World-first ready-to-eat bowls with food grade certified renewable PP

SABIC announced the use of food-contact grade of certified renewable polypropylene (PP) resins in the production of Jetbahn instant white rice packaging bowls by CJ CheilJedang, a South Korea-based global food company.

This packaging is the first of its kind using certified renewable PP in ready-to-eat-rice market which align with CJ’s strong “Nature to Nature” sustainability roadmap.

First-of-its-kind instant rice packaging bowl with 25% certified renewable content.

The rice bowl is manufactured by sheet extrusion and subsequent thermoforming. The PP polymer from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio has 25% of ISCC PLUS certified renewable content.

It provides critical attributes of dimensional ability and heat resistance required when microwaving the rice directly in the packaging.

In addition, the used bowl can be returned into rigid PP recycling stream to recover its material value and enable a more circular packaging industry.

“It marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to reduce the carbon footprint and minimize the use of fossil based feedstock in our packaging,” commented Grace Kim, SVP of Global Packaging R&D at CJ.

SABIC’s renewable polymers are derived from bio-based, second-generation sources not competing with food or feed production. They are manufactured in line with the mass balancing accounting recommendations of ISCC PLUS program.

“Our certified renewable grade from our TRUCIRCLE portfolio used in CJ’s Hetbahn rice bowls meet the food-contact regulations, and offers the same ease of processing and high end-use quality as competitive all-virgin polymers,” explained Monhammed Al-Zahrani, Vice President of SABIC’s Polypropylene Business.