IRPLAST S.p.A., a prominent global producer of simultaneously bi-oriented BOPP film, for manufacturing of printed adhesive tapes, wrap­around labels for the food, beverage dairy, personal & home care markets and also for multi-pack solutions, has selected certified circular and certified renewable SABIC^® PP polymers from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE^™ portfolio for its new S-BOPP film solutions. This portfolio offers brand owners and packaging suppliers the ability to achieve more sustainable packaging material solutions, which are immediately implementable, without having to change packaging appearance or packaging machinery, eliminating any need for investment in machinery or processes.

Naomi Lunadei, Sustainability Manager at IRPLAST, said: “We firmly believe that sustainable growth must become a priority for businesses producing and converting plastic packaging materials. As a packaging producer, we are well aware of our responsibilities in making the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals a reality and we are very committed to the challenge. We have undertaken a gradual but determined path, consistent with the development of new materials according to the guidelines of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directives. Therefore, we have brought out two new innovative product lines in collaboration with SABIC, one to reduce the carbon footprint of BOPP flexible packaging, while the other introduces the possibility of entering the circular economy, being progressively mandated by legislators worldwide.”

IRPLAST, known for its advanced LISIM stretching technology applied to BOPP that is done in one step compared to the standard two-step process, has always focused on sustainability with important investments to reduce thickness and to save raw materials and energy. The innovative and sustainable S-BOPP film portfolio from the company received ISCC certification at the end of 2019, guarantees the solidity of the chain of custody right through the life cycle, from raw material production to packaging supplies. These new generation products are made from materials from SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE portfolio. The renewable BOPP film called NOPP (Natural BOPP) is made from certified renewable SABIC PP material from bio-based feedstock. The circular BOPP film branded as LOOPP is made from certified circular SABIC PP material that uses feedstock made from chemical recycling of mixed post-consumer plastics to deliver virgin-quality resins.

The resulting S-BOPP films comply with rigorous food contact regulations, and are 100% recyclable in normal polyolefin waste separation streams.

Mark Vester, Circular Economy Leader at SABIC, said: “The materials from our TRUCIRCLE portfolio offer drop-in solutions and we are very happy to collaborate with IRPLAST and support them to deliver sustainable solutions to the packaging industry. With our certified circular and renewable polymers, we are aiming to create a value chain, where SABIC and key downstream customers like IRPLAST, collaborate to recycle mixed post- consumer plastic back to the original polymer for packaging or other applications, thereby enabling the circular reuse of the planet’s natural resources.”

SABIC’s certified renewable polymers are high-quality virgin polymers, based on second-generation, bio-based feedstock. Like SABIC’s certified circular polymers, its certified renewable polymers have been accredited through the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC PLUS). SABIC uses feedstock which is not in competition with the food chain and are not of animal origin, such as the waste vegetable oils, currently available as a recovered by-product of the responsibly managed forest industry. All the films in IRPLAST's S-BOPP portfolio are ISCC certified and offer identical technical properties equivalent to standard versions, offering brand owners and packaging suppliers truly sustainable packaging solutions.

According to LCA data from IRPLAST, compared to an equivalent BOPP film manufactured using traditional fossil­fuel resources, every Kg of bio-based renewable source NOPP takes over 2 kg of CO₂ emissions out of the environment.

The other sustainable option being developed by IRPLAST involves the manufacture of LOOPP films made from SABIC’s certified circular polymers that are made from recycling of low quality, mixed plastic waste otherwise destined for incineration or landfill. The resultant certified circular polymers are of equal quality to virgin polymers with outstanding mechanical, processing properties and purity.