Illinois-based Amcor, a packaging solutions company, recently signed an agreement with Canada-based NOVA Chemicals Corporation, a sustainable polyethylene producer, to purchase mechanically recycled polyethylene resin (rPE) for use in flexible packaging films.
The resin will be produced at NOVA Chemicals’ first mechanical recycling facility in Connersville, Ind., that is expected to open as early as 2025.
“This is an exciting opportunity for us to supplement our rPE supply in support of our target to achieve 30% recycled material usage across our global portfolio by 2030,” Fred Stephan, Amcor Flexibles North America president, said. “Incorporating rPE into flexible packaging films helps brand owners meet voluntary commitments on recycled content targets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and keep plastic waste in the economy and out of the environment.”
Amcor develops and produces responsible packaging solutions for beverages, food, home and personal-care, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and other products. It generated $14.7 billion in annual sales in fiscal year 2023.
NOVA Chemicals’ customers use its products to create easy-to-recycle and recycled content films, packaging, and products.
The company plans to expand its recycling footprint across North America over the next several years with the goal of reaching a 30-percent share of polyethylene resin sales from products containing recycled content.