US FDA clears Nova rLLDPE for food contact

The US Food and Drug Administration has cleared post-consumer recycled linear-low density polyethylene (rLLDPE) from Nova Chemicals' Connersville, Indiana, recycling plant for use in food packaging.

The EPA provided Canada-based Novawith a No Objection Letter (NOL), allowing the recycled plastic to be used in food contact applications. This makes Nova the fourth company to receive food contact permission for rLLDPE in the US.

The company received approval for usage of its material with all food types, with acceptable conditions of use including refrigerated, frozen and hot filled food storage.

Nova previously received a NOL for its rHDPE from the same facility in 2023.

Nova said that high interest from converters, retailers and brand owners motivated its push into FDA-grade rLLDPE, as well as a report from consultant McKinsey that forecast rising demand for recycled plastic.

By Zach Kluver