Recycled Content Solutions Beyond Durables

TotalEnergies is leading the charge towards a circular plastic economy. Our latest initiative, the RE:clic product range, introduces low-carbon polymers designed to meet the stringent requirements of the circular plastic economy. Our ambition is to produce 1 million tons of circular polymers by 2030. As a proud member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, The Recycling Partnership, The PP Coalition, The Association of Plastic Recyclers, and the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance, TotalEnergies is committed to reducing plastic waste and promoting recycling.

The RE:use polymers range, part of the RE:clic portfolio, features recycled plastics obtained through mechanical recycling processes. These polymers are sourced from post-consumer and post-industrial plastic waste. Mechanical recycling is widely recognized for its lower energy consumption and reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin polymers. To effectively reduce plastic waste and meet market demands, a combination of both mechanical and advanced recycling techniques will be essential.

Single Pellet Solutions to Meet Content Requirements 

TotalEnergies virgin polypropylene or polystyrene is combined with high-quality recyclate to create hybrid grades with consistent properties, certified recycled content, and the technical expertise TotalEnergies is known for.  Today, TotalEnergies is actively marketing eight RE:use polypropylene hybrid grades and four polystyrene blends with certified recycled content between 20 and 50 percent with various melt flows and mechanical properties suitable for film, fiber, injection molding, or thermoformed sheet applications. 

TotalEnergies offers customizable solutions.  The La Porte Technology Center houses technical, product development and analytical teams ready to collaborate on content solutions.   Over the last two years the teams have tested over 200 formulations.   

Food Contact with Confidence 

TotalEnergies RE:use polymers range are well suited for durables, but to meet sustainability goals and legislative requirements, food contact solutions are needed as well. A no objection letter is issued when the FDA is confident that all contaminants are removed in the recycling process.  The letters can include restrictions on material source, recycled content, and the conditions of use. A review of the FDA recycled plastics database shows that 52% of recycled polypropylene with FDA LNO are restricted to conditions of use E – G. 

TotalEnergies product stewardship and analytical teams evaluated conditions of use for the RE:use hybrids. Drawing upon years of experience from virgin resins, the same rigor and testing was applied to the RE:use formulations.  A thorough review of the recyclers’ manufacturing processes and source control measures gave us confidence in the supply consistency. Then the hybrid formulations were tested both internally and by a third-party expert to ensure that the correct conditions of use are assigned to the TotalEnergies RE:use product range. This process gives our product stewardship team confidence to write legal and robust FDA statements for our RE:use product range. 

Quality Expectations for Recycled Content 

What do you expect 30 percent recycled content polypropylene resin to look like?  Do you picture black specs and mottled color?  Parts with imperfections and gels?  RE:use PP resins are available in repeatable colors.  Natural, white, black and gray colors are available.  We can discuss the addition of color concentrate for a fully customizable solution. 

Concerned about black specs?  The recyclates sourced for RE:use hybrids are subjected to the same quality control specifications as our virgin resins. 

Does the addition of recycled content change the mechanical properties of the resin? Yes, it certainly does.  The product development team has worked to formulate RE:use resins that do not sacrifice strength or stiffness.  We have the tools and expertise to formulate the properties you need to incorporate recycled content. 

Explore our RE:use portfolio to find a high quality single pellet solution with certified content and regulatory support.  Let us do the hard work so that you don’t have to.   

We can provide solutions for BOPP films, fibers, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, and injection molding.    

TotalEnergies RE:use product range has the technical, regulatory, and sales support to make your sustainability project a success.  

For more information contact us at:  [email protected] 

Visit our website at:  Hybrid Polypropylene Grades in North Americ