LyondellBasell, AFA Nord partner to recycle plastic secondary packaging

Advanced recycler LyondellBasell, Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Hohenwestedt, Germany-based agricultural film recycler AFA Nord have agreed to form an equal joint venture to recycle flexible postcommercial secondary packaging scrap.

As part of the joint venture, LMF Nord GmbH says it plans to build a mechanical recycling plant in northern Germany where it will turn linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into high-quality recycled plastics for use in flexible packaging. The company says production is scheduled to begin in early 2025.

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According to LyondellBasell, plastic secondary packaging, such as stretch or shrink film, mainly is used to package consumer goods and protect them from contamination and damage during transport and storage. The company adds that, until today, this material has been difficult to transform into high-quality raw materials capable of meeting the requirements of the packaging industry for strength and transparency of the final product.

“This joint venture will provide recycled LLDPE and LDPE materials and complement our existing CirculenRecover product line in high-density polyethylene and polypropylene,” says Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell vice president of circular and low-carbon solutions. “It complements our advanced recycling efforts and aligns with our integrated hub strategy, which aims to invest upstream to supply raw materials from a variety of plastic waste streams. Thanks to this comprehensive range of effective solutions, we continue to be the preferred partner of our customers.”

Nord says it expects the new recycling facility to produce 26,000 tons of recycled LLDPE and LDPE per year, which LyondellBasell will market through its CirculenRecover product range for applications ranging from stretch films to shrink grouping films. The CirculenRecover product line includes a wide range of mechanically recycled materials that are currently used in applications such as electrical appliances, detergent bottles and suitcases.

TM Recycling GmbH, a sister company of AFA Nord, will be responsible for supplying raw materials to LMF Nord GmbH. TM Recycling, based in Hohenwestedt, also is a member of the Mensing Group.

“We have already been operating in Germany’s only agricultural film recycling plant for several years and have extensive experience in producing recycled materials,” AFA Nord Managing Director Andreas Mensing says. “By working with LyondellBasell, we can contribute to a circular economy and increase the availability of recycled solutions for flexible packaging applications.”