SABIC collaborates with Scientex on the packaging value chain to enable the manufacturer to develop material for the world’s first flexible food packaging made based on advanced recycled ocean bound plastic (OBP), using SABIC certified circular polypropylene (PP). The material is being used in a premium brand noodles packaging sold in Malaysia.

“We are proud to offer our customers circular solutions to reduce plastic waste that could otherwise end up in our rivers and oceans,” stated Abdullah Al Otaibi, General Manager, Engineering Thermoplastic & Market Solutions Business Unit for Petrochemicals at SABIC. “This flexible food packaging containing OBP connects with our TRUCIRCLE program of circular solutions designed to help protect our planet.”

OBP 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.

Premium brand instant noodle packaging is made with 30% certified PCR plastic provided by SABIC.

“Thanks to this highly efficient collaboration with SABIC, we are able to bring the world’s first advance recycled flexible PP food packaging to the Asian market, using circular OBP,” commented Paul Ng Kok Leong, Head of BOPP Film Division, Scientex Group. “This successful initiative demonstrates the feasibility of tackling the plastic waste issue through dedicated value chain collaborations and sets a milestone in shaping a circular plastics economy in Malaysia and across South East Asia.”

The OBP used in the project is recovered and converted to pyrolysis oil in an advanced recycling process. SABIC uses this oil as an alternative feedstock to produce certified circular PP polymer for further processing to BOPP film.

Scientex then manufactures and prints the noodle packs from this film. The entire chain from the management of the collected OBP to the final packaging is seamlessly accredited under established certification regimes.

According to SABIC, with a mass balance accounted OBP content of 30%, its certified circular PP performs the same way as incumbent fossil-based virgin PP and could be used as a direct drop-in alternative in this flexible food packaging application, without the need to change its existing assets and processes.