SABIC, a global chemical industry leader, has partnered with Lamb Weston, a major producer of frozen potato products, to introduce sustainable packaging using a closed-loop process. The collaboration focuses on producing lightweight, sustainable packaging bags made with a thin coextrusion film structure, comprising at least 60% polymer from bio-feedstock derived from used cooking oil (UCO).
In this innovative process, UCO from Lamb Weston’s operations is collected and converted into bio-feedstock, which is then used to produce SABIC’s bio-renewable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and metallocene linear low-density polyethylene (mLLDPE) polymers. These materials are transformed into a multilayer polyethylene film by Oerlemans Plastics, a member of OPACKGROUP, to create packaging for Lamb Weston’s pre-fried frozen potato products.
The packaging’s bio-feedstock content, certified under the ISCC PLUS mass balance system, ensures sustainability throughout the value chain. This closed-loop system demonstrates the companies’ commitment to circularity and reducing environmental impact. With at least 60% renewable polymer content, the new packaging achieves a 30% reduction in carbon footprint compared to previous versions, addressing growing consumer and retailer demand for eco-friendly solutions.
Khaled Al-Jalawi, SABIC’s global director for Circular Economy Business, praised the collaboration, stating, “This project showcases how UCO can be repurposed into renewable polymers, advancing circular economy efforts.” Similarly, Sebastiaan Besems, Lamb Weston’s vice president for Commercial EMEA, emphasized the importance of this innovation in aligning with the company’s sustainability goals to halve food waste, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance circular production by 2030.
The new packaging launched in September 2024 in the UK and the Netherlands offers significant environmental benefits and highlights a growing trend toward bio-circular solutions in the packaging industry.