Prevented Ocean Plastic introduces EU-compliant food-safe recycled polypropylene

UK – Prevented Ocean Plastic has launched the world’s first food-safe recycled polypropylene that complies with European food safety regulations, an advancement in recycling efforts for a material commonly found in ocean pollution.

Polypropylene appears in various packaging forms, including trays, bottles, caps, cups, and flexible films. 

Despite its widespread use, only about 1% of post-consumer polypropylene gets recycled globally each year. 

This plastic ranks as the second most frequent type polluting marine areas, contributing to environmental challenges worldwide.

Through partnerships with organizations such as Bantam Materials UK, Circulate Capital, Innovia Films under CCL Industries, Spectra Packaging, PETMAN, Starlinger Viscotec, and Danone, the initiative focuses on collecting and processing waste from coastal regions.

Materials come from sites like the new East Borneo center, which began operations in 2024 via a collaboration between Danone and Prevented Ocean Plastic.

The process involves gathering polypropylene waste, sorting and washing it, then transforming it into recycled polypropylene at PETMAN facilities using Starlinger Viscotec equipment. 

Bantam Materials UK then distributes the product to companies like Innovia Films and Spectra Packaging for further applications.

In its initial year, this effort is projected to keep 500 million polypropylene cups out of the ocean, a volume that could encircle the Earth more than once if lined up.

Since October 2024, Prevented Ocean Plastic has adopted a scalable franchise approach for collection, supported by Danone Aqua. 

This system aims for replication in at-risk coastal areas to boost collection efficiency and curb pollution.

Neil Hudson, recycling and sustainability technology expert at Innovia Films, said in a statement: “For Innovia, a source of EU food contact-approved polypropylene from a mechanically recovered post-consumer source is a game changer.”

“We can now make films for label and flexible packaging in the food and beverage space and contribute to circularity and sustainability.”

Prevented Ocean Plastic founder Raffi Schieir described the development as a monumental achievement for preventing ocean plastic. 

He added that it demonstrates how the franchise model addresses major collection issues on a large scale while maintaining dignity for participants.

Recent updates show that Prevented Ocean Plastic has been recognized as a 2025 WIRED Trailblazer, selected by WIRED Magazine and HSBC UK for its innovative contributions to environmental solutions.

This launch opens doors for broader adoption of recycled materials in food packaging, potentially reducing reliance on virgin plastics and aiding marine conservation.

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