SABIC has partnered with iyris (formerly RedSea) and Napco National to develop a durable greenhouse roofing solution using certified circular polyethylene from its TRUCIRCLE™ portfolio. The initiative supports Saudi Arabia’s National Food Production Initiative (NFPI), aiming to enhance agricultural sustainability and food security in the region.
The greenhouse roofing utilizes SABIC® linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), made from certified circular feedstock derived from recycled mixed post-consumer plastics. These plastics undergo advanced recycling to produce pyrolysis oil, which is processed into new polymer resins. The LLDPE, produced at SABIC’s Jubail plant, matches the quality of virgin plastic and is used by Napco National to manufacture the greenhouse film.
Khaled Al-Jalawi, Global Circular Economy Director at SABIC, highlighted the project’s impact: “The agricultural greenhouses, made with certified circular polyethylene, demonstrate how advanced recycled plastic can deliver significant sustainability benefits. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to driving plastic circularity and supporting the agriculture industry in the Kingdom and beyond.”
The 200-micron film developed by Napco National showcases high tensile strength, elongation, and UV stability. It incorporates iyris’ award-winning SecondSky™ technology, which optimizes thermal performance by blocking near-infrared heat while maintaining photosynthetically active radiation. Chadi Radi, Senior Director for Business Development at Napco National, remarked: “Our collaboration on the SecondSky greenhouse film at the Al-Bada prototype farm underlines our commitment to sustainable innovation.”
The NFPI has seen the construction of a 0.75-hectare greenhouse model on regenerated land in Al-Bada, KSA. The site, featuring a meeting center and delivering its first harvest to Red Sea Global resorts, serves as a scalable model for future projects. John Keppler, Executive Chairperson of iyris, stated, “This project transforms Saudi Arabia’s potential to secure local food production, demonstrating how our SecondSky technology, combined with SABIC’s TRUCIRCLE materials, can advance agricultural practices.”
The initiative involves collaboration with local entities like Red Sea Global, Tamala, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST), Terraxy, and the University of Tabuk.