Dow and partners launch circular snack packaging in Thailand

Dow Thailand Group, Taokaenoi Food & Marketing, a manufacturer of seaweed snacks, and SCG Chemicals (SCGC), an integrated polymer and solutions provider, have joined forces to recover the multilayer snack packaging waste generated from Taokaenoi’s production processes. 

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the “Food-Grade Circular Packaging by Advanced Recycling Technology” project. The packaging waste will be processed through SCGC’s advanced recycling technology and converted into circular feedstock.

Dow will use the feedstock to manufacture new, food-grade plastic resins, which will be reintroduced into Taokaenoi’s packaging applications, supporting a closed-loop recycling approach.

Vichan Tangkengsirisin, president of Dow Thailand, says: “Dow is proud to support this collaboration in Thailand by applying our technology to produce circular plastic resins from used flexible packaging feedstock with performance equivalent to fossil-based plastics.” 

“Dow Thailand Group’s PE facility in Rayong is ISCC Plus certified for its capability of converting advanced recycled feedstock into high-quality, food grade circular resins. This initiative represents an important step toward closing the plastics loop in Thailand and advancing Dow’s sustainability ambition to transform the waste through collaboration with customers and value chain partners.”

Pilot to revive plastic

The collaboration aims to reduce the accumulation of plastic packaging waste in Thailand and decrease the consumption of new resources.

Suracha Udomsak, chief operations and innovation officer at SCGC, says: “This collaboration reflects the capability of SCGC in utilizing advanced recycling technology to manage plastic packaging composed of multiple materials, which is difficult to recycle, and converting it back into circular feedstock.”

“This feedstock can be used to produce new plastic resins, which possess properties and qualities entirely equivalent to standard virgin plastic resins in all respects and are safe for direct food contact. As a result, the materials can be reused to manufacture food packaging for Taokaenoi.”

“In addition, our process has achieved ISCC Plus throughout the entire supply chain, making SCGC the first company in ASEAN to achieve such certification. This partnership is considered a crucial step in driving SCGC’s goal of reintegrating used plastic into the circular economy system at a volume of 500,000 metric tons per year by 2030, through collaborations with business partners across the entire value chain.”

The partnership also aims to serve as a model for the comprehensive management of used multilayer plastic packaging. It is anticipated that the packaging will be ready for commercial distribution by the end of 2026.

Orrapat Peeradechapan, CEO at Taokaenoi Food & Marketing, comments: “This collaboration represents a milestone that transforms the challenge of hard-to-recycle packaging into an opportunity to establish a practical circular economy.” 

“It is not merely about waste disposal, but rather about creating new value from used plastic. We do not only deliver great-tasting products, but we also aim to deliver a better world to consumers through eco-friendly packaging innovations that are clean, safe, and tangibly reduce environmental impacts.”