Overseas companies get US FDA polymers certifications

European and Asian companies have received a spate of FDA no objection letters (NOL) this year, a growing indication of overseas interest in the US recycled polymers market.

FDA no objection letters allow recyclers to sell their recycled plastic pellets for use in limited food and drink-grade applications.

Ultra-Poly and Circulus Holdings are the only two US-based companies who have received NOLs so far in 2024, out of a total of 14 different companies.

Circulus received approval to use recycled low density polyethylene (LDPE) from its Ardmore, Oklahoma, facility for food contact in January, and Ultra-Poly received approval to use its recycled injection-molded polypropylene for food contact in March.

Austrian recycler Borealis received two NOLs this year from the FDA, for its polypropylene and its high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and German recycler Gneuss Kunststofftechnik has received three, for HDPE, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polystyrene (PS). Italian chemicals company Versalis received approval for its recycled PS.

Recyclers from East and Southeast Asia made up the rest of this year's approvals so far, for PP, PS, and HDPE. Recipients include the Pashupati Group from India, China-based Shanghai SmartLoop Industrial, and the Japan-based DIC Coporation.

Growing imports from overseas greatly increased supply of recycled material in 2023 and 2024, but some domestic producers fear that the lower pricing from some overseas manufacturers will threaten their ability to stay in business.

By Zach Kluver