Driven by a shared vision of sustainability and strong collaboration, DSM, Sabic, Cepsa, Fibrant and Viscofan have together created a multi-barrier wrap for meat products made through advanced recycling of post-consumer plastics. The transition to recycled-based multilayer films enables the packaging industry to adopt a more sustainable solution without compromising functional performance. The development of this packaging material underscores a strong commitment to enabling a circular economy by working together with partners throughout the value chain, and addresses the growing demand from consumers, society and legislation for more multilayer barrier wrap solutions. sustainable.
Produced by Viscofan, the newly developed sustainable wrap consists of several layers of different polymers. DSM Engineering Materials supplies Akulon CRC-MB certified high performance circular polyamide (PA), while Sabic supplies certified high performance circular polyethylene (PE) from its Trucircle portfolio of circular solutions. Both products are based on used and post-consumer plastics that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills or lost to incineration. Through advanced recycling, used plastic is turned into new raw material, which then enters the production chain to obtain new materials of virgin quality.
DSM, Sabic, Cepsa, Fibrant and Viscofan collaborate in the development of an innovative meat packaging material together with El Pozo.
Óscar Ponz, director of Viscofan’s Plastics division: “By combining our capacity for innovation and the latest available technology, today we have reached a unique solution in the market using post-consumer recycled plastics. In our sustainable casings program, in addition to today’s achievement, we are also in a position to offer bio-based alternatives to our customers. Today’s announcement is the result of a shared commitment to making food systems fair, healthy and environmentally friendly for a more sustainable future. This important project is being developed with the collaboration of important Viscofan clients such as ElPozo ”.
Jason Zhang, Vice President of Business Line Performance Polymers at DSM Engineering Materials: “By introducing Akulon CRC-MB, DSM is taking an exciting next step on its sustainability journey. The joint development of a recycled base film for packaging applications underscores DSM’s commitment to working closely with partners, customers and suppliers to achieve a more sustainable value chain and economy. “
Mark Vester, SABIC Global Head of Circular Economy: “We are committed to finding innovative solutions that help capture value from used plastic that would otherwise have been discarded. This includes collaborating with actors across the value chain to provide access to more sustainable materials, manufactured with our Trucircle portfolio of circular solutions, and working towards a circular economy in plastics. We are delighted to work with partners such as Cepsa, Fibrant, DSM and Viscofan to help make this vision a reality. “
Akulon CRC-MB High Performance Certified Circular Polyamide is produced through strong value chain collaboration involving a variety of partners applying a mass balance approach. In the first place, Sabic produces certified circular benzene, from materials produced by recycling mixed-use plastic raw materials, a material that Cepsa uses in turn to manufacture certified circular phenol. Fibrant then uses the phenol to produce EcoLactam certified circular caprolactam, which is provided to DSM to produce its certified circular polyamide. Finally, Viscofan combines certified circular polyethylene and polyamide to produce the multi-barrier film used to create casings for a variety of meat products.
Paul Habets, Fibrant Sales and Marketing Director: “We are proud that our EcoLactam Circular is used in Viscofan’s newly developed product. This is an important milestone for us and our value chain partners who support the development of sustainable and circular products. EcoLactam stands for high quality caprolactam with a lower environmental footprint. Together we are taking important steps towards a carbon neutral society. “
All advanced recycled materials within the value chain will have the globally recognized ISCC Plus certification and will not require re-qualification.
Multilayer barrier films inherently offer strong sustainability benefits by helping to reduce waste