LyondellBasell (LYB) and Nippon Paint China have launched their collaboration to help close the loop for coating packaging barrels. The closed-loop recycling system establishes a process in which used barrels are mechanically recycled.
Through Nippon Paint’s Refresh Service, post-consumer barrels are collected from retail shops, then undergo preliminary processing by waste management providers upstream of GXLYB (a plastics recycling joint venture between LYB and Genox Recycling). The plastic components are then further processed at GXLYB to produce recycled pellets under the LYB CirculenRecover brand. Blended with virgin materials, these resins are injection molded by barrel manufacturers into new packaging.
“At LyondellBasell, we are committed to driving circular solutions and providing differentiated value through our mechanical recycling activities,” said Limin Fu, vice president of Polyolefins China and Joint Venture Management at LYB. “This collaboration with Nippon Paint China showcases how collaborations across the value chain can turn plastic waste into new resources and accelerate progress toward a more sustainable future.”
This new initiative builds on the ongoing collaboration between LYB and Nippon Paint China. In 2023, the companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further expand their cooperation in sustainable packaging solutions.