FDA deems Petoskey Plastics’ recycled resin suitable for specific food-contact applications

Petoskey Plastics, a recycler and manufacturer based in Petoskey, Michigan, has received a No Objection Letter (NOL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirming the capability of its secondary recycling process to produce postconsumer recycled (PCR) linear, low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) material suitable for food-contact applications.

The company says its PCR-LLDPE is intended for use up to 100 percent-recycled content in the manufacture of articles for use in contact with Food Type VIII (dry foods with no surface fat or oil, including raw fruits, vegetables and shell eggs), for frozen, refrigerated and room temperature conditions of use.

“I am very excited and proud of our team’s relentless pursuit of a perfect PCR pellet,” Petoskey Plastics President Jason Keiswetter says. “Receiving our No Objection Letter from the FDA is a testament to our unwavering commitment to continuous improvement.”

In addition to the FDA-issued opinion, the company says its GreenPE Polyethylene Repro H-RM-RE0012CL resin has been third-party certified by Emeryville, California-based SCS Global Services for recycled content with a minimum of 99 percent PCR polyethylene (PE). Petoskey Plastics offers six different GreenPE recycled PE resins, four of which are SCS Recycled Content certified for different percentages of postconsumer and preconsumer recycled PE content.

Petoskey Plastics first began in-house recycling in 1978 in Petoskey, Michigan. In 1990, it was awarded a grant from the state of Michigan through the Quality of Life Bond Fund to recycle postconsumer PE waste. Today, the company operates a recycling facility in Hartford City, Indiana, where it produced over 35.6 million pounds of recycled resin in 2022.

“With every step forward, we increase our contribution to the noble fight of recycling more plastics and finding additional uses for them,” Keiswetter says. “This achievement fuels us as we strive for a greener, more sustainable future.”

In addition to plastics recycling, the company is a plastic film, bag and resin manufacturer that provides products and custom-engineered solutions for industries including automotive, industrial, institutional, retail, construction, home improvement, medical and more. Along with Michigan and Indiana, Petoskey facilities can be found in Tennessee and Texas.