NOVA Chemicals commercializes new rPE grades for North American non-food packaging market

CANADA – NOVA Chemicals has commercialized two new recycled polyethylene grades, SYNDIGO rPE-IN3 and SYNDIGO rPE-IN4, expanding its mechanical recycling portfolio for general purpose, non-food applications across North America.

The new grades form part of the company’s SYNDIGO line, which utilizes 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) films. Production takes place at the company’s SYNDIGO1 facility in Connersville, Indiana, commissioned in May last year.

Both products are recycled linear low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE). SYNDIGO rPE-IN3 is derived from recycled stretch films, while rPE-IN4 is produced using mixed retail polyethylene film collected from distribution centres and stores.

The grades are targeted at applications including can liners, protective packaging, carry-out bags, overwrap, shrink film and heavy-duty sacks, segments where demand for high-quality PCR content continues to rise amid brand sustainability commitments and regulatory pressures.

NOVA’s broader SYNDIGO range includes a white rLLDPE resin for film applications and a recycled high-density polyethylene (rHDPE) grade suitable for both food and non-food uses.

The company has also outlined plans to introduce a recycled LLDPE grade compliant with food-contact requirements in 2026, signaling its intention to move further up the value chain in circular packaging solutions.

The SYNDIGO1 plant employs a mechanical recycling process that enables post-consumer resin to be reintroduced into packaging formats such as pouches, bottles and films. The facility began operations in 2025 and is targeting annual production capacity exceeding 100 million pounds by 2026.

“These new SYNDIGO grades have been testing tremendously with our customers over the last several months, and we are excited to make them widely available in commercial quantities,” said Alan Schrob, director of mechanical recycling at NOVA Chemicals.

“Our SYNDIGO1 facility shows that film-to-film recycling is very real, and we are thrilled to deliver against our customers’ expectations around quality, consistency and scale.”

The commercialization builds on NOVA’s broader innovation strategy.

Last September, the company introduced polyethylene resins integrated with non-fluorinated polymer processing aids across its Surpass, Sclair and Novapol families, helping film producers transition away from fluoropolymers amid tightening global regulations while maintaining extrusion stability, slip performance and optical clarity.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, NOVA Chemicals employs approximately 2,600 people worldwide and is owned by Mubadala Investment Company.

With demand for recycled content intensifying, the latest SYNDIGO grades underscore NOVA’s push to scale high-performance PCR solutions for mainstream packaging applications.

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