A company with operations in Sarnia-Lambton is expanding its focus to include circular plastics.
NOVA Circular Solutions is a new business line, focusing on lower-emission, recycled solutions. It will be home to the SYNDIGO brand which is the company’s newest portfolio of recycled polyethylene (PE).
NOVA Vice President of Marketing and Circular Polymers Greg DeKunder said there's a lot of global demand to include recycled content in packaging.
"We're excited to leverage our technical knowledge, and unmatched customer service to drive recycled content adoption," said DeKunder. "There's a strong demand for recycled plastics that continues to grow. Consumers are demanding it in the packaging as well as brand owners wanting to satisfy that need all over the world."
There are currently three commercially available products under the SYNDIGO brand, which feature three different types of resin.
One is mechanically recycled, sourced from polyethylene agricultural film, and ideal for e-commerce mailers, can liners, carry-out bags, protective packaging, and shrink wrap.
Another is mechanically recycled, sourced from back-of-store distribution center PE stretch film and front-of-store consumer drop off, and ideal for heavy-duty sacks, e-commerce mailers, stretch wrap, collation shrink, protective packaging, and industrial films.
The final one is mechanically recycled, sourced from HDPE milk jugs, and ideal for flexible packaging, heavy-duty sacks and small-part blow molding.
Although there is no direct impact on the Sarnia-Lambton region, DeKunder said this type of operation will certainly have an effect locally.
"I would say it's very likely that the citizens in the region that recycle their milk and water jugs and bring their retail store bags back to the store, those will be recycled in one way or another."
Meanwhile, NOVA recently announced the completion of its new polyethylene facility on Rokeby Line in St. Clair Township.
The plant has a capacity of about one billion pounds of polyethylene per year, and will allow the company to grow its polyethylene business in high performance applications.
Start up is anticipated in the first half of 2023.
The Corunna cracker was also expanded to increase the existing unit’s current ethylene capacity by more than 50 per cent.