Industry Partners and NOVA Chemicals Establish BOPE-HD Film Supply to Create Fully Recyclable Packaging

Calgary, Alta. (May 1, 2023) – NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”), a leading supplier of polyethylene resin for food packaging, announced a significant milestone in the global availability of biaxially oriented high-density polyethylene (BOPE-HD) film. Utilizing NOVA Chemicals’ resin, biaxial film manufacturers across the globe have successfully produced BOPE-HD film on commercial tenter frame lines. BOPE-HD film is a fully recyclable alternative to traditional, non-recyclable, mixed-material films for flexible packaging. Its use extends the life of plastic packaging, helping to eliminate waste.

Bringing BOPE-HD Films to Market

NOVA Chemicals announced SURPASS^® TX150-A resin in 2020 as the world’s first BOPE-HD resin specifically designed to run in the tenter frame process, for the production of BOPE-HD film. Strategic relationships were formed between biaxial film manufacturers and NOVA Chemicals, to deliver the BOPE-HD films to market, and meet the growing global demand for fully recyclable packaging. The collaborators include Inteplast (United States), JK Materials (South Korea), Oben Group (Ecuador), and Polivouga (Portugal).

Achieving a fully recyclable, lightweight, and flexible package using BOPE-HD required focused innovation and collaboration. Inteplast’s Director of Research and Development and Technology, Rafael Bayona, shared, “Producing BOPE-HD film was not a simple process. This was a major transformation that demanded persistence and dedication, and we are confident in our ability to reliably produce BOPE-HD film. The collaboration and feedback we have received from our customers has been a key factor for our success.”

Converters purchasing BOPE-HD films can expect a high-performing and sustainable product ideal for various applications such as meat and poultry, cheese, seafood, snack food, carton liners, baked goods, fresh produce, frozen foods, deli bags, and more. Aurum Process Technology, a packaging company in Spain, leveraged BOPE-HD to enhance their highly efficient aseptic industrial cooking and packaging method, T-Sensation® process technology. This effort resulted in finished particulate food, ready meals, and pet food in fully recyclable, mono-material packaging.

Equipment to Enable BOPE-HD Films

Brückner Maschinenbau (Brückner), the world’s leading supplier of production lines for manufacturing biaxially stretched films, has been instrumental in bringing the supply of BOPE-HD online. Brückner has sold 18 BOPE/BOPP hybrid lines worldwide, with nine lines already in operation. These lines allow for additional capacity, which is key to the continued development and production of BOPE-HD solutions.

Utilizing one of the Brückner lines currently is film manufacturer Polivouga. “Understanding the positive impact of these fully recyclable films on our industry and the environment is precisely why we have invested in a hybrid line that can satisfy the demand for BOPE-HD film,” said Diogo Barros, Technical Service and Development Manager from Polivouga.

Packaging equipment suppliers, such as Effytec, which supply horizontal form-fill seal manufacturing equipment also support the adoption of fully recyclable films containing BOPE-HD by providing packaging solutions to companies like Aurum.

“The successful launch of these films relied on the collaborative efforts of all the players involved in bringing mono-material packaging to the consumer and store shelves, including equipment manufacturers, film converters, and product packagers,” said Owen Lightbody, Team Leader of Application Development at NOVA Chemicals.

BOPE-HD at interpack

The equipment providers, film manufacturers, and converters working with NOVA Chemicals’ BOPE-HD film will be exhibiting at interpack, the world’s largest trade show for packaging and related process industries, from May 4-10, 2023, in Düsseldorf, Germany. You can learn more about these companies by visiting their exhibits at the event.

• JK Materials: Commissioned its hybrid production line in July 2022 and is producing BOPE-HD film. Packaging samples will be on display in Hall 8B, H52.
• Polivouga: BOPE-HD film samples and package prototypes will be displayed in Hall 10, C21.
• Effytec: Will conduct daily stand-up pouch demonstrations using BOPE-HD film produced by Polivouga and Inteplast in Hall 11, A78.

Brückner Maschinenbau: BOPE-HD samples will be available at Hall 8A, C57.

About NOVA Chemicals Corporation

NOVA Chemicals is guided by a singular purpose to shape a world where the plastic products vital to our health and happiness are better tomorrow than they are today. We have a bold ambition to create a plastics circular economy and work collaboratively toward a low-carbon, zero-plastic-waste future. NOVA Chemicals’ portfolio of virgin and recycled resins, along with best-in-class technical expertise, is what sets us apart; our customers use our products to create easy-to-recycle and recycled content films, packaging, and products. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security, and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Care^®.

NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alta., Canada, has 2,400 employees worldwide and is wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Learn more at www.novachem.com or follow us on LinkedIn.