SABIC partners with UPM RAFLATAC to launch world's first label material made from certified recycled ocean plastic

SABIC, a global chemical industry leader, has joined with value chain partners in an innovative project to help UPM RAFLATAC launch the world's first packaging label material made from SABIC-certified recycled polypropylene (PP) based on advanced recycled oceans Bioplastics (OBP)
.
These label materials are sold under the Ocean Action trademark of UPM RAFLATAC
.

Lada Kurelec, General Manager of the PP, PET, PS, PVC, PU and Elastomers business at SABIC Petrochemical Division, added: “We are proud to offer our customers another more sustainable option through advanced recycling of waste plastics that would otherwise These plastics may end up in our rivers and oceans
.
These labels containing marine plastics are linked to our TRUCIRCLE™ Circular Solutions program, designed to help reduce plastic waste, ease fossil consumption and protect our planet
.
”

Marine plastic is discarded plastic waste found within 50 kilometers of waterways inland and may end up being washed into the ocean by rainfall, rivers or tides
.
Zero Plastic Oceans, an NGO working to tackle plastic pollution, estimates that OBP from uncontrolled waste disposal accounts for 80 percent of ocean plastic litter
.

"The new innovative Ocean Action label material is the latest step in our journey beyond fossils
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Not only does it help prevent plastic waste from ending up in the ocean, but it also offers brand owners the possibility to meet their packaging recycling content goals
.
Ocean The Action Label material is an easy-to-use plug-and-play solution, especially for food and cosmetics, as it has exactly the same properties as current fossil-based labels,
" says Eliisa Laurikainen, Business Development Manager at UPM RAFLATAC
.

The OBP used in this project was recycled by local partners of HHI, a recycling company based in Malaysia
.
OBP is certified by the Alliance for Zero Plastic Oceans and Control for sustainable sourcing, proper collection and management
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HHI converts OBP into pyrolysis oil through advanced recycling, while SABIC uses this oil as an alternative feedstock to produce certified SABIC recycled PP polymer, which is further processed into film by Taghleef
.
Then, UPM RAFLATAC produces the label material
.

The plastic waste used in the process value chain of making Ocean Action label materials is certified by the Zero Plastic Ocean program, and the final label material is ISCC PLUS certified
.
This means that, from plastic in the ocean to final packaging, the flow of material is controlled and tracked according to a set of pre-defined transparent rules
.

Ocean Action's label material is available in white and clear top-coated PP film using RP37, RF37 and RP74 adhesives and PET 23 PCR and fiberglass liners
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These label materials are ideal for fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) such as household goods, personal care, packaged food and beverages
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Because SABIC's certified recycled PP performs on par with comparable fossil-based virgin PP, switching to OBP material solutions does not require changes to the manufacturing process of film and label materials
.

SABIC's certified circular polymers are part of the company's TRUCIRCLE portfolio and circular solutions service
.
The offering also includes designs for recyclability, mechanical recycling products, certified bio-based renewable polymers, and a closed-loop program to recycle plastics into high-quality applications and help prevent valuable waste plastics from becoming waste
.