SABIC and UPM Raflatac launch label material from certified circular “ocean-bound” plastic

13 Jun 2022 --- SABIC is partnering with UPM Raflatac to launch “the world’s first” label material made from certified circular “ocean-bound” plastic. The new Ocean Action label is the first to be made using SABIC’s certified circular polyolefins for packaging label applications.

The recovered ocean-bound plastic, which has the potential to end up in rivers and oceans, is certified by Zero Plastic Oceans and Control Union.

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, says the value chain collaboration with UPM Raflatac demonstrates how ocean-bound plastic can be brought back into a circular material stream for conversion into high-quality packaging labels.

The company has joined an innovative project with value chain partners to help UPM Raflatac launch the world’s first packaging label materials made from its certified circular PP-based on advanced recycled ocean-bound plastic. The label materials are marketed under the UPM Raflatac Ocean Action trademark.

“We are proud to offer our customers another more [environmentally] sustainable choice through the advanced recycling of used plastic that could otherwise end up in our rivers and oceans,” says Lada Kurelec, general manager PP, PET, PS, PVC, PU & Elastomers Businesses for Petrochemicals at SABIC.

“These labels containing ocean-bound plastic connect with our Trucircle program of circular solutions designed to help reduce plastic waste, mitigate fossil depletion and protect our planet.”

Previously, SABIC and Polivouga developed the “world’s first” frozen fish bags from recovered ocean-bound plastic.

Ocean-bound plastic
Ocean-bound plastic is abandoned plastic waste found in areas up to 50 km inland from waterways that may eventually be washed into the ocean by rainfall, rivers or tides.

Zero Plastic Oceans, a non-governmental organization dedicated to addressing plastic pollution issues, has estimated that ocean-bound plastic from uncontrolled waste disposal accounts for 80% of marine plastic litter.

”The new innovative Ocean Action label material is the latest step in our beyond fossils journey. It [the material] does not only help prevent the plastic waste from ending up in the oceans but also offers brand owners the possibility to meet their recycled content targets for packaging. The Ocean Action label material is an easy-to-use drop-in solution created especially for food and cosmetics end-uses as it has exactly the same performance as the current fossil-based labels,” explains Eliisa Laurikainen, business development manager at UPM Raflatac.According to Zero Plastic Oceans, ocean-bound plastic from uncontrolled waste disposal accounts for 80% of marine plastic litter.

Locally-recovered material
The ocean-bound plastic used in the project is recovered by local partners of HHI, a Malaysia-based recycling company. The sourcing, proper collection and management of the ocean-bound plastic are certified by Zero Plastic Oceans and Control Union. HHI converts the ocean-bound plastic into a pyrolysis oil using advanced recycling, and SABIC uses this oil as an alternative feedstock to produce certified circular SABIC PP polymer for further processing to film by Taghleef, which UPM Raflatac uses to produce the label material.

The plastic waste used in the process value chain of making Ocean Action label material is certified under the Zero Plastics Oceans program, and the final label material under ISCC Plus. This process means that the material flow is controlled and tracked from the ocean-bound plastic to the final packaging following a set of predefined and transparent rules.

Industry applicability
The Ocean Action label material is available as White and Clear Top Coated PP films with RP37, RF37, and RP74 adhesives and PET 23 PCR and glassine liners. These label materials are described as a perfect fit for fast-moving consumer goods, such as household goods, personal care, packaged foods, and beverages.

Since the certified circular PP from SABIC performs the same way as comparable fossil-based virgin PP, switching to the ocean-bound plastic solution required no changes to the film and label material manufacturing processes.

SABIC’s certified circular polymers form part of the company’s Trucircle portfolio and services for circular solutions. The offering also includes design for recyclability, mechanically recycled products, certified renewable polymers from bio-based feedstock and closed-loop initiatives to recycle plastic back into high-quality applications and help prevent valuable used plastics from becoming waste.

By Joshua Poole