NOVA Chemicals launches advanced pe film recycling facility in Indiana, USA

USA – NOVA Chemicals has officially commissioned its first polyethylene (PE) film recycling facility, SYNDIGO™1, located in Connersville, Indiana.

Spanning 450,000 square feet, the facility is among the most advanced mechanical recycling operations of its kind globally.

Expected to be fully operational by early 2026, SYNDIGO1 will recycle approximately 145,000 bales of end-of-life plastic film each year, converting them into over 100 million pounds of high-quality recycled linear low-density polyethylene (rLLDPE).

This recycled PE will serve a wide range of flexible packaging applications, helping NOVA Chemicals expand its sustainability footprint.

“At NOVA, we have decades of experience in developing products that improve everyday life,” said Roger Kearns, CEO of NOVA Chemicals.

“Now, we’re not only a petrochemical producer—we’re also a polyethylene recycler. SYNDIGO1 enables us to divert plastic waste from landfills and transform it into new products that help keep food fresh and goods moving safely through the supply chain.”

The recycling process used at the facility has been vetted and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a letter of non-objection, certifying its suitability for food-contact applications.

In April 2025, the facility earned Recycled Material Standard (RMS) certification, confirming that its output contains 100% post-consumer recycled content.

NOVA Chemicals is collaborating with industry leaders—Charter Next Generation, M. Holland, Osterman & Company, Petoskey Plastics, PolyExpert, Pregis, Sigma Plastics Group, and Winpak—to integrate recycled polyethylene into mainstream packaging production.

Feedstock for the facility will be sourced through partnerships with major U.S. retailers and distribution centers, which will supply post-use back-of-store plastic film.

On average, SYNDIGO1 will process 400 bales daily, equivalent to the plastic waste that would otherwise cover four football fields annually.

The recycled film will be processed into SYNDIGO™ rLLDPE pellets, compliant with FDA regulations, and used in applications ranging from pantry staples to frozen food packaging—supporting the broader shift to a circular economy.

In celebration of the facility’s opening, NOVA Chemicals has contributed US$25,000 to the Fayette Community Foundation to launch the NOVA Chemicals Community Impact Fund.

An additional US$50,000 will be provided through a matching grant from the Lilly Endowment’s GIFT VIII initiative, underscoring the company’s commitment to community development alongside environmental responsibility.

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