NOVA Chemicals commissions its first PE film recycling facility

NOVA Chemicals Corporation announced the commissioning of its first polyethylene (PE) film recycling facility “SYNDIGO1”, located in Connersville, US.

The facility spans 450,000 sq.ft. and will recycle 145,000 bales of end-of-life plastic film to produce over 100 million lbs. of SYNDIGO recycled PE (rLLDPE), suitable for food- and non-food grade packaging applications. Full production is expected by early 2026.

SYNDIGO1 in Connersville works with major retailers and distribution centers across the US to collect back-of-store PE film which provides consistent and clean feedstock for recycled PE. The facility will collect on average 400 bales of plastic film each day, or 14,000 bales each month, equivalent to filling four professional football fields to the top of the goal posts.

Plastic film waste will be processed into pellets and sold as NOVA Chemicals’ SYNDIGO recycled linear, low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE), which is suitable for a wide variety of packaging applications, including food packaging.

A grade of SYNDIGO rLLDPE has FDA compliance for all food types under Conditions of Use B through H and can be used to add recycled content for the full scope of food packaging applications including pantry staples, refrigerator items, and freezer packaging.

NOVA Chemicals is working with several leading manufacturers and distributors to incorporate recycled polyethylene into flexible packaging, including Charter Next Generation, M.Holland, Osterman & Company, Petoskey Plastics, PolyExpert, Pregis, Sigma Plastics Group, and Winpak.