SABIC has partnered with Lamb Weston and OpackGroup to develop sustainable packaging for frozen potato products. The initiative employs bio-renewable polyethylene (PE) made from used cooking oil (UCO), aiming to reduce the carbon footprint and thickness of packaging materials.
The new packaging contains at least 60% polymer derived from UCO, demonstrating a closed-loop system that begins with the collection of UCO from Lamb Weston’s production. This oil is then converted into bio-feedstock, resulting in SABIC® HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and SUPEER™ mLLDPE (metallocene linear low-density polyethylene) polymers. Oerlemans Plastics, part of OPACKGROUP, transforms these polymers into a multilayer PE film for Lamb Weston’s pre-fried frozen potato products.
Khaled Al-Jalawi, Global Director of Circular Economy Business at SABIC, stated, “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 packaging has been in the market since September, and it features a renewable feedstock content of at least 60%, certified under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS mass balancing regime. This aligns with consumer expectations for environmentally friendly products.
Sebastiaan Besems, VP Commercial EMEA at Lamb Weston, remarked, “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%.”
The new bags also achieve a 20% reduction in thickness, resulting in an average unit weight of just 10 grams. The materials meet the safety standards set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact. Following extensive testing, Lamb Weston launched its first products packed in this innovative packaging in the UK and the Netherlands in September.