP content of 30% could be achieved with certified circular PP from SABIC comparable to fossil-based virgin PP. Utilizing this cost-effective solution would not require altering existing assets and processes; it is a straightforward alternative for flexible food packaging applications.

SABIC’s certified circular polymers comprise part of the company’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio, offering a range of services for circular solutions. The all-inclusive package boasts design solutions for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified renewable polymers derived from bio-based feedstock, and closed-loop initiatives to recycle plastic into high-quality applications, thus safeguarding valuable used plastics from becoming waste.

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