SABIC has joined forces with Lamb Weston and OpackGroup to create sustainable packaging for frozen potato products. This initiative utilizes bio-renewable polyethylene (PE) sourced from used cooking oil (UCO), with the goal of minimizing both the carbon footprint and the thickness of packaging materials.

Source: PackagingMEA

We are excited about the collaboration… This project demonstrates the concept of circularity as it better utilizes the UCO to produce circular polymers that are designed for recyclability.

The innovative packaging consists of at least 60% polymer derived from UCO, showcasing a closed-loop system that starts with collecting UCO from Lamb Weston’s production process. This oil is then transformed into bio-feedstock, leading to the creation of SABIC® HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and SUPEER™ mLLDPE (metallocene linear low-density polyethylene) polymers. Oerlemans Plastics, a member of OPACKGROUP, processes these polymers into a multilayer PE film for Lamb Weston’s pre-fried frozen potato offerings.

Since its market introduction in September, the packaging boasts a renewable feedstock content of at least 60%, certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS mass balancing framework. This development aligns with consumer demand for eco-friendly products.

Distributors, retailers and consumers have become increasingly conscious of their environmental impact… By using SABIC’s bio-renewable polymer, this innovation reduces the carbon footprint of our retail bags by 30%.

Additionally, the new bags feature a 20% reduction in thickness, resulting in an average unit weight of merely 10 grams. The materials comply with safety regulations set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact. After thorough testing, Lamb Weston rolled out its first products packaged in this cutting-edge solution in the UK and the Netherlands in September.